Haven’t heard from you in a while; are you reading here any more? How are you doing? Still training in some capacity?
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Thanks for thinking about me and checking in. I am still reading here. I am doing ok. Not great, but a solid ok.
I’m still running every other day. Not much lifting. I’m not happy with myself. But I am trying to give myself a little grace in “it’s ok you’re doing enough way.”
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I’m training for a 30k trail run, and I have started easy strength and completed day 3.
I like easy strength. It’s a welcome change. I did two powerlifting meets in my early 40s, and I thought I might do another now, a decade later. But I am not really that interested in competing in powerlifting again. I already had that experience. So deciding that I’m not competing means I don’t have to focus on getting stronger in the powerlifting events. It feels freeing.
Easy strength feels like mindless exercise, which isn’t a criticism. I enjoy exercising. I mean, it doesn’t feel like I’m training for anything. Then again, Frequency has never been my go to variable with strength training so I’m curious how I will respond and feel as fatigue accumulates, assuming it does.
Thursday easy strength Day 1:
30 min bike
Pull-up 10 reps
MP: 60x5x2
DL:165x5x2
Abwheel (knees) - 5,3,2
20lb kb swing 15 reps x 5 sets
20 min yoga
Day 2:
3 mile run
Pull-up 10 reps
MP 65x5x2
DL 175x5x2
Ab wheel and KB same as day 1
20 min yoga
Day 3:
5 mile run
Pull-up 10 reps
MP 60x5; 65x3; 70x2
DL 180x 3, 5, 2
Ab wheel kB same as day 1
20 min yoga
********* I’ve never done KB swings before and I am growing more confident with these. I wish I had a heavier weighted KB, but this is good for now. It’s probably better to do these explosively anyway.
*****I haven’t deadlifted in awhile. I was having sciatic pain so I stopped. I considered subbing squats for deadlifts, but I figured I’d give deadlifts a try again. So far so good!
*****pull-ups are sucky right now. I got to 12 and then I seemed to lose capacity. I believe I said this before but my strength now that I am older is so volatile. It’s hard to accept.
I am a little bit sore, but joints are feeling good.
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Glad you’re back logging! And cool that you’re doing Easy Strength. Looks like you’re approaching it more how Dan likes it than I did. Looking forward to seeing how it works out for you. It makes sense given your other training goal.
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I agree with Bagsy, it’s good to see you posting again! Easy Strength sounds like the right choice for now, given both the 30k race (heck yeah!) and the feeling of freedom it gives you.
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Thanks @Bagsy ! Yes, I learned about Easy Strength from reading your log. 
so far, I like the structure and not having to think about what I’m doing. And I appreciate the newness. I haven’t trained DL or press with the kind of frequency demanded by Easy Strength, nor have I done ab rolls or KB swings. So it’s fun and feels good to not have a frame of reference. I can just be curious about the whole experience.
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@TriednTrue the trail run should be a good time. It’s nice to have something on the calendar to train for. I think I haven’t done as well training/ running the last few years without a specific event on the calendar to peak for.
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Sunday: Easy Strength Day 4
3 mile hike
Pull-up 5,5
MP: 60x3, 65x3, 70x2, 70x2
DL 175x3, 195x2, 175x5
AB wheel 3,3,2,2
KB swings 20lb 5 sets 15
30 min bike
20 min yoga
Felt better walking out of the gym than I did walking in.
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Monday: ES Day 5
Pull-up: 5,5
MP: 65x5,5
DL: 180x3, 200x3, 180x4
Ab wheel 4,2,2,2
KB 15x5
5 mile run
This all went ok. I was cranky at the start of the run. I trained first, but it was still pitch black out when I was ready to run. The days are noticeably longer. But I am still running in the dark in the morning and I’m tired of it. Of course, There are things I could do differently. But I am a bratty toddler and a first thing in the morning runner or no runner at all.
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Easy strength week 2/ day 6
Pull-up: BWx7; +5lbx3
MP: 65x5; 70x3; 75x2
DL: 200,205,210x3; 215x1
Abwheel 6,4
KB: 20lbx15x 5 sets
- I took Tuesday and Wed off and only did 20 min of yoga. I found myself wanting to train. To have that desire felt awesome. 5 days of training in a row and suddenly my body craved it. Still, I’m trying to adhere to the program, and I understand rest is essential.
I have some unplanned but likely upcoming travel so I don’t expect to be able to complete the full 8 weeks… but I’m sticking with it for now and as long as I can.
- I feel good. I’m just very tentative with the deadlifts. My mantra in the gym today: “You are not fragile.” I think success with deadlifting frequency will go a long way in helping me overcome my fear and hesitation. That and avoiding sciatic pain!
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Day 7 Friday
5 mile run
Pull-ups 5,5
MP 65x6; 70x2x2
DL 165x3; 185x4; 185x3
KB total reps 75
Ab wheel 10
15 min yoga
Day 8 Saturday
3 mile hike
Pull-ups bwx7; 7.5lbsx3
MP 65x3; 70x3; 75x1; 65x3
DL 175, 195,215x3; 235x1
KB 75 reps
Ab wheel 10 reps
30 min bike
15 min yoga
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Day 9: Sunday
11 miles 1329 elevation gain and loss. The second hour of running is my favorite and it felt good to push the distance today.
pull-ups 5,5
MP 65x3,3,4
DL 175x10
Abwheel and kb swings per usual
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Monday easy strength day 10
Pull-ups 5 sets of 2 with 5lb
Mp: 65x8, 1, 1
Deadlift: 195x2; 215x3; 225x5
Abwheel 5, 3, 2
Kb 75 total swings
Except for pull-ups, I felt pretty good today. 65x9 is my rep PR from last year on MP. I feel like I’m going to be able to beat that with this program. Also, 215 is the most I pulled for reps with deadlifts last year. So a solid 225x5 also feels like winning today.
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Because it is! Well done, especially on the deadlifts and 11-mile run.
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Awesome stuff!
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Thanks @Bagsy and @TriednTrue
Tuesday: off
Wed: 5 mile run
Thursday: ES day 11
Pull-ups +5lb x 5 sets of 2
MP 65x5x2
DL 185x10
Ab wheel and kb swings.
Stress is an issue, and I felt off today. I’m happy I got some work in.
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Friday day 12
AM 4 mile run
PM 
I dislike training anytime but first thing in the morning and fasted. Felt awful but I am proud of getting the work in and sticking with the program although circumstances weren’t ideal for me.
Pull-ups 5, 5
MP 70x3x3, 75x1
DL 175x2; 135x8
Ab wheel
60kb swings
Saturday day 13
Pull-ups + 5lbs x 4, 3, 3
Mp: 65x7; 70x3
DL 215x2* top end strength was not there today; 195x10
Abwheel
75 kb swings
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Sunday: day 14
Run 4 miles
Pull-ups: +5x3x3; +10x2x2; +15x1
MP: 70x2; 75x2; 65x6
DL: 205, 225, 235x3; 245x1
Ab wheel
kb swings
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Monday Day 15
Pull-up: +10x3x3; +15x1; +20x1
MP: 65x8,2
Deadlift: my right knee was bothering me so I bailed early on deadlifts. 135, 145, 165x3; 185x1 twice.
I also did not do kb swing.
I was hoping to complete one more week of easy strength before I have to take some time off from lifting to travel. I may call it here though and return to it later in March. I really do like the program. Hopefully, next time I run it I can tack on a few more weeks.
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Fantastic work! I have been amazed by yours and @Bagsy ability on Pullups (and running and deadlifts…). Giving me something to chase.
I hope it’s somewhere awesome!
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