Winter wonderland
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Thursday 2021-01-14
Pulling on plastic
Bouldering. Super cool sesh, despite feeling fairly fatigued overall. Tried some comp style stuff, super weird. I think it gets a bad rap for no good reason.
Also pulled on some gnarly crimpers that I didnāt imagine Iād be able to land even but I was. Whatever Iām doing, something is working. I havenāt felt progress in the boulder hall in yonks and now, the needle is moving. Not the only grips where I stuck the catch on my first try, failing the rest of the send because I was so surprised that I managed to stay on the wall. Iāll work on that confidence.
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Friday 2021-01-15
Jumps/Throws: All of them
Warm-up: mobility complex. That ended up being all the conditioning I could muster, left me panting so ixnay on tire flips
| Exercise | Set | Reps | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Deadlift | -3 | 10 | bar |
| 40% (RDL) | -2 | 5 | 60 |
| 50% (RDL) | -1 | 5 | 80 |
| 60% | 0 | 2 | 100 |
| 75% | 1 | 5 | 115 |
| 85% | 2 | 5 | 130 |
| 95% | 3 | 5 | 147 |
| B. Farmerās handle deads | 1 | 5 | 176 |
| 2 | 5 | 176 | |
| 3 | 5 | 176 | |
| 4 | 5 | 176 |
Really getting a lot of mileage out of my belt after @aldebaran mentioning keeping it very tight.
Skipped set 5, weight too heavy. Will let this weight, or like 180, be my TM on this form of deadlifts. Form degraded, bar speed too, and needed plenty of rest making it hard to program in assistance. Played with some dumbbell squeeze presses which most of the time didnāt make my shoulder fret but enough so to make me resign to that the closest Iāll get to pushing involving the chest will be isolation of the triceps and the weird push-ups I can manage for a cycle or two while trusting the rehab to do its business.
Did single-leg curls with a pause at the peak, in a different machine. Found a way to make these even harder by tilting my pelvis in (tucking the tail). Did them before GHRs and damn, that pre-fatigue. Abs were russian twists inbetween sets of GHRs.
āCool-downā: PNF stretching. And experimented with weighted crunches with my legs flat against a wall. Those were really cool
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Saturday 2021-01-16
4 hour boulder problem setting
Sunday 2021-01-17
Same workout but failed sometime during the second circuit, no surprise given yesterday
| Lift | Reps | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| A1. Military Press | 5 | 37 |
| 80% | 5 | 42 |
| 90% | 7 | 47 |
| 70% | 12+12 breaths+5 | 37 |
| A2. Ring Pull-up | 8 | 10 |
| 6 | 15 | |
| 5 | 20 | |
| 5 | 25 | |
| 14 | 10 |
TM increased, not a welcome drop in reps compared to last time, but I find there are explanatory factors. Not sure if I used a belt last time, didnāt have one this time. Semi-fatigued from the day and life for several days. Sleep so-so. Injuries so-so.
| Triceps Hell | ||
|---|---|---|
| DB triceps extensions - 10 reps (no rest) | ||
| Rope triceps pushdowns - 10 reps (rest 1-2 minutes) | ||
| Repeat until 5 sets of each exercise is done (100 total reps). |
| Assistance: | |
|---|---|
| Reverse grip EZ-bar curl | 100 reps |
| Weighted Crunches dropset | 50 reps |
| Conditioning: | Sets & Stuff |
|---|---|
| Ergometer | 2x500m / 60s rest |
Ergo after the weighted crunches was evil.
Monday 2021-01-18
Jumps and throws: all of them
HH10 warm-up
| Reps | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| A. Squat | 10 | bar |
| 5 | 60 | |
| 70% | 5 | 82 |
| 80% | 5 | 95 |
| 90% | 10 | 107 |
| 70% | 20 | 82 |
| B. Quad Split Squat | 4x8 | 30 kg DB |
| C1. Cable Rear Delt Fly | 3x some | |
| C2. Plate Lateral Raise | 3x some |
So fucking worn. All the walking and biking through snow has caught up to my legs. Also, stress. Didnāt even feel recovered enough to do rehab for hamstring, just did my main work and called just about called it a day. For the future Iām considering borrowing some volume between this session and my press session as they are adjacent. Either borrow pulling from today and do it on press day or vice versa.
Good weight selection for the quad split squat. Can easily imagine going from 8 to 15 reps before increasing weight.
Noticing how the sanitary guidelines are impacting my programming. I just want to use the least amount of equipment to do the least amount of clean-up. If I didnāt manage to make alternating lunges into a posterior chain exercise I couldāve just stuck with the bar. Yes, I manage that even with it in the front rack position. This exercise (quad split squat) is a great choice for me. My VMO has been telling me as much (cramps)
Iām talking about this
Squat day will probably be unilateral leg day, and abs on press day makes sense as I should do unilateral work some time. Ordinarily, Iād maybe do ab wheel between sets here but still sore from yesterday and feeling worn not doing much was very welcome.
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Tuesday 2021-01-19
About an hour bouldering before my elbows said stop. Have to be more disciplined with my rehab/prehab. Donāt think itāll influence tomorrows ring pull-ups. Itās a combination of pulling and a crimp grip that seems to upset it the most. The plan was to lead climb today but no-one showed up soā¦
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Recently, Iāve started writing on a few texts. Nothing is mature enough to even be a complete draft, everything is very much works in progress. But, Iāve observed that the way I naturally write is with a voice that is ātellingā rather than āsharingā. And honestly, that makes me a little uncomfortable at times because it has me feeling a bit dishonest with regards to certain topics.
Right now, Iām exploring an idea in text which is that Consistency Without Intent is Folly. I have some tangents that relate to how that affects planning training, and executing training - or rather, the execution becomes rephrased as āpracticeā. Iām trying to apply it in the weightroom, but also on the climbing wall. The thing is, when I write in my ātellingā voice and when I read it back to myself it feels as if it shouldāve been written by someone that has applied conscious intent for far longer than I myself have.
Currently rewriting some paragraphs, and it is absolutely striking how much the tone changes.
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I think itās probably pretty telling of my personality that I read that and instantly started trying to produce counter examples and arguments. Yes, Iām an insufferable smartarse
Another reason I want to leave behind my so-called telling voice. Telling someone invites conflict more than discourse. If I share, maybe the latter is more likely.
Itās tougher to argue with me if all I share is that I see value in engaging in intentional practice with my lifting (think Alsruheās cues before lifts), or climbing with an intent to fail and learn rather than just build volume by sending shit within my comfort zone.
And lastly, applying intent rather than emotion to how training is laid out. This becomes something of an intersection between McGill and Dan John. What are the needs of the sport? Assess the self, what deficits are there in relation to that? What plugs those holes?
Dan John might be the only strength guy Iāve heard that talks about things being enough. Like, if your sport doesnāt require anything beyond a 2x deadlift at least be honest about why you are spending more time building it if you donāt need it - especially if there are things you donāt measure up on.
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Wednesday 2021-01-20
-10% day
Did not feel bueno (as in, felt nauseous/ragged) after my main work so I decided to catch up on the hamstring rehab I omitted Monday. Not sure why I lost so many reps on my top set, maybe I used wraps last time..? Will try to consistently use equipment for my AMRAPs.
| Main | Set | Reps | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Press | -1 | 10 | bar |
| 0 | 5 | 30 | |
| 65% | 1 | 5 | 35 |
| 75% | 2 | 5 | 40 |
| 85% | 3 | 8 | 45 |
| B. Log Press | 1 | 18 | log |
Nice AMRAP on the log though. Superset:3@10, 3@20, 3@30, 1@40, 1@42, 13@10 ring pull-ups.
Isodynamic leg-curl 3x7. Weird āgluteā bridge thatās more about hamstrings. Barbell rollouts as I couldnāt find the gym ab wheel. Band pull-aparts.
Will ride out the remainder of my training week as it is planned. Will take Sunday off, and skew training days to Mo/Tu + Th/Fr and climb We/Sa (build on Sa) next week and then return to normal. Sundays Iāll omit the vertical pulling. Itās already a strength, and by doing vertical pulling in the gym 2x/wk I seem to ride on the knifeās edge of what my elbow thinks is okay because of the climbing. Will see if horizontal pulling is a better fit for that training day. Straps have been helpful here in the past so.
Happy with my decision to not push through when my body has been telling me several days it canāt foot the bill at the moment.
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Still on the verge of getting sick?
Maybe, most days Iād say no. Actually, just no. Iād get retested if that was my guess.
Frankly, I believe it is a physical manifestation of inner stress. Objectively, any negatives Iāve had recently are on the face of it fairly benign but I had a series of emotional talks with psychologists as Iām attempting to join some specialist treatment programs that left me running on empty and then thereās nothing left in the tank to deal with any curveballs that life throws at the same time.
With some fuel in the tank, those mental tolls wouldnāt even register, but when they result in burning through the remaining fumes the recovery cost increases exponentially. And Iāve just been caught in that kind of loop and it has affected my recovery ā as Iām perpetually tense ā and my sleep.
Will just have to, ironically, try harder at relaxing. Or ride it out. If there is one thing I trust my body to do is to recover eventually given enough time. Itās not an enjoyable process but it always manages to piece itself together eventually. Just have to be patient. I.e., time still heals.
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That would have been my second guess.
That sounds very interesting. I hope you will gain from it!
I can relate to what youāre experiencing. Nausea, blurred vision, deep fatigue among others are all things I have experienced as a physical manifestation of inner stress. I have had A LOT of workouts in that state (last year for month on end) and itās definitely a difficult one to navigate through a session. Add to that doing other things of daily activity and youāre fucked.
The workout itself take me a loooong time to finish. I find itās best to get done whatever you can and donāt worry about the rest. Anything you get done is a win.
Yeah, I decided to save my joints for another day. Iām glad I made that call. Thatās progress.
I didnāt manage to practice the same level of sane thinking today. I woke up away from home today with someone that wanted to go climbing in the morning and I wish I was less perceptible to join in when other express a desire when itās not in my best interest or my body is telling me otherwise.
I donāt think Iāve done any damage but damn, my elbows are cranky. Might cost me a week or two of weighted vertical pulls. Thankfully, the last sessions have proved to me that Iām up to snuff in that department despite not training it for some time so itās okay if I have to let it be for a month.
Thereās a poem I wanted to share with you. I think it captures the duality that mental health issues can trap a person in where everything is at odds with one another. Where desiring to evolve beyond can be fatiguing enough to cause regress.
I find no peace, and all my war is done.
I fear and hope. I burn and freeze like ice.
I fly above the wind, yet can I not arise;
And nought I have, and all the world I seize on.
That loseth nor locketh holdeth me in prison
And holdeth me notāyet can I scape no wiseā
Nor letteth me live nor die at my device,
And yet of death it giveth me occasion.
Without eyen I see, and without tongue I plain.
I desire to perish, and yet I ask health.
I love another, and thus I hate myself.
I feed me in sorrow and laugh in all my pain;
Likewise displeaseth me both life and death,
And my delight is causer of this strife.
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These two lines in particular are powerful and speak to me. When the void calls, juxtaposing that with having love for friends and family and knowing what heartbreak would be in their future thatās just, yeah. Powerful. Written during the Renaissance, if it werenāt for the archaic phrases Iām not sure I wouldāve noticed.
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Well that can alter our ability to make reasonable decisions, haha.
This is a powerful abstractā¦
The duality and contradiction here is something Iāve never been able to fully understand myself.
For myself if I always imagined that my desire to help others stems from my own suffering which in turn made me more empathetic. Knowing the depths Iāve seen personally, I would want to shield anyone else from it.
A different explanation might be that my effort to help others is a compensation for my inability to help myself.
Thanks for sharing.
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This reminds me of some lyricsā¦
Sorrow surounds me day and night
So tired of life but scared to die
Visions passing through my head
Words you once in silence said
Beyond the point of no return
I canāt go back the bridge is burned
Still I breathe and still I stay
Still I live day after day
A French author said āLoving someone that loves you back is narcissism, unrequited love is true love.ā I donāt know what to make of either of these assessments, but for sure love stirrs powerful emotions within us. I think Iām in love with a girl, and for sure my mind isnāt the same. Certainly more āspleenyā.
I donāt know. Isnāt it natural for humans, as āsocial animalsā, to be drawn to others, to be kind and wanting to help, and feel appreciated, loved and useful? Sometimes I just feel like Iām a bit empty without others. Not because I donāt think I canāt help myself or that I hate myself, but most things feel less enjoyable alone.
Lack of sleep is the main thing that fucks me up and instantly gets me more negative or a bit depressed.
So hard sometimes ahahā¦ Then you feel guilty because āyouāre not doing enoughā so you stress because you feel you relax too much and aaaaarghhh
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Beautiful stuff
I like this. I remember once, being dumped, as she had developed feelings for another I genuinely hoped it ended up being a better fit for her and it perplexed her to no end but as I explained then that if I didnāt have her best interest at heart, then arguably I cared more for myself than her anyways.
To me this is an organ in the body, please elaborate
#2A 
Kidding!
Totes
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Friday 2020-01-22
Ordinarily deadlift day but my hamstring feels a bit too keen to blow out so Iām just going to skip today. My rehab has been working fairly well, Iām completely convinced that the culprit is some slip and slides Iāve had now that there is ice hiding underneath the snow and I keep losing ice spikes.
Will do my hamstring rehab tomorrow, or at least all that I can do at home without gym equipment because if I go to the gym I know Iāll do more than what I should.
My intent is to build boulder problems tomorrow.
Then, I think Iāll make next week an impromptu deload on both fronts (climbing and lifting). Climbing was already a āplannedā deload. Lifting, not so much. And then restart my second leader of SVR II after that week.
Eating has been okay. Not bad.
Life-stress is excessively high. Working on bringing it down.
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Thatās the toughest thing, but at the same time it shows maturity.
The āSpleenā for Baudelaire, is a feeling of melancholy, born of the āmal de vivreā (āpain from existing, livingā. An angry frustration of non-realized ideal. A rage of living.
It comes indeed from the organ. For the Greeks like Hippocratos and their humoural theory, the spleen would produce āblack bileā, responsible in excess for melancholy, an extrem form of depression.
Thereās an element of truth for suuuure ahahah
Well itās great that you can feel it working. Indeed I can see how the slippery freezy north could be a hazard
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