cheapo's log

[cheapo]

Week 26 -- 6 Months!

Sunday, September 14, 2008
Weigh-In:

89.8 kg (198.0lbs)

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
D1L5:

21 rounds (+1 cf. previous D1L5, PR:26)
I think maybe i managed better form for more sets,
perhaps as many as 12 or 13.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
D2L5:

Skipped

...

Friday, September 19, 2008
D3L5:

6'51" (+11" cf. previous D3L5, +1'06" cf. PR)
Pull-ups: 26 (5-5-5-3-3-3-2)
Push-ups: 51 (26-5-5-5-5)
Squats: 51 (20-16-10-5)
I am gettiing frustrated!

After today's discussion with captain,
I hit today's workout with a renewed emphasis on form.
With this in mind I only did as many reps in a set as I could with good form.
Naturally, I expected a poorer time,
but what really bugs me is that I didn't maintain good form after the 1st 3 sets of pull-ups!
So I have a discouraging time and poor form.
Should I slow myself down even more to maintain good form through all sets?

Is there something else I can do to improve my performance?
Midsummer, I threw in some tabatas in hopes of improving my performance
and giving myself a break from the grind.
It was a nice break, but it didn't change much.

I suppose not skipping D2 would be a good start!
Seriously though, advice on alternative or supplementary training would be welcome.

[captain]

How much more sore were you following this effort. Using correct form will hit you harder and hopefully make you grow in strength.

All in all you are doing very well and with as many breaks as you presently need you must be moving very fast on the movements. The reason most of us went back and started over was that we decided that our form had improved and we were unable to make the endurance and strength gains simultaneouly necessary to meet the day three test. It was simply too tough a work out for execution in 5 minutes when doing it properly. I think you can stay where you are but you must have the stubborness to maintain form when the clock seems to be getting away from you.

[volleyball_man]

Add some good weight work. Deadlift, squat, press, clean, jerk...

[cheapo]

As much as this may be good advice (I'm sure it is!) Weights do not fit into my plans. (No space in my house, not time for the gym.) Perhaps a weighted vest?

[cheapo]

I should add that I bought a new pair of jeans on the weekend.

Waist = 33"!

Smallest waist in 10 years or so!

[cheapo]

Week 27

Monday, September 22, 2008
D1L5:
22 rounds (+1 cf. previous D1L5, PR:26)
Better form for longer.
Still had plenty of trouble with 3rd pull-up in later sets.
Thursday, September 24, 2008
D2L5:

Skipped

...

Friday, September 26, 2008
D3L5:

Skipped
...

[volleyball_man]

Weighted vest is good. No room for dumbells?

[cheapo]

Oh there's probably room, but it would be a hassle.
I work out in the living room, where there is a hardwood floor that I sanded and refinished myself. My pull-up bar hangs in the doorway that passes between the living room and hall. The hall has slate tile that I painstakingly laid myself. I have 2 kids. The chance for a dumbbell to mar one of those floors is one I can't bring myself to take. So, you see, there's room in the house but not in my life!

[cheapo]

Week 28

Tuesday, September 30, 2008
D1L5:
21 rounds (-1 cf. previous D1L5, PR:26)
The kids were watching a movie and I let it distract me.
I did 3 extra sets after the clock ran out.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
D2L5:

Untimed

First time doing D2 in aaaaaaaages! Unfortunately...(see below)

Friday, October 3, 2008
D3L5:

Skipped!
It was my son's birthday party?
In my defence, it was a swimming party!

[cheapo]

Week 29

Monday, October 6, 2008
D1L5:
23 rounds (+2 cf. previous D1L5, PR:26)
First time doing D1 on its appointed day in aaaaages!.
I will be traveling on business T-W-Th.
I must come up with some sort of travel workout for Wednesday!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
D2L5:

Traveling on business.

Wainwright, Alberta. Mmmm. Beef Jerky.

Friday, October 9, 2008
D3L5:

Skipped!
Wife's grandmother died. (Oct. 7). Funeral today. It was very nice.

[cheapo]

Week 30

Monday, October 13, 2008
D1L5:
skipped!
Worked on house.
Trimming windows on house exterior.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
D2L5:

skipped!

no excuse!

Thursday, October 16, 2008
Hockey!

Played my 1st game of hockey!

10:30pm-12:00am

It was stressful, because I am hockey-incompetent. It's rare condition, although numbers maybe greater than reported due to the stigma attached to the condition.

I was a complete spazz at putting on the gear. I think I dressed and undressed my lower half 3 times, even having to remove my skates!

I would have liked to say "Hi, my name is Matt, and this will be my first hockey game," but I didn't have the nerve. I am sure it was entirely obvious that I wasn't any good. Let's just hope the guys don't think I've been playing for very long.

Some of the guys were in great shape, some less so, but, of course, they could all out-skate me by miles. I would race along with a play, and then huff and puff while I rested and regrouped, everyone else would just fly right back into action.

Events of note:
At one point a player, following the play past me, opposite the direction I was skating said: "C'mon pokey!"
When it looked like I was going to fall while trying to avoid a collision with another player, the other player reached out his arm to steady me.

I have no complaints about my gear, everything seemed to fit fine. (Although my gloves felt pretty loose.)


Friday, October 17, 2008
D3L5:

skipped
Wife took me out to dinner.
Mmmmmmmm. Steak. Wife reminds me we did walk the dog.

[cheapo]

Week 31

Monday, October 20, 2008
D1L5:

24 +1 rounds (±0 cf. previous D1L5)

Back at it after almost two weeks away.
I worked hard and equaled my last D1 performance.
After the time ran out, I added one more set to meet my target or 25 sets.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
D2L5:

Untimed
Good form.
My arms were sore from D1.
I think this is the 1st time that has happened.

Friday, October 24, 2008
D3L5:

6'41" (+0'1" cf. previous D3L5, PR: 5'45")
Pull-ups: 26 (10-6-5-3-2)
Push-ups: 51 (31-10-5-5)
Squats: 51 (36-15)
While I am happy that I managed to get all 3 workouts into a week, I am pretty bummed about my D3 performance.

I am struggling with form on D3. I try to use perfect form while increasing my speed, but adding speed really messes with my form. I end up swinging around like Tarzan and waste all kinds of energy trying to stabilize myself.

When I do kipping pull-ups, obviously my form is compromised, but all my movements are directed towards getting my chest to that bar.

[cheapo]

Week 32

Monday, October 27, 2008
D1L5:
26 +1 rounds (+2 cf. previous D1L5, PR: 26)

Kippy.
Photos.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
D2L5:
Untimed

Decent form.
No swinging, but I didn't always get my chest to the bar.

Monday, November 3, 2008
D3L5:
6'05" (-0'36" cf. previous D3L5, PR: 5'45")
Pull-ups: 26 (11-4-3-3-3-2)
Push-ups: 51 (20-16-5-5-6-5)
Squats: 51 (36-15)

Still struggling with weird form for pull-ups.
I'm somewhere between strict form and full-on Crossfit-style kipping pull-ups.
I'm faster than strict, but nowhere near as kinetic as a kipped pull-up should be.

[cheapo]

I did D3 of Week 32 at the start of Week 33, and then nothing!

Week 34

Monday, November 10, 2008
D1L5:
26 +2 rounds (+2 cf. previous D1L5, PR: 26)

Really wanted to get 27 sets.
Form was not great.

I have been at L5 for so long; I just want to get through it!
So I sacrifice form.
I tell myself that once I make it to L6,
I will retrench with an emphasis on form and work up from there.
Wednesday,November 12, 2008
D2L5:
Untimed


Monday, November 14, 2008
D3L5:
6'05" (-0'36" cf. previous D3L5, PR: 5'45")
Pull-ups: 26 ()
Push-ups: 51 ()
Squats: 51 ()

[volleyball_man]

You rock man!