March 13 WOD: Deck of Cards

Metcon

"Deck of Cards" (30 minute cap)

Hearts - Burpees
Diamonds - Kettlebell swings
Spades - Sit ups
Clubs - Squats
Face cards - 10 reps
Aces - 15 reps

You're supposed to go through the whole deck and you do the number of reps on the card that the coach draws. We finished in about 28 minutes.

I guess the WOD programmer didn't want people getting too tired from today's workout because we'll be doing 14.3 tomorrow.

March 12 WOD: Plyo day and team WOD

Every time I come to plyo day I tell myself, "You neeeeeddddd this." Coz you know, my metcons always suck.

A. Ladder drills

B. Station skills and drills

4 rounds (45 seconds on, 15 seconds off):
- Lateral hops over hurdles
- Quick feet on 12" box
- One leg balancing with eyes closed

C. Metcon

Team WOD (teams of 3)

15 minutes AMRAP
Person 1 - 200m run (pacer)
Person 2 - goblet jump squats (16/12 kg)
Person 3 - kettlebell swings (24/16 kg)

The score is the total number of reps of goblet jump squats and KBS. I got teamed with Helen and Rae and I got the lowest score among the three of us. I used the prescribed weights for the kettlebell movements so can I use that as an excuse? Sorry, girls!


Our score: 415 reps

February 26 WOD: Plyo Wednesday!

Since I'm so bad at body weight movements, I don't go to the box on Wednesdays because they're plyo day. I usually pick Wednesday as my rest day but I didn't work out yesterday so I had to come in today.

A. Resistance band sprints

B. Plyometrics: 4-square drill

C. Metcon

3 rounds, FGB style

1 minute max reps of:

Wall balls (9/7 kg)
Box jumps (24/18")
Kettlebell swings (24/16 kg)
Burpees
V-ups
1 minute rest

D. Core work: partner Russian twists with med ball

The plyo part wasn't bad, it was the metcon that sucked. Ideally, you should rest only during the 1 minute rest period but I love to rest so my score wasn't that good. We weren't able to do core work anymore though because there was no more time.


My score: 195 Rx

February 10 WOD: Team WOD

There was no strength or skill work today, just the metcon workout.

Team WOD (teams of 3)

4 x 5 minute AMRAP

3 box jump overs (24/20")
6 push press (95/65#)
9 kettlebell swings (24/16 kg)
Rest 2 minutes between quarters

A team member does one whole round and the next team member does the next round, and so on. After 5 minutes, there's a 2 minute rest, and then the next 5 minute AMRAP begins. I teamed with Rhona and Mau, and Coach Jordan said that we should aim to do 9 rounds during each set. Apparently, about 2 teams were able to do it. Unfortunately, we weren't one of them.


Our score: 26 + 8 KBS (18"; 55#; 16 kg)

January 30 WOD: Bells and burps

A. BBG

Every 2 minutes for 12 minutes:
Clean + Front squat (80-85% across all sets)

B. Metcon

"Tabata" Bells and Burps

6 sets, max reps:
20 seconds KBS (24/16 kg)
10 seconds rest
20 seconds burpees
10 seconds rest

Well, that wasn't so bad. What WAS bad was when I ate pizza and crepe cake after the WOD. Maigirl and Jason were celebrating their birthday and had brought food. And Greg brought one of his cheesecake experiments for us to try. Needless to say, it was to die for, and I can't wait for his shop to open near the box!

My half-eaten slice of coffee cheesecake crepe cake

Anyway, my score: 95# (clean complex); 76 reps Rx

Dec 16 WOD: 1RM Shoulder press

A. SWOD

6 work sets to 1RM shoulder press (20 minutes)

B. Metcon

7 minutes AMRAP

7 box jumps (24/20")
7 burpees
7 kettlebell swings (24/16 kg)

I didn't get a PR on the shoulder press but I'm happy that 70# didn't seem as heavy as it did the first time. I remembered to avoid overextending my back as much as possible (I don't think I bent it that much) and I tried to keep my whole body tight

Fewer and fewer people have been going to the 10 am class. My theory is it's because of the slightly cooler temperatures and the shorter days that make it more difficult to get up in he morning. Oh, and I'm sure the heavy holiday traffic is also a factor.


My score: 70# (shoulder press); 4 + 6 KBS (yes, one friggin rep shy of 5 rounds)

Nov 15: DNF for lunch

A. BBG

6 sets of the following clean complex:

High hang clean + push press + push/split jerk
Rest 2 minutes after each set

B. Metcon

For time (10 minute cap)

100 double unders
75 kettlebell swings (24/16 kg)
50 push press (75/55#)

I started off with 75# for the complex and stopped at 95# during my fourth set. I was able to do it but I failed in the push press in the fifth AND sixth sets. Weak!

On the bright side, miracle of miracles, my double unders showed up today! I finished the 100 DUs in under 5 minutes but it took me a lot of time to finish the KBS. I also rested a lot while doing the push press.


My score: 95# (clean complex); 196 reps Rx

Nov 4 WOD: Those darn kettlepees

I almost didn't go today. If it weren't for the strength WOD, I probably wouldn't have come.

A. SWOD

Front squats

3 x 95#

2 x 105#

1 x 110#

1 x 115#

1 x 125#

1 x 130#

3 x 110#

B. Metcon

100 kettlebell swings (24/16 kg)

Every 30 seconds, do 3 burpees

I failed the 130# FS. Sadness. Then in the metcon I rested a few times and, as what always happens when I rest too long and too often, I DNFed. Also, I am always embarrassed by how much I sweat.

My score: 125# (front squat); 86 Rx

Oct 21 WOD: A whole lot of leg work

A. SWOD

Front squats (15 minutes)
Work up to a heavy single

B. Metcon

Part 1: 7 minute cap
20 Russian kettlebell swings (32/24 kg)
10 box jumps (30/24")

Rest, then at the start of the 12th minute:

Part 2: 4 sets
60 seconds max reps wall balls
60 seconds rest

Mondays are always hard. Midway through the warm up I always find myself wishing I hadn't gone to the box.


My score: 115 (front squat); Part 1 - 4:38 (16 kg/24"); Part 2 - 60 reps

Oct 10 WOD: That heart attack feeling

A. BBG

5 x 3 hang clean (rest 2 minutes after each set)

B. Metcon

12 minutes AMRAP

15 kettlebell swings (24/16 kg)
10 wall balls (9/7 kg)
100m run

The KBS-wall ball-run combo was nasty. At one point towards the end, I felt like I couldn't get enough air in my lungs and I was bent over with my hands on my knees. I hadn't felt that in a while. It was one of those workouts that, as Gigay said, makes you feel so alive!


My score: 100# (hang clean); 4 + 15 KBS (Rx)

Sep 30 WOD: Clean pulls

A. BBG

Clean pulls
3-3-3-3

* Same weight across; focus on technique

B. Metcon

5 rounds
30 seconds max effort kettlebell swings
30 seconds rest
60 seconds max effort burpees
1 minute rest in between rounds

Gigay, Rhona, and I shared a bar for the clean pulls and the three of us used the same weight. Oh, and the metcon sucked. Or rather, I sucked at the metcon.


My score: 115# (clean pulls); 58 KBS (16 kg) + 67 burpees = 125

Sep 12 WOD: Throwdown jitters

A. SWOD

Front squat
5 x 60% = 75
5 x 70% = 85
5 x 70% = 85
5 x 75% = 95

B. Metcon

5 RFT (15 minute time cap)
20 walking lunges
15 kettlebell swings (32/24)
10 wall balls (20/14)

The throwdown is 2 days away and I'm totally consumed by it. I'm just glad that I'm doing it with friends. Otherwise, I'd probably psych myself out and chicken out. I shall just look forward to our beach trip post-throwdown. That should be good.


My scores: 95# (front squat); 10:55 (16 kg/14#)

Aug 22 WOD: Team WOD

Teams of 3 (20 minute time cap)

21-15-9

Back squats (155/105)
Kettlebell swings (32/24)
Pacer holds plate OH (45/25)

Today, Helen, Rhona, and I teamed up. What happens is, one person does the back squats while one does the KBS and the third one holds the plate overhead. If the person doing the overhead hold must rest, the other two have to rest too. For the first set, I did the KBS while Rhona did the OH hold and Helen did the back squats. The three of us rotated until we all completed the set of 21, and we did the same for the set of 15 and 9. My aching quads!

Our score: 10:00 (75 lb back squat/16 kg kettlebell/25 lb plate)

Aug 21 WOD: Team WOD

The WOD we did today was different from what was posted on the site (supposedly "Bra-less" Annie). It was a team WOD, and we got to choose our teammates. Naturally, Rhona, Trish, and I teamed up.

Team WOD (30 minute time cap; teams of 3 with only one person working at a time)

150 burpees
200 kettlebell swings (24/16)
250 anchored situps
300 squats

We divided the work among us and decided to do 30 x 5 burpees, 20 x 10 KBS, 16 x 15 + 10 reps anchored situps, and 20 x 15 squats. We decided to use 16 kg for the KBS as prescribed.

It was hard! Especially since I've had no exercise since last Thursday.

Our score: 29+ minutes

Jul 26 WOD: Partner WOD

Well, I never thought I'd find older men attractive but I changed my mind when I saw all those fit masters athletes in the CrossFit Games. I watched a footage of a woman in her late 50s doing a clean and jerk with 135 lbs. Just. Wow. I hope I'll still be setting PRs when I'm in my 50s!

A. SWOD

Split jerk 5 x 2 (70%)

B. Metcon

PWOD

50 hand stand push ups
60 kettlebell swings (32/24)
70 toes to bar
80 wall balls (20/14)

We had to clean the bar off the ground for the split jerks so I didn't go too heavy.

I partnered with Helen and for the first time since I did Open workout 13.3, I used a 7 kg ball. It turns out that using a rubber ball instead of the big, soft ones makes a difference. Rhona and I had already practiced doing wall balls using those 7 kg balls so today's WOD didn't seem too daunting. I just had a hard time with the knees to elbow (since I was scaling).

My score: 75 (split jerk); 14:04 (16 kg/14 kg)

Jul 20: Kapitolyo vs. Libis mini-throwdown

Coach Matt sent some of the Libis people a last-minute invite to come to the Kapitolyo box for a friendly mini-throwdown, supposedly to give the other box a feel of how a throwdown feels like. At first I thought it was going to be all fun and games, and then I started feeling the stress when we arrived early. The aircon was busted and since there aren't any windows at the box, at some point it became too hard to breathe (or was it just the stress?).

The WOD was a 3-person team relay (30 minute time cap):

Grace
30 clean and jerks (95/65 lbs)

Helen
3 rounds
400m run
21 kettlebell swings (16/12 kg)
12 pull ups

Karen
150 wall balls (7/5 kg)

I was teamed up with Macky and Albright and among the three of us, we decided that I'll do Grace, Macky will do Helen, and Albright will do Karen. Since the box was small, the teams were divided into two heats, and our team was part of the first heat. Just before we started, I realized that I was the only girl doing Grace! But I'll take Grace any time over Helen or Karen. Those are just eewww.

There was a running clock and I finished doing Grace in 3:40; Macky finished Helen in 18:04; and Albright finished Karen in 29:11.

Sadly, Libis lost. Three Kapitolyo teams won and only two Libis teams won. Cry. We just consoled ourselves at the box party in the evening.

Jul 9 WOD: Maximum effort

It was the squat cleans that made a comeback today. We couldn't help but speculate that these are the kinds of WODs we'll see at the throwdown.

A. SWOD

Squat clean 8 x 2 (75%+ of 1RM)

B. Metcon

5 rounds

30 seconds max effort burpees
30 seconds rest
30 seconds kettlebell swings (32/24 kg)
30 seconds rest
30 seconds sit ups
30 seconds rest

I was going to use 85 lbs for the squat cleans but then Coach Jordan saw me warming up, and he remarked that I'd be able to do 95 lbs so I took his advice. The thing about the squat clean is you need to be able to front squat the weight you're going to clean. Which is why I prefer the power clean.

For the metcon I used the 24 kg kettlebell for the first time. Good thing we were asked to do Russian swings (swing up to eye level) instead of overhead swings. I kept getting off balance the first few reps of the first set, but I finally found my groove in the succeeding sets. I also tried doing burpees the way Trish does it, which is to finish by touching the tips of the fingers behind the head instead of clapping. Maybe it was just my imagination but it felt more efficient.

My score: 95 lbs (squat clean); 194 total reps Rx

Jun 28 WOD: A PR, a hairy metcon, and a cake

I may need to buy more long socks for these dead lift days.

A. SWOD

Dead lift 1RM (15 minutes)

Partner glute ham raise 4 x 15

B. Metcon

7 minutes AMRAP

100m sprint

20 kettlebell swings (32/24)

I grouped with Trish, Rhona, and Helen for the dead lift. The last time I got my 1RM was when I did the Total sometime late last year, and I did 185 lbs. Today, I got a 5 lb PR and did 190. I attempted to do 200 but I couldn't even get the bar off the ground. But I'm still happy with 190. I know I'll get 200 next time!

For the metcon, I used only 16 kg. Good thing, too, because my legs were feeling heavy after the SWOD. Also, mixing running and KBS is never a good thing. Plus it was sooo hot outside! I know the board said "sprint" but I was doing something that looked more like jogging. Finally, after it was all over, we crowded around the tres leches cake that Albright had made and brought. Yum. I love that I have so many boxmates who are bakers and cooks!

Photo by Albright

But wait, that's not all. Like an afterthought, I joined the bootcamp class's cool down of alternating 1 minute wall squats and planks.

My score: 190 (dead lift); 4 + 15 KBS (16 kg)

Jun 11 WOD: Power clean SWOD

Today's workout wasn't as bad as yesterday's.

A. SWOD

EMOM power cleans 10 x 3 (75 - 85% of 1RM)

B. Metcon

EMOM x 7

2 laps shuttle run
15 kettlebell swings (24/16)

My score: 85 (power clean); KBS 16

If you look at it on the board, you wouldn't think 15 reps for the KBS isn't that many, but it starts to seem like it when you're on the clock and you're supposed to finish within a minute.

Jun 6 WOD: Ugh. Just ughhh.

The CFMNL site is down and we're thinking that they're testing us to see if we'd still show up for WODs without knowing what they are. Hmmm... Anyway, we did another SWOD today before the metcon, and they were both tough!

A. SWOD: Front squats

4 x 12 (65% - 75% of 1RM)

B. Metcon

5 RFT (18 minute time cap)

10 dead lift (185/135)
15 push ups
20 kettlebell swings (32/24)

Trish, Tere and I shared a bar and we used 70 lbs for the first 3 sets of the SWOD, then 75 lbs for the last set. I suppose we could've gone heavier but our inner sandbagger in us won out. And then the metcon. The metcon was nasty. It doesn't look like much but when you're on the third round of 20 KBS you're going to start wishing you didn't have to do 2 more rounds.

My score: 75 (front squat); 15:50 (115 lbs deadlift, 12 kg kettlebell)