Vintage SNL

This is going to date me, but while working out today I remembered a skit from the original Saturday Night Live cast with John Belushi and Dan Akroyd. It took place on the deck of a ship from the days of sail. Belushi was Captain Ned, Akroyd was the first mate, every hand was a masochist, and the ship was called the Raging Queen. Struggling to finish 10 minutes of power hang-clean, push-presses, my mind flashed back to another vessel.

While in college I rowed on the freshman crew. I sometimes took the bow seat on the first boat, but mostly stroked the second boat. As a freshman, a lightweight and an oarsman on the second boat, I was the lowest of the low, a poor relation of the untouchables. My boat, an 8 man coxed sweep, a battered thing of marine plywood that nobody wanted, was also named the Raging Queen.

How this name passed muster with the university's athletic department, we never knew. Either the powers that be didn't stay up past prime time and so couldn't possibly know about SNL, or they did. Whatever the reason, we were party to the joke and butt of it at the same time. Oh the shame, rowing up to the start line to the jeers of the other boats. It would be ironic and sweet revenge if we won some races. But no. Bastards.

Despite the crew's dismal performance, we were in the best shapes of our lives (OK, we were also in our late teens). The training was grueling and always at an intensity that got the inner voices chatty. 'round about the 18th or 19th rep of PHCPP's I remembered Akroyd' s (or was it Belushi's, I forget who played first mate) line, "Discipline me, Captain Ned." Someone in my boat threw it out there one miserable practice session. Gallows humor. It got chuckles from the crew and saved the day.

9/30/10:

-50 burpees (3'50)

-10 minutes of power hang-clean push press (40)

-pull-ups w/Fe (2x6)

-dips w/Fe (11,12)

The no-mas-ometer reads 3.9.

3,862

98/64/74-This is a weird reading from my blood-pressure monitor. I don't know if this is an instrument error, a result of training, biofeedback practice, or because I just finished an Asahi Dry.

9/27/10:

-5 min burpees (61)

-10 minutes of squat-clean-thrusters (25)

-weighted pull-ups (2x6)

-weighted dips (10,12)

I took a short breather between the burpees and the squat-clean-thrusters, and short is not recommended. Tired and unmotivated is how I felt throughout those damned SCT's.

3,756

9/28/10

-5 min burpees (56)

-10 min db front squat (45)

-weighted pull-ups

-weighted dips

Although it looks like I took a hit on the burpee front, maybe so, I think there's some hidden progress as this was a straight set, ie. no rests. The day before, I shook the legs out at the 30 rep mark. Overall, I'm underwhelmed considering I did get below 3 minutes for 50 reps not too long ago. Maybe I'm past my sell by date.

The db front squat is my weak point when it comes to thrusters; the presses, not so much. I thought 5 reps per minute was a pace I should shoot for, but did not make it. Oh well.

3,812

102/67/72

2nd date with Hilde

You remember Hilde, Fran's nice friend. I had my second outing with her and it went pretty much the same as the first date. It was embarrassing for me, not that she would ever say anything about it.

Hilde part II:

-50 burpees

-21-15-9 thrusters (2x25 kgs) and pull-ups

Got my time down to 11'47"74, a modest improvement; this after 2 somewhat intense days of training immediately prior. I am tired.

The no-mas-ometer reads 4.0, but just barely. Trying to beat the previous time provided the extra bit of intensity.

3,695

x2

I did the same routine as yesterday, well almost the same. The difference today was I did not use the kitchen timer for the burpees. That's right! Alert the media!

Thursday's workout:
-50 burpees ( no time limit)
-10 minutes of db squat-clean-thrusters (27)

Later on in the day, I'll do a couple sets of weighted pull-ups (same as yesterday, although not noted). Nothing to get excited about here, just six reps per set. The aim is to increase the reps of the squat-clean-thrusters and weighted pull-ups without burning out or getting injured. All of this for a girl named Fran.

The no-mas-ometer reads 3.9. I'm looking for some no-tears, perspiration. So far, I've only got the kind that stings.

3,645

108/69/66

squat-clean-thrusters

At first I didn't know what to call this exercise, but I finally ran across a video. Apparently, it's called a squat clean thruster. It's got everything you need: clean; squat; overhead press. I like the explosive hip element of the clean; the core stability element of catching and standing up with the weight; the glute, quad and ham activation of the squat; and my heart likes it for the 10 minutes of fun with a capital FU.

Wednesday's workout:
-5 min burpees (60)
-10 min multivitamin (23)

The no-mas-ometer reads 3.9.

3,595

106/69/57

a Tabata finisher

puts the jalapeno in the salsa. Without it, I'm left with something vague and mushy.

Today's workout comprised:
-5 minutes burpees (62)
-10 minutes of weighted (24 kg) pull-ups (9x3) and handstand push-ups (9x3)
-Tabata row

It's been a while since I did weighted pull-ups or handstand push-up so I threw them in the mix today. That I ignored them for a long time was apparent. OK, so only 27 pull-ups and HSPU's. Pft. I had to include a Tabata row or the workout would have been almost like an active recovery day activity.

The no-mas-ometer reads 3.6.

3,535

if it looks like a tornado

and acts like a tornado, then it probably is a tornado. Last night a storm passed through New York City and it's environs uprooting tress, knocking over tractor trailers, downing power lines and making a greater hassle of the evening commute. There was one fatality.

I was caught out in the storm with my eldest daughter. Overhead, a large ominous cloud settled over the city like an alien mother ship. Thunder rumbled like distant kettledrums and then we were pelted with hailstones, larger than Chicklets but smaller than M&M's. I mentioned to my daughter how hailstones usually precede tornados. But not to worry, I reassured her, we hardly ever get those. Hah! Luckily, the worst we experienced was a few hailstone beanings and a little drizzle. Other areas got hit hard. News sources seem reluctant to use the "T" word (click the title and see), preferring the ambiguous "tornado-like." Whatever.

if it looks like an ass-kicker:
-5 min burpees
-10 minutes 2x25kg db squats
-Tabata row (Concept 2)

I haven't done this workout. I'm about to, and it has all the characteristics of an ass-kicking workout. I predict pain. I'll edit with my verdict.
-----------
OK, it was an ass-kicker:
-5 min burpees (only 57)
-10 minutes squats (only 8 minutes and 40 squats)
-Tabata row, sucked before and sucked again

I tried something new with the burpees-landing in the down position of the squat instead of catching myself half-standing. I thought I'd give myself a good stretch doing this but the effect was negative. With the squats, I employed the interval timer (30 sec work/rest) but couldn't sustain that pace past the 8 minute mark. I quit before I pulled something or tweaked my back. After a short breather I mounted the rower anticipating a painful 4 minutes. Surprise-only the last 3 minutes hurt.

The no-mas-ometer reads 4.0.

Before I forget.
Yesterday:

-5 min burpees (62)
-10 minutes of single-arm c&p (90)

Wasn't feeling it today doing the c&p. The left arm was balky-weak grip.

The no-mas-ometer reads 3.5

3,416

110/65/59

3,473