A man's gotta know his limitations

Last Monday's 200 burpee extravaganza was the gift that kept on giving. It wasn't until today, Thursday, that I could even attempt another burpee. Despite the fatigue, I was able to make last night's Sambo class, where we worked on a mash-up of the Judo throws harai goshi and osoto makikomi. Basically you wrap the arm as in osoto makikomi and use your hip as in harai goshi. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of this technique in Russian.

We also worked on tumbling: basic forward rolls; back rolls; back roll to a hand-stand and kip. I felt pretty good throughout the class- no residual signs of fatigue. This gave me the confidence to contemplate burpees again.

5-26-11
-31 bw pull-ups (pr?)
-6x2x10 secs, one-handed, bent arm hangs
-10x(10 burpees + 3 db C&P)*

It was the pull-ups that let me know that my energy levels had come back to almost normal today. I kipped on the last rep, so I'm not sure I can count it as a pr, but call it a sloppy 31. On the bent arm hangs, I felt a little ambitious, so I spiced the isometric with a little concentric. I didn't time the burpees, but it felt no longer than previous attempts.

As Clint Eastwood's Harry Callahan said in Magnum Force , "a man's gotta know his limitations." 200 burpees? just shoot me.

8,605/[238]

* Some folks have criticized this routine as more of a conditioning than strength routine, like skipping rope. Meh, make the db's progressively heavier and you'll be conditioned and strong.

recovery

Let's see, yesterday was the 200 burpee-fest and Sambo. Time to pay the piper. My lower back is tight, left quad is sore, scalenes are sore, same with the traps, left triceps, infraspinatus and rhomboids. I could continue with the 100 burpee day plan, if I want to see my pee turn the color of tea. Better to avoid rhabdo, rehydrate and rest. Also, I'm breaking out the Stick, to loosen up the quads and the trusty lacrosse balls and Indo board cylinder which I use for rolling out the back muscles. I'm using my fingertips to tack and stretch the scalenes.

I'm not suffering from Ibuprofen strength pain. I don't medicate for muscle pain anyway. It's just that I don't think training through this soreness is productive. I'm already losing weight due to the burpee challenge. I don't want to have any injuries from neglecting to rest.

The 200

The 200 burpee workout on judgment day had me a little tired, must have been those 72 virgins. Oh wait a minute. . . So I took a rest day, and today find myself behind the count yet again. How am I going to keep up the pace?

5-23-11
-15 bw chin-ups
-10x (10burpees+5 kneeling ab wheel roll-outs)
-10x (10 burpees +5 kneeling ab-wheel flies)

I started with a narrow grip chin-up test, but only managed 15. I'm thinking my arms are still too tired to perform. I spaced the burpee complexes out over a long period of time. No soreness, despite the volume. We'll see tomorrow.

8,505/[238]

double stuff

So I took a rest day yesterday, sort-of. I rolled my back and triceps over the lacrosse balls. I also worked on some pull-ups.
This left me refreshed for today's burpee extravaganza.

5-20-11
-30 pull-ups (pr)
-6x2x10 sec one-handed, bent-arm hangs

Yeah so the lacrosse ball massage left me feeling a little bit guilty. I tried to beat 28 neutral grip, dead hang pull-ups and got an ugly 30. The grip strength seems up to holding my body weight for one-arm/one handed chin-ups. So far, the elbows are pain free.

5-21-11
-10x(10 burpees+3 db c&p)
-10x(10 burpees+5 kneeling ab wheel roll-outs)

It doesn't look like much; just two lines of text. But man! The first 100 burpee complex came in at 16'39. The second 100 took considerably longer.

8,305/[238]

Attention rich people

May 21st is The Rapture. I'm now accepting worldly goods. Don't get stuck outside the pearly gates because you have too much stuff. If it's fungible, I'll take it.

Training wise, I'm undecided. It's a rainy Friday. Workout or roll-out my back on the lacrosse ball. Decisions, decisions.

As promised

So an easy day, as promised.

5-18-11
-28 neutral grip chin-ups
-6x2x10 sec one-handed, bent arm hang
-15x10 burpees

Without really trying, I busted out of a psychological barrier on the pull-ups since cracking 20. Today's 28 is a pr, but then Monday's 26 was also a pr.

I didn't time the burpees and had an easy time of it. The entire workout was still less than half an hour. Not bad for recovery, I guess.

I'm checking out a new fight gym tonight. The limited schedules of the two judo dojo nearby turned me off.

8,105/[238]

slow is fast

I was feeling a little wrecked from yesterday's workout, so the plan today was not to time the workout; remove the stress factor and just go easy. Nah.

5-17-11
-10 x (10 burpees+ 5 db cleans) 13'45
-50 burpees
-sledgehammer swipes and levers

Yeah, I said I wouldn't time it, but the stop watch was right there so I figured I'd go easy and just check the time at the end. I guess I wasn't so wrecked, because I improved on the last burpee/clean complex.

Easy day tomorrow, I promise.

7,955/[238]