Monthly Archives: July 2010

Me vs. mosquitoes

Am I the only one who thinks the flies and mosquitoes are totally out of control this year?  It’s INSANE!

I’m constantly swatting flies inside, and forget seeing me out in the yard too much — the mosquitoes make a meal out of me.

But sometimes I can’t avoid it when I want to use the bar.  I spray heavily with bug repellent and hope I make it through with only a few bites.  Tonight I did this workout (by myself, because Andy’s shoulder is really bothering him):

“Baby Isabelle”
30 Hang Power Snatch (45#)

It started tough, grew a little easier and then got tougher again.

Time: 4:20

I felt like my legs were a little neglected, so Andy and I cooked up a little something.

AMRAP 10min
Lunges (back and forth across the yard — about 27 or 30)
25 squats

I finished 6 or 7 rounds — lost track

Nothing like a shower to get that nasty bug spray off.  Now — some shut-eye!  Got another long day of work ahead of me again tomorrow!

Thank goodness for workouts

If it weren’t for my workouts, I  don’t think I’d make it through the day.

Seriously.  On the days I workout in the morning, I can go at least an hour longer until I completely crash, which lately has been early evening.

Yes, I have gotten to the point where I need a daily nap.  I’m just too tired to go on, much to my 3-year-old’s chagrin, because he would like me to be awake and play with him.

Today was no different.  It was a long day, and at 5pm, I was toast.  I got up after an hour, very grumpy, but thankful for the little bit of rest I got.

Don’t get me wrong — today’s WOD was tough — but the residual energy it leaves with me really helps me get through the morning and early afternoon.  Without the exercise, I’m tired ALL DAY.

“Greg”
30-20-10 KB clean (M 32k / W 24k)
10-20-30 Ring dips

Time: 6:35

I realized I ran through this a little fast.  My kettlebell was only a 12k — maybe I should have sought out a 14k or 16k?.  And the ring dips on one foot went fast.  Next time, I’ll do them with a band.  It’s time.

In the meantime… time for sleep.  There’s too much to do each day to be tired.

A WOD for Sally

Today’s Crossfit WOD was named for one of my classmates — Sally — who is a badass!

She’s one of the nicest people I know and tough as nails!  She’s taking some time off this summer and missed her WOD, but she says she’ll be back.

Sally T.
Shuttle Run (sidewalk to sidewalk x2)
2 Hang Squat Clean (M 115 / W 95)
Shuttle Run
4 Hang Squat Clean
Shuttle Run
6 Hang Squat Clean
Shuttle Run
8 Hang Squat Clean
Shuttle Run
6 Hang Squat Clean
Shuttle Run
4 Hang Squat Clean
Shuttle Run
2 Hang Squat Clean

Time: 5:20

Yeah, I was super fast on this one, but there are 2 reasons why.  1) I reduced the weight significantly to 55#.  2) I did Hang Power Cleans instead of Hang Squat Cleans.  I consciously made the change because it’s just not comfortable to squat and I can’t squat low anyway.  Power cleans feel much better.

Because the workout was so fast, Zach had a boot camp style workout for us as a finisher.

4 rounds
15 sit ups
20 wide push ups
25 lunges in place

It wasn’t timed.  I finished everything except 22 lunges in the 4th round.  I did side sit ups instead of using the ab-mat, and my push ups weren’t full depth because I didn’t elevate them.  Normally I would use a box, but I was in a hurry and I can’t do wide arms on a box.

It’s getting much tougher to move around.  The girls in class noticed my belly is a little lower these days.  We’re getting close.  I mentioned to Andy tonight that there’s a very good chance I could miss my own baby shower, since it’s not until the end of August.

That due date sure feels only 6 weeks away.

Get the sillies out

There’s a Yo Gabba Gabba song called Get the Sillies Out that my son loves to listen to in the car (when we’re not listening to the Beastie Boys or Ray Charles).

I couldn’t find it on YouTube, but I found one that’s similar:

Yes.  I do know it by heart.  Good times.

Anyway, I was reminded of the “Sillies” song yesterday afternoon.  I had had a really crappy morning — quite literally, thanks to the hound dog — that somehow turned into an unexpected phone interview and job offer (long story), and after that phone call I was feeling really jumpy and weird.

I had a case of the sillies.  Andy was working from home, and his suggestion — WORKOUT.  Here’s what we did:

7 rounds
7 Dumbbell Hang Power Clean (#20)
7 Push Up

Time: 5:50

Andy swears we’ve done this workout before and that we were both faster and used heavier weights this time.  Could be.  I intended to use 25# DBs, but even with the sillies, I just didn’t have it in me.

It was a great WOD, and it worked.  I felt much better.

Return to the gym

My week off from the Crossfit gym came to an end this morning.

The gym had closed, partly because it was a 5th week of the month and partly because of the Crossfit Games.  Honestly, I rested much of the time, thanks to exhaustion and my back.  I needed it.

But it was good to return.  As I said on Facebook this morning, my workouts are the only time I don’t feel like I’m 8 months pregnant. It has been 32 weeks, the belly is huge, and I’m feeling the strain.

My classmates started with some handstand walking – which I can’t do right now, but I WILL as soon as I’m able in the fall.  Then we did this:

3 rounds
400 m run
21 Wall Ball (M 20# / W 14#)
12 Push Press (M 95# / W 65#)

Time: 14:15

I subbed rowing for running, used a 12# med ball (there weren’t enough 14# balls) and the 45# bar (only) for the push press.

It was brutal.  I left soaked in sweat, sucking down water, but feeling elated that I showed up when I’ve been feeling so run down lately.  The workout managed to give me enough energy to make it through a day of running errands with the little one, and my daily dose of exhaustion didn’t kick in until 5pm.  Yay!

Return to working out

I should be in bed, so this will be a quick post.

I took several days off from working out after pulling a muscle in my back.  It was one of those I’m-embarrassed-that-it-happened-and-please-don’t-tell-my-OB-GYN-how-I-did-it-because-she-will-freak kind of injuries.

A light deadlift did it, and it really sucks not being able to take ibuprofen for the swelling.  All I could do was apply ice and take Tylenol for the pain.  Can you say ‘ow?’

I’m feeling better now, and I’m still careful to ice several times a day to make sure it stays that way.

Last night, Andy handed me a workout that would be a good way to get back into working out.  It was inspired by a workout some friends did last week.

50-40-30-20-10
Double Unders
Push ups

Time: 14:02

I don’t even mess with double unders right now, so I doubled the reps for single jump rope swings.  We were out front (being attacked by mosquitoes), so I did elevated push ups on the front railing — chest to rail.  Ow.

I planned to work out tonight, but a long day at the zoo really knocked it out of me.  Today became an active rest day instead.

Return of the zombie

Sleep has been hard to come by lately.

It’s partly my own fault.  I just have too much I want and need to do — so I try to cram it all into the day.

But partly it’s.. well I guess it’s my own fault too.. but this time I blame biology.

I don’t remember feeling this uncomfortable at this point during my last pregnancy.  Maybe it didn’t happen.  Likely, I just don’t remember because I was in too much of a fog then to commit brain cells to memory.

The 3rd trimester of pregnancy can be as exhausting as the first.  The only problem is — even though I want to sleep, I just can’t.  I haven’t slept soundly for more than 5 hours each night in weeks.  The rest of the time in bed I toss and turn, get up for water (I am thirsty ALL THE TIME), a bathroom visit, try to find a comfortable position… you name it.  Add to it the heat, a 3-year-old who sometimes needs me to get up in the middle of the night and a general sense of restlessness, and you have the makings of an exhausted woman.

Yep.  That would be me.  You can spot me by my bewildered and dazed look.

So when I say I’m tired of being pregnant…  I mean it quite literally.

Exercise has helped to perk me up for a bit, although it always comes back to tire me out more. I have managed to put in several home workouts, but I did rest for 3 full days following the thruster WOD I did at Crossfit last Thursday.  Wow — talk about being sore.

Monday:

30-20-10
Step ups
Back squats #45
Dips

Time: 11:10 at 45#

Tuesday (at Crossfit Central):

8 rounds
12 jumping squats
8 clapping push ups
12 DB one-armed snatch (M 55/W 35)

Time: 15:11

I used 20# DBs for 4 rounds and 25# DBs for the rest.  I also used a box to elevate my pushups.

Wednesday:

15-12-9-6-3
Push Press #65
Push ups

Time: 8:10 at 45#

We planned to do a strength workout tonight, but Andy fell asleep hours ago.  Tomorrow.

Maybe I’ll actually sleep tonight.  Maybe.

Focus on the payoff

I tackled some really tough workouts at Crossfit this week.  Fortunately they were separated by a much needed rest day.

Tuesday:

Floor Press
5×5

-then-

“Linda S”
3 rounds
Overhead walking lunge (M 45# / W 25#)
250m run

Time: 9:43 (subbed rowing for running, but used the RX weight)

Thursday:

Ladder drills

-then-

“Tom G”
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Sumo deadlift high pull (M 95# / W 65#)
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Thrusters

Time: 10:06 with 45# bar

I’m exhausted after this one, even though I didn’t do it prescribed.  I had trouble keeping track of what number I was on.  I’m pretty sure I did them all, even though I ended up on the SDLHPs rather than the thrusters.  I probably did more reps than I should have.  Pregnancy head… I’m tellin’ ya.

Speaking of that — today is 30 weeks.  I can’t believe it’s only 2 1/2 months away.  I’ve been lost in thought lately about it… sometimes fearful of the pain and experience.  But today I decided I’m not going to be afraid anymore.  I’m just not.  It’s wasted energy.  I need all my energy.  I’m going to get through it and the payoff is going to be amazing — a baby girl!!!

Home stretch

Not long ago, Andy attempted to hum the them to Rocky.  You know — duh, duh duh-duh-duh, duh duh duh-duh-duh…  It was pretty bad, and Luke said, “What was that?”

Andy: “The theme from Rocky.  A movie”

Luke: “Andy, you’re silly.  You’re just making that up.”

Andy: “Oh yeah?”

So he went off and found it online and downloaded it, so that we now can listen to it in the car.  Lovely.

Of course, it is a great theme when you’re trying to pump yourself up for something, you know, like a WOD… or, perhaps, childbirth.  But that’s another story.

I took two rest days after Thursday’s WOD.  I was just worn out and sore.  I needed to heal.  But we jumped back into it on Sunday with a combo!  I love those:

Strength
5×5
Shoulder Press
Deadhang pull up

-then-

“Reagan”
21-15-9
Push ups
Lunges
Hang power cleans #45

The rest days helped, because I felt really strong all the way through.

Strength results: 45-45-50-55-60
(I would like to note that my max has been stuck at 65# for a while, so being able to do 60# in a 5×5 hopefully indicates I’m stronger now!)

Met-con time: 6:18

Yep, it was a quickie, but really good!  Did the push ups from my knees elevated on the deck, which seemed a little high.  Andy suggested doing future push ups on the parallette bars.

This morning we did this WOD:

5 rounds
10 pull ups
10 dips
10 knees-to-elbows (knee raises for me)
10 squats

Time 15:27

I did not feel so comfortable this time with the knees to elbows.  I don’t know how to describe it — my belly felt uncomfortable… stretched.

Of course, I’ve been feeling uncomfortable all day.  But, you know,  I’m not surprised.  Baby girl is growing rapidly right now, and it’s only about 2 1/2 months until her birthday.  We’re in the home stretch!

Spoke too soon…

Remember what I said about Baby Angie being a little too easy?

Turns out it wasn’t.  I just didn’t feel the effects until the next day.  The workout I had planned for Wednesday hurt.  A lot.

“Abby”
3 rounds
20 Push press (65#)
20 Step ups
20 Overhead squats (45#)

Time: 16:53

I used the 45# bar on both the push press and OHS.  It wore me out.

Needless to say, I was grateful that this morning’s WOD was leg heavy, even though it was also REALLY hard.

“Norah”
21-18-15-12-9-6-3
Pistols
GHD hip extensions
Box Jumps (M 24″ / W 20″)

Time: 15:29

I don’t remember the last time I had to modify a workout so much.  I scaled the pistols by using the rope to balance.  I can’t do hip extensions, so Zach had me do good mornings with the 35# bar.  And of course I subbed step ups for the box jumps.

It was brutal, nonetheless.  I can only imagine how my classmates were feeling as they did this one prescribed.