Tag Archives: turkish get-ups

Panting through Turkish Get-ups

“That workout would have been a lot better if I actually had abs,” I remarked to a classmate this morning, after struggling through today’s WOD.

5 rounds
6 Turkish Get-ups
12 Sprawl to high pull (M 24k / W 16k)
2x Sidewalk to sidewalk lateral shuffle

I’ve done Turkish get ups before as park of skill work, but I can’t remember them ever being part of a WOD.  At least, not in my class.

They are definitely a weakness for me.  Because I still struggle with holding 16kg above my head,  I chose to use a 12kg kettlebell for the get-ups and the RX kettlebell for the sprawls.  But that didn’t help me speed up.

I deliberately chose to do my 3 Turkish Get-ups on the left first because that side is weaker.  My left arm shook.  My body felt weak with each motion.  The right side was stronger, but they were still very difficult.

“You’re getting stronger just doing these,” I told myself in my head as I panted.

I did not finish.  When we were cut off at 18 minutes, I had finished 3 rounds and 2 Get-ups.

We’ll see how I feel tomorrow after that workout.

Kettlebell fun

I ALMOST took on a kettlebell workout last night after a strength session.  Kind of glad I didn’t now, because my arms needed a break for this morning’s grueling WOD.

We started off with a skill session of Turkish get-ups.  My kettlebell for this was really light (13lbs), but as my friend Cindy F. says — it’s important to use lighter weights when developing skills.  That’s not to say I wasn’t sweating, though.  Whew!

Then:

5 rounds
30 sit ups
20 KB swings (American @ 1.5 pood for M)
10 KB clean and press

We had 15 minutes to finish this WOD, and I did not finish (I hate that!).  I had just started round 5 when time was called.

Results: 4 rounds + 17 sit ups @ 12 kg

It was painfully obvious this morning that my left side is weaker than my right, from the Turkish get-ups to the side sit ups to the clean and press.  One of my goals is to try and even my sides out.

Last night, Andy and I worked at home with the barbells.  I have been trying to concentrate on upper body strength, since it’s very difficult to bend or squat with weight now.

5-5-5
Shoulder Press
Push Press
Push Jerk

Results:
Shoulder press — 45-50-55
Push press — 50-55-60
Push jerk — 55-60-65

I felt really strong.  Could I have tried more weight?  Sure.  Was I being conservative?  You bet.  But, you know, I gotta clean the weight I press, and I have to be careful right now not to bop my belly.  I’m too close to the finish line to get hurt!

The Camel

So, seriously, Andy said I’m like a camel now.

The weather has been warm and sticky in the mornings, and I’m drinking water like crazy.  This morning I drank a huge glass before even setting foot outside for Crossfit.  Then I drank my entire giant water bottle before we even started the WOD.  Thank goodness there’s a water fountain so I could fill up, because I almost finished the fill-up before getting home — all in 1 1/2 hours.

Here’s what we did this morning:

Turkish Get-ups

-then-

For Time:
1000m row
50 swings (M 24k / W 16k)
30 thrusters (M 95# / W 65#)

The Turkish get-ups were awkward.  Zach assured me I could do them at this stage, and he was right.  We started with a light kettlebell and then used a 12kg KB.  But the move itself is technically challenging and it will take practice.  It was much harder on the left side than the right.

For the WOD, I stuck with the 12kg KB and pulled out a 45# bar for thrusters.  It took me a little over 5 minutes to finish the 1K row.  I broke the swings up into 2 sets of 25 so I could catch my breath for a few seconds in between.  The thrusters were brutal as usual.  I had to do those in sets of 5.

Time: 11:15

Last night, Andy and I did a “belly challenge” workout that we didn’t get to on Sunday because of how tired we were from yardwork and gardening.

I did:

“Baby Barbara”
5 rounds
6 pull ups
8 push ups
10 knees-to-elbows
12 squats

I finished in 12:17. Andy actually took on the full “Barbara,” which is:

5 rounds
20 pull ups
30 push ups
40 sit ups
50 squats

He had finished 3 rounds and 10 pull ups when I called time at 25 minutes.  Yay Andy!  His pull ups are looking great, although he says he needs to practice his kip, because he’s using his back more than his hips.