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22 thoughts on “Mon, Feb 2nd”

1. I’ll go first I guess.

   Overall I’m happy with how my January has progressed training wise. I’m on an Olympic-Lifting kick at the moment, and hoped to hit 70Kg Snatch this month, so that’s an achievement. I also got an 85Kg Clean in Engerland on Sat so an 85 Clean & Jerk by the end of Feb will be cool.

   On the jitz front, I said I’d train regularly this year and I’ve done that, getting to roll about 2-3x/wk since the start of the year. I’m only getting about 3 rounds in a night tho so my progress is pretty slow, I’m finding I’m not that explosive. This could be down to a) I’m in coach mode so I’m more interested in playing/evaluating the other guy than winning, b) I’m wiped and lacking the explosive power, or c) I’m not aggressive enough.

   The plan for Feb with regards jitz is to keep it up (along with the striking on Tues, which I’m enjoying even tho I’m getting hit a lot). I don’t think I’ll set my sights on anything big, and reassess at the end of the month.

   Training wise, I’m keeping the Olympic Lifting up for Feb at least. I want to compete this year, not that I’ll be challenging anyone, but just to do the lifts under competition pressure. I’m going to look into what competitions are available to set a goal for them and also look into getting some regular/semi-regular coaching in the lifts.

2. My goal for Feb is to get my ass down to CF 3 times a week… Plain and simple!

3. My main focus at the moment is getting back into MMA/BJJ and thusfar that’s been going pretty well. Been rolling about three times a week, full sessions. Last week I made it down for an hour’s rolling at Next Generation in Loughlinstown, and I’m doing the same tonight. Made it to the last couple of Tuesday night standup sparring sessions as well, although not tomorrow night’s one because stupid work will get in the way. I might try and make SBGi’s on Thursday night instead.

   I’m trying to use the time I have on the mat productively so when I’m sparring stand-up there are specific things I am trying to work on to lay the foundations for making the *right* kind of progress. In terms of BJJ I am more re-learning some of the basics again. Couple of seminars coming up that should be good (Chris Brennan twice, and Matt Thornton).

   So far I’ve been counting full BJJ/MMA sessions as the WOD for that respective day, and on other days doing CrossFit WODs or resting as appropriate. I guess the next step will be to start doing both when feasible.

   Time to get back to the Zone after a Saturday night and all-day Sunday off it.

4. January: Not so good. Between the dramatic and lingering effects of December’s debauchery, and a bunch of trips away (featuring more debauchery) I managed to get an unremarkable 11 workouts in (!), down from the usual 20+ per month.

   This month, I’ll be exceeding that target inside the next 15 days. We’re back into full-on OCD weighing and measuring, olive oil-drinking, dark room sleeping, fish oil guzzling and training in hail rain wind or shine territory here.

   Get some etc.

5. A bit like Will here “lingering effects of December’s debauchery” and then getting the flu one week into January when i was attempting to get back on track. Started getting back into the groove last week though so hoping the next 8 weeks of SS will be fruitful before jumping into crossfit.

   I have just got another flipping cold though less than two weeks after getting over the flu. grgr! I’m guessing it’s related to immune system being lowered when training and my lack of veg intake. I’m going to train through it anyway whether its good for me or not because i don’t want to miss anymore sessions.

6. Eamonn (and Tom)

   Will was putting through an iHerb order last night and got ye some fish oil and magnesium. Should bolster the old immune system and recovery.

   Robbie, good solid goal, I like. Was chatting with Ruairi over the last few days and the big thing that separates those who advance from those who flounder is consistency. You (the general you) need to make exercise part of what you do, a habit. Just get into the practice of part of your day is down at the gym, simple as. You don’t skip work, you don’t skip grocery shopping. If you’re a sports fan you make time to watch your team. If you’ve bills to pay you make it to the bank. You just do it.

   Interestingly enough I applied this to myself with jitz. If I wasn’t feeling good I’d take the night off rolling and focus purely on coaching. Though I’d feel worse after it. Now, I just get on the mat and if I’m feeling bad so be it, I’ll have a bad day on the mats and won’t be GSP. Invariably, I always feel better because I took a step in the right direction.

   Time for the rest of ye to chime in with your Jan review and Feb–>Further goals.

7. I achieved my 16 workouts in January which I am chuffed with,

   I am also particip[ating in a deathmatch with Jeff, this is making me a little nervous as I look like I am about 20% behind Jeff at the moment, and with 12 weeks or say 50 workouts to make it up I reckon I have my work cut out

   So my goal is to train consistently, and once the competition with Jeff is over I am getting involved in MMA,

   That did read looking at maybe but thats just nonsense

   I am concentrating on not thinking about what I am doing and just doing it, too much thinking not enough doing,

   4 Times a week this month, eat a little better, see where I am against Jeff is february’s plan,

   Thanks Will, just let me know what I owe you please, thanks a million

8. January has been ok so far. Despite distractions from all corners, I’ve managed to crossfit 2-3 times a week. Given up fast food in work, started making lunches and dinners for myself. Not strictly zone but that’s the direction I’m headin. I’m even reading the back of stuff before I ingest it which is something I never done before. In training I pleased with the work so far. Finished a couple of WODs that prob would have beat me before Christmas.

   Onwards and upwards

9. Tis been a bad January for Pixie, lots of reasons but no excuses, will be back down tonight with a renewed vigour and cleaning up the diet once and for all and sticking with. +1 for Colm’s comment in relation to consistency, that’s going to be my mantra for the next couple of months, just keep the head down and keep ploughing away.

   Actually a question for Ruari, I’m gonna be heading on shift in the next couple of weeks so it’ll be 24-7 days and nights, how do you handle the training with the shift work?

10. Pixie – What sort of pattern will you be working on the shifts? I do 12 hr shifts 3 a week, then 4 a week alternating between days and nights every month.

    I wont lie to you. It can be a real pain when it comes to having a weekly training routine around your shifts.

    If you are working 12 hour shifts, and have 12 hours until the next one it doesnt leave much time after eating and sleeping. Get a few sets of pushups in or maybe some sort of metcon you can do at home.

    The majority of your training such as attending CF, will have to wait until your days off. I have tried coming down to the gym between shifts, but I am generally too tired.

    Its a tough one with no easy answers. There will be a lot of trial and error required for you to see what suits your body to the type of shifts you are working.

11. I’m stuck at home due to the snow so I guess I’ll chime in.

    January as a whole was successful for me, I achieved one of my year long goals (40kg OHS), sandbagging as it was. I won my first WOD, narrowly beating The Kyle. I’m back on SS now and my strength feels good. Should hit my strength targets sooner than expected in everything except for the bench, that has a long long way to go!

    Back at submission wrestling and MMA as well. My fitness feels good for these and I’m nearly back to my pre-christmas technique level. Much more explosive and aggressive than I’ve been before. I must get a roll in with Colm before he gets good again. Bragging rights are where its at.

    I started to keep a log on funckey.co.uk as well. Possibly the best thing I’ve done fitness-wise. I’ve no idea why but I feel like I’m letting others down if I don’t post up my numbers everyday. Weird. Anywho, I’d advise anyone who’s training by themselves mostly to do it, it’ll make you more focused to actually go to the gym.

    Tom, can we take bets on you and Jeff’s deathmatch? If so I want 20 euro on you, purely because Jeff said bad things about Coppers. I can’t stand for that.

12. any idea when you’ll be getting that drunk, strong, funny t-shirt back in stock colm? As i cant get out to the gym i feel i should pay for something given all the advise i get!!

    My goals for the coming year are to hit at least 90% of the “advanced” standard from that chart. Shoulder and bench presses are far away from that, but i feel confident of getting 100% in squat and DL. Cleans im not sure about, havent done them in a while, but probably lie somewhere between the two. Exams will probably wreak havoc with all this, but that’s life as frank would say

13. my goals as of 6 oclock tonight are to get the hell home! It’s mental out there. I left work, moved about 50 yards in my car in 15 minutes..so i’ve turned around and gone back into work with the plan of waiting it out..that’s a good plan right..right!?

14. Bloody hell, that was prophetic comment of mine earlier. Just in from training in hail, wind, rain and snow. No shine though…

15. Yeah looks like I won’t be getting down tonight either, it took me an hour to get down to the shop! Crazy damn snow!

16. Hey Colm, yeah we’ve got SFD t-shirts, must change the online store.

    Surprising night tonight. Kids down, no teens, normal MMA attendance, quite CF night.

    Jeff: 50-50-50; 4/5 Squats, 3, 3, 3/5 pull ups
    John: 55-60-65; 4/10 push ups, 3/3 pull ups,2/9 squats, 3/1 pull up
    Shane 1.0: 50-52.5-55; 3/1 push up,2/3 push ups,2/4 push ups,2/5 push ups
    Tom: 50-55-60(F); 4/7 push ups,3,2/11squats,2,10 push ups

17. An hour of rolling and I got my ass handed to me by a brown belt. Ruairi is very sore at the moment.

    I’ve turned my rather neglected blog into a training log, I figure its the only way I’ll update it. http://www.lineofeld.blogspot.com

    –

    Pixie-

    My experience of shiftwork is that once a month I do seven nights in a row, 10pm to 6am. Before and after I have 2 or three days completely off.

    What I find is that the actual week of nights is one of my best weeks for training. I get in a full 5 sessions or sometimes more. Whether you’re the sort of person who sleeps for 8 hours after your nightshift is over or are like me and sleeps 5 or 6 hours and then gets up and then goes back to bed for a nap, either way you’ll still make it down to a CF session if you like because they’re in the late evening.

    The problem with doing nights is that in the long term it fucks up your body. You produce alot of the testosterone you need for recovery and progress in training at night time when you sleep, and for whatever reason production levels aren’t the same if you’re sleeping during the day. Its probably not a big deal for us at the moment, but I wouldn’t want to be still working nightshifts into my late 30s or 40s. It can take years off your life if you do a full 30 years or so of night shifts.

    In general when sleeping during a week of nights I make use of stuff like ear plugs and definitley get the room as dark as you can and turn off your phone and any electronic stuff in the room.

    What I find is that after a week of nights the following week is the one that I sometimes see a big dip in performance. I won’t hit PRs and have a sleep debt that I have to catch up on.

    Another issue with nights is that if you’re on the zone then it can be hard to stick to your allocated amount of blocks. Say I get up at midday, and then I’m going to be mostly awake until 6am the following day. Its easy to eat ten or eleven blocks by 10pm, and that leaves you with a full 8 hours to go until 6am and only another 6 blocks. I find I’m hungrier on nights as a result.

    I guess alot depends on your hours, and whether you can comfortaly make it from the gym to your work, squeezing in a shower and whatnot. If you can’t then I’d look at doing a WOD on your own at home in the early evening. Plenty of stuff you can fool around with, even with no equipment. Tabatas etc.

    —

    On another note, Tom- good to hear you’re interested in doing some rolling. Cool to see the interplay between the two types of training. They go hand in hand. http://journal.crossfit.com/2008/04/surviving-in-brazilian-jiujits.tpl

18. Last night was horrible but beautiful if you know what I mean, there was a comedy moment involving a push up and my shouting out an expletive. I thought it sounded manly but Colm fell around laughing and reckoned I sounded like a girl that was stabbed…….

    My squats are horrible, I need to get these faster and less breaks during them, as Colm and the lads showed last night there is no need to be breaking these up,

    For the rolling Rory yeh it always interested me a bit and I would be interested in the tuesday “stand up class”, hope I have that right??

    Bobby, of course you can put bets on, and a little histroy to the deathmatch, long story short I came back in January after a long lay off,

    Jeff told me I was crap and would not be able to keep up with him because he is so much better, I died a little inside, and the deathmatch was born……

19. Ah yes, well standing up punching and kick people is likely more manly than BJJ. You’re in the Kyle camp- he finds nothing more satisfying that a leg kick.

20. Sorry I only just got back to see these comments now, so thanks to the guys for posting replies in relation to my shift work question

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