Squatch

Perseverance

For Time:

10 Thrusters (95#/65#)
Run 200m
9 Thrusters
Run 200m
8 Thrusters
Run 200m
7 Thrusters
Run 200m
6 Thrusters
Run 200m
5 Thrusters
Run 200m
4 Thrusters
Run 200m
3 Thrusters
Run 200m
2 Thrusters
Run 200m
1 Thrusters
Run 200m

* Advanced Goal: Go Unbroken or Go Heavy

Results

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“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination” ~ Tommy Lasorda

Mary tackling the Thruster:

Tonight I watched perseverance in action. Imagine you are Mary: You have just completed elements and walked into a group WOD for your first time. You see a whiteboard that says “Thrusters and 200m Runs” in some weird combination of 10 reps down to 1 and running in between each round. The board is filled with names and numbers and times. People are warming up all around so you fall right into it. Warm-up run, box step-ups, pass throughs, no problem. You start practicing a thruster and instantly have a coach standing in front of you giving cues and tips that likely seem like driving directions to a strange place you’ve never been. After getting some adjustments, coaching, scaling and further practice on a thruster you feel more relaxed. “I can use this bar” you think and move to set up your spot outside with the rest of the crew. Before you know it though you literally have to thrust yourself into the workout at the count of 3-2-1 Go!

Bodies and barbells begin to fly around you, people dumping weights and zipping past, many screaming “Round” every once in awhile. Music is thumping, people are moving and you are just chipping away. You have that same coach giving cues and tips (wider stance, toes out, touch the ball!) and you just keep on lifting the barbell and then running. As people finish around you it must cross your mind “I’m barely halfway through and people are done!” You ask him if others have ever struggled and if others have ever felt sick. “Yes” he says. “People struggle, people have been sick. Breathe. You can do this.” You walk back to the bar, pushing one rep at a time. Round after agonizing round goes by. Everyone is almost done. Then something happens. The coach offers you the chance to call it a workout if you want, asking if you want to stop or if you think you can keep going, but your answer is instantly “No, I am finishing, I will do this!”. You move to walk/run, but someone says they will go with you. You finish the next round of thrusters, then another person runs with you, and then both of them. One is your friend, the other a stranger. Round after round, they run with you even though they are done. You think it is taking forever. But before you know it, you are done too. Done with the workout. All of it.

This is what I imagine Mary might have felt tonight. It’s partly what I saw and also what I thought might be her experience. Tonight I saw one of the things that makes CrossFit so cool, community built through shared struggle and determination. Mary didn’t want to quit. No backing down, no giving up. She set her mind on it, had some help along the way and just did it. High five’s and chest bumps all around to Mary for completing her first group WOD; and to Michelle D. and Jana for running with her!

Also speaking of perseverance, I want to give a huge congrats to Steve who dropped in from Level 4 Fitness tonight and after the warm-up got not only his first but also his second muscle-up! What a huge accomplishment, no doubt you’ve been working on this one. Be proud!

“Finding My Way” with Coach Greg Glassman (CF Founder), a CrossFit Journal Preview video [wmv] [mov]

Notes:

The Whole 9 Nutrition Workshop is “ON”. We are stoked and super excited! Michelle is emailing updated info to all. We took into account the Fall City 5k/10k race that morning as well as the Saturday WOD and are able to hold the workshop from 1pm until 5pm. Afterward we will have a Paleo BBQ for all at the box to celebrate our recent 1 year anniversary as an affiliate (May ’09). Oh and the C2 Rower Fish tournament too! Look for an email with further details on the Whole 9 workshop.

Whole 9 Nutrition Workshop Details:

Date: Saturday 6/19
Time: 1pm to 5pm (4 hour workshop – no kiddos)
Cost is $75 per person
RSVP via email or blog
Learn what you should eat, how you should eat, when you should eat, and why you should eat optimally for your health and fitness
Limited to 40 people

Paleo BBQ after open to all (Kids welcome, bring a Paleo friendly dish if you can)
C2 Rower Fish Tournament – Row like you hear banjoes!

Rona runs while Cathy lifts:

Recharge and Refuel

Kid-Vest Training is all the rage:

Do your double-unders to close out this week. Starting tomorrow you get to add to the total per set!

Pics from yesterday’s Benchmark Saturday:

Attention CrossFitters:

We are working to schedule a nutrition workshop at our box with Whole 9 founders Dallas Hartwig and Melissa Urban. Details below:

Date is Saturday June 19th (short notice we know but make it work people!)
Time is TBD but it will be a 4 hour workshop
Cost is $75 per person
What does it cover? Click here
Learn what you should eat, how you should eat, when you should eat, and why you should eat optimally for your health and fitness
Limited to 40 people

Before you come up with a reason to say no; I’d ask you to consider this:

In the time it takes to go to a movie, you can learn valuable information to literally change yours and your families eating habits.
$75 for this is far better than a month’s worth of latte’s; or a Mariners game ticket, food, drink and parking; or one lululemon top or CrossFit T-shirt plus shipping!
These people are experts, this is what they do, we are lucky enough to get them to our box while they are traveling to do workshops at CrossFit affiliates around the country, so you can’t just pick a future date.
If you have been struggling with diet and what to eat then it’s time to use this as a starting point.
Even if you haven’t been struggling use this to learn how to fine tune your nutrition and eat for an excellent fitness level.

Michelle is sending a mass email out today so stay tuned and the first 40 who commit get a seat!

"Grace or Isabel"

“Grace”:

For Time
30 Clean and Jerks (135#/95#)

Or:

“Isabel”:

For Time
30 Snatch – Power/Squat or Split (135#/95#)

Results

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On to the next one:

I love these two benchmarks. Grace is one of my favorites. Fast, hard, heavy, effective. I also like them both because it doesn’t feel like Fran during and after! Both Isabel and Grace are workouts that take most CrossFitters a large amount of time to work up to in strength and technique and when they do it’s a great feeling to do it as RX’d. Like most of the “Girl” WOD’s when you see it you think “that doesn’t look hard” and then they show you why they are named after women cause as Coach Glassman said “after it’s over you find yourself flat on your back gasping for air and asking what the f*ck just happened to me?”

These two WOD’s are meant to feel heavy. Ideally they are also done with good technique at a “grip it and rip it” speed. If the weight isn’t necessarily heavy then they better be darn fast but done right. I emphasize done right because there are countless videos out there with slop form showing fast times. Other variations are “Heavy or Fat” Grace at 155# (M) /105# (W), Log Grace, Sandbag Grace, Throwing Grace, Squat Snatch Isabel, you get the idea. If you even more inclined for some brutal fun you can do both back to back for “Isa-Grace”.

Josh Everett, Isabel from CrossFit.com [wmv] [mov]

“Isagrace” with Josh Everett from CrossFit.com [wmv] [mov]

Notes:

Big chest bumps, fist bumps and double high fives to Graham who got his 1st muscle-up today post WOD! Some of us missed it as we were running the second class outside but suffice to say the cheering coming from inside the box afterwards was pretty epic.

We are working on another deep dive nutrition lecture/discussion in the gym from the folks at Whole 9. Not sure yet but stay tuned for details if we can hopefully make this happen!

Double-Under Challenge. Don’t forget to do them…

Rings and Things

As Many Rounds As Possible in 20 Minutes of:

5 Ring Dips
10 Medicine Ball Clean (20#/14#)
15 AbMat Sit-ups

Results

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Erin and the Med Ball Clean:

Big thanks to Jeremy D. for running the morning WOD’s to cover for us Friday! It’s always great to mix it up with different trainers to learn new techniques and hear new cues. Today was time to get back on the rings. We haven’t been on them all week and they seemed lonely hanging up on the bars. Ring work and handstands have been neglected. That just won’t do. Looks like it’s time to find our inner gymnasts starting next week.

As for Saturday, we are going to see how the recent emphasis on snatches, cleans, jerks, and presses have paid off. We are going to have a choice again. This time it’s “Grace” or “Isabel”. Either 30 heavy clean and jerks or 30 heavy snatches for time. Good form and technique is crucial and should be a primary focus for all of us. Pick your benchmark, scale accordingly and let ‘er rip!

Medicine Ball Cleans with Andrew Thompson on CrossFit.com – video [wmv] [mov]

"Harder Than It Looks"

5 Rounds for Time:

20 Box Jump (24″/20″)
20 Kettlebell Swing (53#/35#)
20 Kettlebell Sumo Deadlift High Pull (53#/35#)

Results

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Jeremy O. Kettlebell Swing:

Laura, Eli and Warren let fly!

This WOD is deceiving. Lots of cardio and plenty of hip extension. The key to the kettlebell swing is ensuring you use your hips more than using your arms. Think “mini” air squat to propel the bell up and lock out the arms and bell at the top before either pushing it down or letting gravity take it’s course. Make sure to grip the kettlebell tight and not to hyperextend too far when locking out overhead. Work towards obscuring the ears at the top but only when feeling more comfortable with the swing. For the sumo DL high pull it’s no different than using the barbell. Wide stance, pull hard and forcefully open the hips to continue the KB’s path up under the chin before returning to the ground.

“The 2010 CF Games Season: A Perspective“

Notes:

Tomorrow Jeremy D. will be running both of the morning classes and Moe will run the 5pm (as usual). Come in and get your AMRAP on!

Saturday schedule is normal sign-ups for the 1000 and 1100 classes. First 9 to sign up by posting to comments get priority at 1000.

Don’t forget your double-unders if you are in the “On the Double Challenge”!

"Push Over"

Strength WOD:

Push Press (Find your 3 rep max; 3RM)
3/3/3/3/3

Checkout WOD:

For Time:

10 Push Press (Use 55% of 3RM)
1 Lateral Jump Burpee
9 Push Press
2 Lateral Jump Burpee
8 Push Press
3 Lateral Jump Burpee
7 Push Press
4 Lateral Jump Burpee
6 Push Press
5 Lateral Jump Burpee
5 Push Press
6 Lateral Jump Burpee
4 Push Press
7 Lateral Jump Burpee
3 Push Press
8 Lateral Jump Burpee
2 Push Press
9 Lateral Jump Burpee
1 Push Press
10 Lateral Jump Burpee

Results

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Nan 3RM with outstanding hip drive:

Quote of the day: “You just had to find a way to make burpees harder?” ~ Sherry on the lateral jump burpee

Jenna and Nan in the Checkout and Jorge hitting a PR on his 3RM:

Congrats to Mark N. and Don who hit their 100th WOD today! That’s at least 6 people in the last month who hit that milestone. We are getting shirt sizes for the next order of 100th WOD shirts. These should be faster than last time since the screens are done and it’s a re-order.

Also several of you started the DU challenge today (Check yesterday’s post for the rules). Let’s see how far we all get and how our DU’s improve by month’s end.

Notes:

Sectionals and Regionals are all complete. In a little over one month the CrossFit Games will happen in Los Angeles at the Home Depot Center (7/16-7/18). We are going to be down there that weekend to see some amazing athletes do epic sh*t. Latest update: “All eyes on the Games“

"Where's My Legs?"

Four Rounds for TIme:

400m Run
50 Air Squats

Results

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John and Michele run…

While Rob and Travis squat:

Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer Go! Some of you today clearly had extra “go juice” for this WOD. Especially Erin! Mad props to being pregnant and blazing through this!

We are starting a new daily challenge to improve everyone’s skills with a jumprope:

“On the Double”: The Double-Under Challenge

Get a jump rope.
Starting tomorrow and for the 1st week, each day perform 5 sets of consecutive double-unders for 5, 10, or 15 reps. Singles in between, snags or missed reps means that set DOES NOT count.
After the 1st week, increase the number of reps for each set by 5, completing 5 unbroken sets per day.
Continue to add 5 per set every week through week 4.
At the end of June, we will have a WOD that will test your double-under skills!
If you cannot do 5 in a row to begin with, don’t sweat it! Just pick your current PR to start with (i.e. 5 sets of 3 reps). If you can’t do more than 1 consecutive rep without a single in between, pick a number that you can still perform with alternating singles and doubles. Add 1 rep to that number per week.

Who’s in?

Notes:

Welcome to Michele who joined the 7pm crew for her first WOD tonight. Michele is coming to us from our good friends Nadia and Eric over at CrossFit Belltown where she has been training for quite some time. We are lucky to have you!

The Men’s Competition at the Northeast Regionals by CrossFit Again Faster – Video [wmv] [mov]

Coaching Tip: The Box Jump with Jeremy O.

With each jump land with 3/4 of your feet firmly on the box (not just your toes)
Jump off and forcefully push your hips forward to the “open” position as you come off the box (see above)
If you cannot jump off and open the hip then stand tall on the box and step or jump down
Do not get in the habit of keeping your hips “closed” or “muted” as you come off the box; that negates one of the primary benefits of the box jump (training powerful hip extension)

Remember the Fallen

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” ~ General George S. Patton

“Jerry”
Sergeant Major Jerry Dwayne Patton, 40, died on 15 October 2008 during High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) training while assigned to Army US SOCOM preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Jerry is survived by his wife Molly and his sons Chad, Cody, Chase and Connor.

For Time:

Run 1 Mile
Row 2K meters
Run 1 Mile

or:

“McGhee”

Corporal Ryan C. McGhee, 21, was killed in action on May 13, 2009 by small arms fire during combat in central Iraq. He served with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment of Fort Benning, Ga. This was his fourth deployment, his first to Iraq. Ryan was engaged to Ashleigh Mitchell of Fredericksburg, VA. He is survived by his father Steven McGhee of Myrtle Beach S.C., his mother Sherrie Battle McGhee, and his brother Zachary.

As Many Rounds As Possible in 30 minutes of:
5 Deadlift (275#/185#)
13 Push Ups
9 Box Jumps (24″/20″)

or:

“Erin”

Canadian Army Master Corporal Erin Doyle, 32, was killed in a firefight August 11th, 2008 in the Panjwaii District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife Nicole and his daughter Zarine.

5 Rounds for Time:
15 Dumbbell Split Cleans (40#/25#)
21 Pull-ups

Results

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38 of us including our friends from lululemon (the lulucrew) joined us today! Thanks to all of you for coming out on such an important day to honor our heroes for a WOD.

Pics from today:

Memorial Day Schedule

Monday schedule is: 0930 and 1100 class times only.

We will honor those who served or paid the ultimate sacrifice by allowing you to choose a Hero WOD (out of three choices). The start times are to account for a potentially larger group and longer WOD times. The three Hero WOD’s you will have to choose from are: Jerry, McGhee, and Erin. See the link above for descriptions. Each one is different and challenging.

Why Hero WOD’s? Read here.

“Fallen But Never Forgotten” by Russell Berger in the CrossFit Journal.

‘Nuff said.

Rest and Remember

Rest day.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Remember to take a moment and honor our fallen warriors and servicemen and servicewomen who died in military service. Regardless of belief, if you live in this country you owe your freedoms to their sacrifices. Fly the flag and remember that the national moment of remembrance is always at 3pm local time.

Thank you Curtis for providing the below info on local ceremonies:

Attend a Memorial Day service and presentation of the colors by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars. Snoqualmie Valley services are scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Preston Cemetery; 10 a.m. at the Fall City Cemetery; 11 a.m. at the North Bend Cemetery and noon at Mount Si High School.

For those wondering about the “Clock Whore vs. RX Whore” quote from the other day, take a look at the article from a post awhile back.