2K Row

For Time:

Row 2000m

Results

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Quote of the Day: 

After Curtis used “The Awesome” bar to do some cleans: “The cool just fell right off of it.” ~ Amanda

Amanda and Bridget row hard

2k = torture. This rowing benchmark is torture. Battery acid flowing through your veins, arms and legs on fire, back and forearms cramping, heart exploding kind of torture. Falling off the rower, almost meeting pukie, and wobbly legs are all side effects of this lovely time on the erg. It is also an outstanding total body workout that demands nothing more than your all out effort. When you are done you will know if you had any left to give. Oh and one more thing; congrats to all of you who PR’d today!

Inflexibility Twin Powers Activate!

Inflexibility Twins 

Read Women’s Epic Matchup 2: Annie and Lindsey. These are just two of the amazing female athletes that are going to rock the Games!

Notes:

Saturday Schedule:

9am: Fall City 5k/10k Fun Run. Good luck to our fellow Squatches who are running it!

10am: We will have one Saturday WOD (no 11am so we can prep for the workshop). Come on in and we will accommodate!

1pm – 5pm: Whole 9 Nutrition Workshop update! We have around 25 people who have said yes, and several have already paid. Please prepay on the Whole 9 site by using the PayPal button

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

5pm: BBQ (or when the nutrition workshop ends)

  • Paleo BBQ after open to all (Kids welcome, bring a Paleo friendly dish if you can)
  • C2 Rower Fish Tournament – Who will earn the title “Rowkilla”?

Pop and Drop

Strength WOD:

Squat Clean
1/1/1/1/1/1/1

Checkout WOD:

For Time: 
Alternate 15/12/9/6/3 reps each of 
Burpees
Squat Cleans (95#/65#)

Results

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Heavy Metal:

Heavy Metal

“Cleans are truly an ideal exercise for every athlete in every sport.” – Bill Starr: Championship Olympic Weightlifting US Coach

Who loves the squat clean? This guy does! The full clean (or squat clean) is a great lift that hits the whole body. It’s highly technical, has a lot of moving parts, and quite possibly will never be “perfect”. This lift requires high skill and high levels of concentration. The demand on both the muscular system and nervous system are high, much higher than a “simple” lift like a deadlift. It wipes you quickly, and if the technique is not sound and the commitment to pull under the bar is not there, it will certainly limit reaching anywhere near your max poundage. Learning this movement is possible for all athletes; the key being practice, flexibility, speed and consistent effort. 

Burpees and PR’s:

Burpee_Kristen PR Yell

Notes:

Squatch has been traveling! North Carolina man claims he had a close encounter with “Bigfoot”

Two more reasons why CrossFit as a sport is truly entertaining to watch and cheer: Men’s Epic Match-up 2: Speal and Orlando 

"Helen + 1"

4 Rounds For Time:

400m Run
21 Kettlebell Swings (53#/35#)
12 Pull-ups

Results

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Fran and Nan – Hard Work Pays Off:

Hard Ass Work

Today was a tougher “Helen” primarily to kick off the week with a tough WOD and to train the mind to think about exceeding a benchmark standard every once in awhile. Everyone was able to call out their official Helen time if they desired and then finish up the 4th round. Several PR’d and two of you stuck with all of your pull-ups to complete this benchmark (plus) as prescribed with pull-ups. Congrats to Nan and Fran for not only this achievement but also for patiently practicing and working on your pull-ups day after day. It paid off! The leaderboard for Helen is re-written both for men and women after today!

Evidence Based Fitness: Graham commented this past weekend he placed 5th (Congrats!) in a downhill mountain bike race and was not gassed after his run for the first time ever. Jorge went flying (paragliding) this weekend and noted he hiked up Tiger Mountain and back down with his rig in record time and did not feel anywhere near as gassed as he has in the past. Both credited CrossFit with their improved conditioning. Good stuff!

In Graham’s own words:

“The downhill mountain biking race that I went in Port Angeles was in the NW Cup series.  I placed 5th in my class (out of 15), but the part that I was so stoked about is that I haven’t trained at all for DH riding or racing in 8+ months due to baby #2.  

I literally took my bike off the hook, dusted it off, pumped up the tires, and headed to Port Angeles.  I wasn’t tired on my race run AT ALL, whereas in past years I have been anaerobic the entire second half of the race, gasping for air.  Crossfit totally works, I haven’t been training specifically for cycling at all, and felt stronger on the bike more than ever.”  

CF Games “Let the Games Begin” – video [wmv] [mov]

Great Swings:

Fran_KB Marc_KB Autumn_KB

Notes:

Whole 9 Workshop Update this Saturday from 1-5pm is open to all:

Several spots remain open so contact us for registering. Details over on the right hand side on what the workshop covers. Cost is $75 a head to come learn about nutrition and why this is the most important ingredient to being successful as a healthy and strong athlete. 

BBQ is immediately after and will celebrate our 1 year anniversary as an affiliate as well as kick off our inaugural Fish Game Tournament. Be there!

"Hammer Gone Bad"

Compete 3 Rounds of 1 Minute of max reps of each of the following exercises:

Sledgehammer Swing – Right Side (16#/12#)
Box Jumps (20″)
Sledgehammer Swing – Left Side
Hang Squat Clean (115#/75#)
* Rest 1 minute between rounds

Score total reps and reps per round

Results

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Hammer Time:

Hammer Time

  Max A$$ kicking:

Box Jumps Max Reps 
Hang Squat Cleans_Jeremy O

Hammer Gone Bad is all about doing more work. The only way to get your score higher is to do more work. It was great to beat on a tire and get the hammers some use today. Being able to do it in the sun was a bonus. Doing this variant on Fight Gone Bad makes me realize it’s been awhile since we’ve done the original version and that there are other versions out there we haven’t done. Maybe that will need to change.

Notes:

First there were Sectional qualifiers in February, then Regionals last month, now it’s time for best of the best to meet at the CF Games in July. 

Highlights from the CrossFit Games Sectionals competitions video [wmv] [mov]

Building Blocks

Strength WOD:

Deadlift
5/5/5/5/5

Checkout WOD:

4 Rounds for Time: 
5 Deadlift (225#/135#)
10 Knees-to-Elbows
15 Burpees

Results

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Mish_DL PR

The deadlift is one of the building blocks to getting strong and developing a solid core. Done consistently the gains will more than pay off across the board in other strength exercises and WOD’s in general. The deadlift forms the core lift we use any time we pick up a barbell, dumbbells, med ball, kettlebell, etc. Get strong so you can go faster and lift heavier. 

Talk about getting strong, here are a few examples of some of you who smashed some PR’s today from the last time we did a 5RM deadlift: Eli who went up 30 lbs. from 175 to 205 lbs., Rob who went from 205 to 285 lbs. and Michele B. (Mish) who went from a 1 rep max at 205 lbs. to a 5 rep max at 205 lbs.!

Coaching Tips: The Deadlift with Rob

  • Think “Stance, Grip and Position” on every single lift
  • Stance: Feet under hips, bar is around 1″ from the shins
  • Grip: Symmetrical on the bar, use either parallel, alternate or hook
  • Position: Lumbar curve, core tight, shoulders in front of bar and scapulae over bar, head straight ahead, weight on heels
  • The Lift: 1) Hips and Shoulders rise together 2) Weight stays on heels 3) Arms are straps (no bend) 4) Stand straight up 5) Bar travels up in a straight line along the legs 6) Stand tall, open hips and don’t hyper-extend by leaning back dramatically

Rob_Deadlift - 1Rob_Deadlift - 2Rob_Deadlift - 3Rob_Deadlift - 4

Notes:

Welcome Maria and James who both finished Elements this week!

“Questions” with Jason Khalipa – a CrossFit Games video [wmv] [mov]

Watch the best explanation for how to butterfly kip I have seen yet. If you cannot already do dead hang or kipping pull-ups well then stay patient and focus on those. The butterfly is an advanced technique to progress to once you have a very solid kipping pull-up. 

The Butterfly Kipping Pull-up explained with Chris Spealler:

   

"Pushing Helen"

3 Rounds For Time:

400m Run
21 Kettlebell Swings (53#/35#)
12 Handstand Push-ups

Results

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All warmed up and ready to go…

Ready Line

Synchronized Swings:

HSPU Helen

Handstand Push-ups and their variations:

  • Maintain a “hollow” position, think feet over hips over chest over hands, core tight with hips pulling into abs slightly.
  • Hands are flat and shoulder width to just slightly wider, fingers are splayed apart.
  • Point toes to the sky.
  • Hold the breath tight, lower yourself with top of head to floor (not forehead) and push up similar to a press, exhaling at the lockout position.

Scale using:

  • Pike floor push-up, keeping your legs as straight as possible, touching head to floor.
  • Pike push-up off of a box, keeping legs straight, top of head to floor. Adjust the height higher and walk your hands in closer to the box to increasingly place a larger load on the hands and shoulders to press or push-up.
  • Work your way to pike push-ups with feet on a wall then gradually being inverted with a full range of motion.

John and Jenna demonstrate:

John_HSPU  Jenna_HSPU off Box

Notes:

It’s not everyday you open the local paper and read about one of your clients. Autumn is a local web-lebrity! Read about her and her business partners endeavor with Macaroni Kid in the online version here.

If this video clip doesn’t get you motivated to hit the wod then what will?

The 2010 CrossFit Games, “Are You Ready?” [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:

Harder Than It Looks_Jeremy O

Laura, Eli and Warren let fly!

Harder Than It Looks_Laura Harder Than It Looks_5pm Crew Warren KB Swing

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:

Nan_3RM Push Press

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:

Checkout_Nan and Jenna


Jorge 3RM Push Press

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…

John_Run and Squat Michele_Run and Squat

While Rob and Travis squat:
Squat Race Squat Race 2

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

  1. Get a jump rope.
  2. 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.
  3. After the 1st week, increase the number of reps for each set by 5, completing 5 unbroken sets per day.
  4. Continue to add 5 per set every week through week 4.
  5. At the end of June, we will have a WOD that will test your double-under skills!
  6. 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.

Box Jump_Jeremy O - 1 Box Jump_Jeremy O - 2

  • 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)

"Karen"

For Time:

150 Wall Balls (20#/14#) 

Results

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Baller Fran Counting Nan

Benchmark day! Who loves wall balls? Congrats to all of you for pushing through a WOD that looks easy on paper and jumps up and bites you around 30 to 40 wall balls in. This WOD makes me nervous every time I do it. Each rep becomes harder and more painful. By 150 the legs and shoulders are on fire right there with the lungs. Even though it’s a short workout it is hard. Painfully hard. 

Full range of motion is key and not only hitting the target (10ft. for men and 9 ft. for women) is required but also fully squatting to ensure the hip crease drops below the knee. To help with that today we employed “peer coaching”. I even coached, I mean harassed Michelle through her shot at Karen. We like this because it allows each of us to have not only a counter and spotter, but also someone to help push you through when you want to rest or take a break. We all got to take turns as “judges” for each other and that builds a stronger gym. When each of us are accountable for what “right looks like” we are all better off for it. 

Karen

Coaching Tip: The Deadlift with Jenna – Maintain a lumbar curve and tight core, shoulders and hips rise together, shoulders in front with scapula over the bar, and weight in the heels.  The bar should rise straight up the shins as you stand. Fully open the hips at the top.

Deadlift _ Jenna Deadlift 2 _ Jenna

Notes:

Jessica Pamanian’s (2nd Place finish overall) inspiring 170lb x 3 Clean and Jerk at the Northeast Regionals by CrossFit Again Faster – video [wmv] [mov]

Memorial Day Weekend Schedule: 

  • Saturday will be normal class schedule and the first 8 who sign up for 10am get priority (Right now only 2 spots left!)
  • Sunday closed
  • 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. Each Hero WOD will be something different and likely not one we have done previously. We will publish them on Saturday or Sunday to allow you to pick.

Mark and Jeremy decided today would be the day where they wake up, call each other to coordinate outfits, and then do the same WOD. That would be the “Chipper of Doom” AKA the last WOD from the Northwest Regionals that included epic climbs and falls. Pics follow:

   

SNORIDGE CROSSFIT