"Pick Your Poison"

3 Rounds for total reps:

You will choose one movement to do for 3:00, then another to do for 2:00, and the final for 1:00.

Like FGB, there is no rest between movements. As soon as the first 3 minutes are over, you move immediately into your next movement. Rest 2 minutes between rounds.

The movements:

Row for Calories
Overhead Squats (95#/65#) 
Pull-ups

You will choose which movement you do for what amount of time. The order 3mins, 2mins, and 1min doesn’t change. Post total reps (put the row calories in the reps field) and reps for each of the movements per round.

Results

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Yes Rob and I called and coordinated outfits today:

Pick Your Poison

I really liked this WOD format. Similar to the workout we did recently from the Team Again Faster Challenge I programmed this one to choose three very different movements that each likely have a strength or weakness for everyone. These movements also meant you could get similar numbers across each during that same timeframe. A good example would be comparing three different people who each chose a different order and started with either rowing (Pat), OHS (me), or pull-ups (Rob). Each of us started differently but got similar rep totals per round. Allowing you to strategize which one to go 1st, 2nd, and 3rd makes you think and makes it fun. 

Marc had a really good idea recently when asking some general questions around scaling and the desired effect in a given WOD. One of the key points of feedback was that sometimes it’s hard to guess what the desired effect of a given WOD is or what time range or rep range we as your coaches are looking for. This got us talking and we will do our best to start writing on the whiteboard (especially for benchmark’s or Hero WOD’s) what time range we should average for certain types of WOD’s. Not to say you can’t have outliers of very fast or slower times for whatever reason; but a general average may help each of you understand how to scale, what we sub and why, and what load to use.

An easy example is Fran. Slogging through a 15 minute Fran is not the same workout as lightening the load and going hard and fast to be sub 10 minutes. Sub 7 minutes is even better. The effect on your body is significantly different than toughing out 95# thrusters and pull-ups one rep at a time. It’s not wrong to do it that way, but it’s a different workout. If we write an average goal time though it can help with those of you deciding how to attack it and what to expect.

Watch: “Scaling at CrossFit Verve” with Cherie Chan – video [wmv] [mov]

Steph demos how to Overhead Squat

(Note the straight bar path, knees out, weight on heels and safe shoulder position):

Steph OHS - 1 Steph OHS - 2 Steph OHS - 3

Steph OHS - 4 Steph OHS - 5 Steph OHS - 6

Notes:

Stop the Slop Challenge:

It officially ends this Saturday (but we know everyone is going to keep cruising along with their nutrition lifestyle)! For those who cannot make it on Saturday for the WOD and weigh-in we will run Jackie on Friday during normal class and have weigh-in’s/pics.

Looking for cooking ideas? See Paleo Plan Recipes

Going Overhead

For time:

400m Run
21 Overhead Squats (95#/65#)
21 Box Jumps (24″/20″)
400m Run
15 Overhead Squats (95#/65#)
15 Box Jumps (24″/20″)
400m Run
9 Overhead Squats (95#/65#)
9 Box Jumps (24″/20″)

Results

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Jenna in her 9th month of pregnancy ROCKING an overhead squat:

(yes she is scaled; at least for her!)

Jenna_OH Squat

Overhead squats. For many it’s the bane of their existence come WOD time. Many dread it, hate it or fear it. Some like them. Few love them. I happen to be one of the few. Lucky you.

The overhead squat is absolutely effective as a barbell movement and very challenging to master. It develops strength, balance, flexibility and accuracy to hold a heavy load and drop into the full squat and stand back up. It fires muscles throughout your legs, midline and shoulders. It requires concentration and determination to not lose it or dump it and bail at the first sign of getting shaky.

Of the many things we coach in the OHS the primary areas we cue are: shoulder and knee position and tight abs/breathing. Think “tight abs/hold your breath”, “armpits forward and shoulders up” and “knees out”. Master those at light weight, improve your flexibility and you will learn to love them as much as me.

OH Squats

By the way, who liked the PVC warm-up by Coach Mark today? I enjoyed watching the 7pm class lunging back down the alley in the dark as they all looked like Zombies in the “Night of the Living Dead”. Very amusing.

Nutrition and Performance Challenge:

Who’s fallen off the wagon? The “Stop the Slop” wagon that is? Noticeably less food logs have been turned in or logged and it seems many have boarded the grain train back to inflammation-ville! We hope we are wrong and you all are merely choosing to stick to a Paleo plan in solitude. For those who are still with it keep it up and let’s get serious until 2/19 when the results will be in and the winners are crowned.

Read “Whole30 Success Story Contest Winner: Jennifer’s Story

CrossFit Games 2011: 

Compete March 4-6 in CrossFit at the Arnold Sports Festival – video [wmv] [mov]

Cathy says “hi” while Rona shows off a solid OHS:

Hi Cathy Rona_OH Squat

Double Trouble

5 Rounds for Time:

21 Thruster (75#/55#)
21 Double-Unders

Results

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Mark B. butterfly rope pull-ups:

Stars, Stripes and Ropes

Thrustering away:

Thrusters

No Saturday class tomorrow! We will be as Cascade CF joining Sculptor CF, SnoValley CF for a community building get together from 9-11am.

It’s the Field Trip WOD Saturday at 9am to Cascade CF! Join the crowd, wear your SRCF T and have fun meeting others in the community. WOD is listed on yesterday’s post (along with directions to get there) and YES it can be scaled or modified. See you there!

Wish Pat luck as he goes for his best 2k row time tomorrow morning at Ergomania: The Pacific NW Indoor Rowing Championships. I’ll be accompanying him with Jeremy O. to cheer him on and watch as he crushes the competition.

Food logs are due tomorrow. Keep it up and DON’T give up! Stick with it and let’s see who wins the Stop the Slop Challenge.

Notes:

This is pretty intense. Two past CF Games champs going head to head for a brutal heavy power snatch AMRAP:

Snatch workout with Mikko Salo and Graham Holmberg – video [wmv] [mov]

Again Faster WOD 9 (the redux)

10 Rounds for Time:
10 Box Jumps (24″/20″)
10 Pull-ups

Results

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Compare to Previous Results

Sean Rest Heidi Box Jumps

Looking at the results and some of the pics I am bummed I missed a WOD today! Maybe tomorow…

Get those food logs turned in and stick with it. You are three weeks in! If you have been strict you should begin to notice it via improving energy levels, recovery and performance, and body comp changes.

The new box is coming along. Some of the major items: money is being spent faster than Pat can row 2000 meters, walls and stripes are being painted to Michelle’s exacting standards, the Squatch Cave is now The Squatch Cavern, lighting and electrical is going in, front entry area is taking shape, and the cage is installed (almost). My favorite part is that bar muscle-ups are now a reality! BANG! POW!

Pull-up Rig install:

Rack Ready

Highlights the Rainier CrossFit strongman competition by Again Faster Equipment – video [wmv] [mov]

"2 Minute Defense"

Jeremy coaching Nadia:

Nadia with J coaching

Strength WOD:

12 Minutes find your 1RM Clean and Jerk
*Squat or Power Clean, Push or Split Jerk

Then Complete:

“2 MInute Defense – Team”

Teams of 2 alternate rounds and complete 10 rounds each for time:

1 Power Clean (135#/95#)
3 Hang Squat Clean
2 Push Jerks
100 Ft. Sprint

or 

“2 MInute Defense – Solo”

Complete 5 rounds for time, Rest 2 Minutes, Complete 5 rounds:

1 Power Clean (135#/95#)
3 Hang Squat Clean
2 Push Jerks
200 Ft. Sprint

Score total time (including rest)

Results 

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Nick from Cascade CF dropped in for “2 Minute Defense”:

Pat and Nick_2 Min Def

Huge PR’s today! Laura got her first pull-up! (2 actually) She has been progressing for a year to this point and it was hard fought and well earned. Lots of people PR’d their clean and/or jerk. Jeremy D. joined the big boy club with a 405# deadlift PR!

We are stoked to be listed as a Whole9 Nutrition Partner

10 Tips for Success for the CrossFit Newbie

Michelle giving some pre-WOD instruction on the clean: 

Michelle teaching cleans

"Sugarholics"

3 Rounds for Time:

10 Deadlifts (275#/185#)
50 Double-Unders

Results 

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Jeremy practicing his fingertip handstand push-ups…

Jeremy Ring HSPU

Zach working on the new space:

Doing Work

Read: CDC: Nearly 26 Million Americans Have Diabetes, Third of Americans At Risk

23 million Americans have it. 53 million are pre-diabetic. I heard this on the news today and it was totally disturbing. Do the math, after the latest census we have a population of roughly 300 million in our country. This means approximately 1 in 4 Americans are either pre-diabetic or diabetic. We are trending towards 1 in 3! This “disease” (not Type 1 but Type 2) is completely preventable and totally avoidable simply by eating correctly. You are what you eat. Yet our “healthcare” and government authorities and “experts” continue to tell us all the wrong stuff to eat and focus on the wrong fixes (Don’t get me started on the food pyramid). This “disease” is costing us $174 billion a year. Billion! Last year my mom was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and went to her doctor referred nutritionist. This person then gave her a list of foods and recommendations that were high glycemic, insulin spiking garbage and encouraged her to eat the wrong things. Now that was a long series of phone calls home.

Jack Lalanne figured all this out quite a while ago. Watch this and wonder how we can still have aisles of processed and cleverly marketed fake foods killing us one Ding Dong at a time.

“Sugarholics”:

  

Some of you were asking about coffee today and how much is too much. Read The Coffee Manifesto by Whole 9

Take a Walk

4 Rounds for Time:
50m Walking Lunges 
50 AbMat Sit-ups

Results

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AbMat Smiles:

AbMat Smiles

Tonight I went with Mark, Jeremy, Kim, Matt, and Rob to Imperial CF for a nutrition lecture with Todd Widman (of CrossFit HQ). It was the third time I have attended his lecture and each time I find myself learning more about Paleo, Zone, the importance that nutrition plays in your health and the effects of the crap that is continually pushed, sold, marketed and fed to our kids and loved ones.

Paleo 101: The 15 Rules of the Paleo Diet

Walking Lunge with Mollie:

Walking Lunge Mollie

  1. Take a deep step forward with your foot at a 10 to 15 degree angle from your body (not in a straight line in front of you)
  2. Front knee remains behind the toe in the lunge position
  3. Rear knee gently “kisses” the ground
  4. Airplane arms are optional!

Pull-up challenge:

Try this post WOD and let’s see who can get the most in the box. If you don’t have a pull-up for for max bar hang (total seconds) or max chin over bar hold (total seconds).

“Max 25lb Weighted Pull-ups” with Dave Castro, Dave LipsonMikko SaloJuha Kangasniemi and Christy Phillips – video [wmv] [mov]

Happy Birthday Michelle and Cathy!

Today we celebrated Michelle’s 10th Annual 29th Birthday and Cathy’s 12th Annual 29th Birthday!

3 Rounds for Time:
400m Run 
10 Thrusters (115#/75#)
29 Burpees
38 Kettlebell Swings (53#/35#) 

* (Cathy did 12 Thrusters and 40 KB Swings per round like the stud she is)

Birthday Girls

Results

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Compare to previous results

Quote of the day: ‎”The only way you can hurt the body is to not use it. Inactivity is the killer, and remember, it’s never too late.” ~ Jack LaLanne (RIP)

Cathy Burpees M KB Swing

I program a special WOD for my wife’s birthday and this is the thanks I get:

The thanks I get

Nothing like a brutal birthday WOD to kick off the week. This one is looking like it’s becoming “epic” and earning quite a reputation.

The CrossFit Games Open begins March 15th! For those wanting to compete in the Open Sectionals read on and get ready for some fun.I’m hoping we get more info soon but plan on a few things: we will “opt-in” as an affiliate for our peeps, we will give those competing all the opportunity to do the WOD’s and we will be in the new space come hell or high water.

Stop the Slop Challenge:

Stick with it! Turn in your nutrition logs! Email us or bring them in we need to see them. For those using btwb.com keep it up. We are checking them.

Got an iPhone, iPad, or an Android? Do you eat paleo but feel stumped on what to order when you are out? If so you may want to try this app for finding restaurants and choosing menu items for making them paleo-ish: paleogogo.com

Restful Sunday

Have a restful Sunday.

Monday is a two-fer birthday WOD for Michelle and Cathy! “Newbies” scale # of rounds to two and load, “Standard” scale load on both movements, “Advanced” scale barbell load, “Smells Elite” category goes as RX’d. However you choose to go, go after it!

M and Moe sharing a laugh:

Sharing a Laugh

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday 1/25: Nutrition Discussion with CFHQ Trainer Todd Widman 

  • 1/25 at Imperial CrossFit: 5:30-7:30pm Cost $10
  • If you are in the “Stop the Slop” challenge so far use this to take the time and go learn and get re-energized!
  • Several of us in the box are planning to go to Imperial for this. Let us know if you are in. It’s worth it!

Saturday 2/5: The Sat WOD(s) will be a field trip to Cascade CrossFit for a WOD. Time will be from 9am until everyone is done. You can come later depending on your schedule. They will be hosting SnoValley CrossFit, Sculptor CrossFit, and us for a community building workout. We will program and run the workout in advance here in the box to allow you to get familiar with it. There will be no cost and all levels are encouraged to come and REPRESENT!

 Cool video from Jim C. with a message that applies to many sports and CrossFit:

   

Camp Awesome

Sectionals Training WOD:

10 Minutes to find a 1RM Power Clean  

Check Out WOD After:

Every Minute on the Minute for 8 Minutes complete:
Sprint 100ft.
Max Rep Power Cleans (155#/105#)

Group Class WOD:

5 Rounds for Time:
Run 400m
21 Box Jumps (24″/20″) 
12 Ring Push-ups

Results

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Ready to go

Just another day at Camp Awesome. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the weights and bodies were flying. Everyone helping one another and skills being developed, refined and strengthened. The mood for Sectionals training was focused and very fun. The way it should be. The main class was just the same. Saturday mornings are my favorite as group after group rolls in and hits their workout and the gym is buzzing pre-WOD with conversation, laughs, coaching and tunes. Once it starts it is like any other day and everyone pushes themselves through and encourages each other but afterwards the Saturday mood is just a little more relaxed. Usually people stick around and work on skills, have fun or just chat. It almost always ends with the coaches getting coffee. Like I said, Camp Awesome.

Zumba Warm-ups with Michelle:

Zumba

Ninja or Monkey with Matt?

Monkeying Around

Slop Stoppers:

Searching for Paleo recipe ideas? Try looking on Rob’s CrossFitDad.com site. Rob gathered 52 Paleo Recipes off Facebook from a post on Rogue Fitness’ page the other day.  He posted a recipe for Paleo Sloppy Joes that won him a T Shirt and then he complied everyone’s entries. If you pick one you like share it with the group so we can all try it. Tonight Michelle is making the Pina Colada Chicken & Calypso Confetti Cauliflower that Laura shared recently.

Coaching Tip:

The Ring Push-up with Jeremy O.:

Ring PU Ring PU 2

  1. Stabilize yourself on the rings in the push-up position with arms fully locked out.
  2. Lower your body in a plank so that your shoulders dip below your elbows
  3. Ideally the rings touch the inner part of the upper pec. 
  4. Squeeze the rings together as you push up in a plank. 
  5. Ensure you open the elbows and lock the arms out at the top.
SNORIDGE CROSSFIT