Grace meets Griff

For time: 
800m Run
10 Clean & Jerks (135#/95#)
400m Run Backwards
10 Clean & Jerks 
800m Run
10 Clean & Jerks
400m Run Backwards
 
* Mash-up of the Hero WOD “Griff” and the benchmark “Grace”

Results

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Derek joins the “All Ladies Clean & Jerk Class” this afternoon:

Mom Friendly Class

This Friday through Sunday is the 2011 CrossFit Games Northwest Regionals!

  • We will have one 0930 class tomorrow and then are closed for the rest of the day
  • We are closed Saturday
  • Regionals are being held at the Puyallup Fairgrounds
  • Go here for venue information, heat schedules and times, and other general information
  • Live scoreboard update
  • There are multiple regional events running this weekend around the world so check the CF Games site page for day by day recaps and video summaries. 
  • Come cheer for Mark as he competes in two WOD’s a day on Friday and Saturday 
  • Field will narrow down to the top 14 men, 14 women and 10 teams for Sunday for the final two WOD’s
  • WOD’s are here; Standards for Individuals and Teams

Come join us at Regionals! We hope to see you there!

Amy N. goes heavy on the Clean and Jerk:

Amy N_C&J

"Throw me the rope."

For time: 
15 Deadlifts (225#/155#)
5 Rope Climbs (15’/12′)
12 Deadlifts
4 Rope Climbs 
9 Deadlifts 
3 Rope Climbs 
6 Deadlifts 
2 Rope Climbs 
3 Deadlifts
1 Rope Climb 

Results

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Night Climbers

From the movie “The Princess Bride”:

Inigo Montoya: But, I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top. 
Man in Black: That’s VERY comforting, but I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait. 
Inigo Montoya: I hate waiting. I could give you my word as a Spaniard. 
Man in Black: No good. I’ve known too many Spaniards. 
Inigo Montoya: Isn’t there any way you trust me? 
Man in Black: Nothing comes to mind. 
Inigo Montoya: I swear on the soul of my father, Domingo Montoya, you will reach the top alive. 
Man in Black: Throw me the rope. 

Rope climbs. You never know when you might need one. Train now so if you ever are the man (or woman) in black you can tell Inigo Montoya to just throw you the rope.

Congrats to Jim C. (pictured below) and Laura M. for getting their first WOD’s with rope climbs today! 15 of them!

Gloria_DL Day Climbers

Coaching Tips – Rope climbs and the foot lock:

  • First: work on your pull-ups. All different types. Get stronger in your arms, you will need them.
  • Try different foot locks. There are multiple styles. Ask your coaches to show you the different methods and see what works.
  • The foot lock is essential to the climb. It allows you to navigate both up and down the rope safely and efficiently, as well as provide a method to brake and hold yourself when you are fatigued at 10 to 20 feet off the floor.
  • The pull-up on the rope should be followed with a very quick foot lock that allows you to stand up with your feet and take the load off your arms. Think “pull and air squat” on the rope. 
  • When you descend make sure you use your feet to control your rate of descent. Don’t fire pole it if you don’t have an understanding of fast-roping. Come down by going hand over hand with your foot lock in reverse.
  • If you are able to quickly descend using the “J or Hook Wrap”, you can control your speed by spreading your feet apart (pictured below)

Meghann_Foot Lock Josh_Foot Lock

Derek_Foot Lock Fast Descent

Notes:

“Change Our Thoughts” with Greg Amundson – video [wmv] [mov]

Coolest kettlebells ever: Demonbells

Schedule update for this Friday!

Thanks Coach Rona for volunteering to run one WOD on Friday at 9:30am for anyone who can make it. It will be the ONLY WOD of the day as afterwards she will be closing the gym to get to Regionals. We will be closed the rest of Friday and all day Saturday. I will post a WOD for Saturday on beyondthewhiteboard.com for those who want to do it on their own.

Games T Shirts are in. Pick them up at the box if you pre-ordered and paid. If you want to get in on the re-order write your name and size down on the whiteboard in the box. We will be doing another order of the same color as well as some blue women’s tanks too.

"Tyler"

5 Rounds for Time:

7 Muscle-Ups
21 Sumo Deadlift High Pull (20#/14#)

Results

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Tyler Hero WOD

RIP 1LT Tyler

The Muscle-up. The annoited pinnacle skill in CrossFit that people strive and wish for. It is held up on a pedestal for achieving “Beast Mode” status. Deserved? Who knows. It’s a skill that is advanced to all but the gymnast who scoffs at the notion of it being called an “advanced anything”. To a gymnast who uses the rings the “muscle-up” is a starting position to real ring work. It’s beyond basic. To the CrossFitter it’s the key to a whole bunch of WOD’s like “Nasty Girls”, “Amanda”, “Nate”, and many more.

Well we aren’t all gymnasts, so I am willing to bet that in most walks of athletic life outside of CrossFit you won’t find that many people doing muscle-ups of any variation in any type of gym. By that perspective then I’m okay with it being a beast skill.

Here’s the deal though. It’s a different beast altogether. Getting a muscle-up means you must first have at minimum the ability to do a few if not several no sh*t chest-to-bar pull-ups, a few dead hang pull-ups and a few deep ring dips. Without those skills the raw strength is simply not there. Moving beyond that you must have an ability to kip, maintain a false grip, and have practiced the muscle-up progression from the floor. Once you get that first one what is one to do? Celebrate yes, but it doesn’t end there. It’s actually only the beginning to a whole new domain. Weaving them into a WOD is a whole other matter as you combine them with other movements and grip fatigue while dealing with the overall cardio-respiratory impact of the workout itself.

So for those who recently learned them, keep practicing them. For those who want one? Get to work on those strict pull-ups, chest-to-bar pull-ups and ring dips along with the muscle-up progressions. The goal is to get to the muscle-up as RX’d: Full turnout at the bottom with arms straight, then a strong full pull and dip to finishing with arms locked out in the “up” position. Step two is the ability to work them with other movements throughout a WOD. 

Don – Muscle-up Sequence:

Don_Muscle Up - 2 Don_Muscle Up - 3 Don_Muscle Up - 4

Don_Muscle Up - 5 Don_Muscle Up - 6 Don_Muscle Up - 7

Notes:

Mobility class Wednesday night with Rona. See yesterday’s post.

Our “Road to the Fittest” Games Shirts came in and look awesome. For those who pre-ordered pick them up in the box. For those who missed the first order, let Michelle know to get on a re-order list. When we hit a total of 12 we will order again.

Games Shirts

Be a fathead (the human brain is made up in large parts both fat and cholesterol). Read: 7 Reasons to Eat Saturated Fat – Nourishing Days

Grocery Shopping” with Nick Massie, CrossFit Journal preview video [wmv] [mov]

"Pistol Whipped"

As Many Rounds As Possible in 20 Minutes:

5 Med Ball Cleans (20#/14#)
10 Pistols
15 Double-Unders

Results

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See if you did this one a year ago: Previous Results 

Caryn Pistol

Caryn Rocking the Pistol

The pistol, also known as the one legged squat. These are a tough bodyweight movement that force concentration, balance and coordination. They also require leg strength and power. Standing up from a full pistol position hits every muscle in your leg, glutes and erectors. Our previous standard in the box for pistols to be RX’d were to hit a med ball on the squat. Today we took it further and said the goal if you had a pistol was to perform it “ass to ankle”. That is what the RX+ means. Over time expect that the RX standard will be sans med ball target. Getting complete range of motion is the goal. It’s not just that you wouldn’t ever have a butt ball in a competitive setting; it’s that the purpose of the pistol like any other exercise is to develop greater fitness while maximizing range of motion, efficiency and power.

Lucy pistol

Congrats to all who got their 1st pistols today (there were a few who rang the PR bell) with either the box, butt ball or without as well as to those who PR’d. Practice them and stay flexible. You can learn them.

If you are wondering why we are changing the pistol standard? Read this post which sums it all up.

“That Standard Is Stupid” by CrossFit Montgomery County

Notes:

This Wednesday night is “Mobility Strikes Back”

  • This structured and coach led class will focus on stretching, flexibility, and mobility. Learn techniques you can use to improve your range of motion in those muscles and joints, enhance recovery and get you back to working out or setting new PR’s.
  • This week’s focus: Calves/Achilles/Ankles and Shoulders & Scaps
  • When: 6/8 from 7-8pm (Runs every other Wednesday)
  • Cost: 
    • Unlimited members class is free
    • 2x Weekly members cost is $20 per month (2 classes per month)
  • How: Sign-up REQUIRED on MindBody Online each class
  • Class Size: Limited to class size of 10 people (Must register online at above link for each class)

CF Games Update:

We are done with 2 weekends of Regionals, only 2 to go!

The Regional Update 2.3 – video [wmv] [mov]

Jeremy Instructs Pistols: 

Instuction

"Tag Team"

In teams of 2 complete for time:

300 Kettlebell Swings (53#/35#)
Run 400m
* One team member swings while one runs 400m. Tag up after each run.
** Stop once you reach 300 swings, regardless of where the runner is.

Results

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Tag Team back again…

Tag Team KB

Reebok’s partnership (and sponsorship) with CrossFit is evolving quickly from sponsoring the CF Games to building a CF Box at the company headquarters to making apparel. Now they are rolling out shoes and Olympic Lifting shoes. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the models that were on display at the NorCal Regionals this weekend. Part Inov-8, part Minimus, with what looks like a slightly thicker but still flat sole. What do you think?

Our “Ball Rules” made the CrossFit Affiliate blog the other day.

“Gramps” Curtis brought all the kids with him to the WOD on Saturday:

Curtis and the Kids

2011 CrossFit Games:

The Regional Update 2.1 – video [wmv] [mov]

Next weekend from Friday through Sunday (6/10-6/12) are the Northwest Regionals! The box will be closed on Friday and Saturday as we will all be down at the Puyallup Fairgrounds cheering and supporting Mark as he competes and demonstrates random acts of awesomeness against the top male athletes from our 5 state region. 

Come on down to join the SRCF family to watch some cool CF competition and meet others in the community. It’s the pinnacle local “Cult gathering event” for our region! Tickets can be purchased at the gate ($10 a day or $25 for a 3 day pass) or you can buy htem online at the link over on the right hand side of the page.

Also if you are interested in volunteering any of the days let me know ASAP.

Jeremy demos the full snatch. He is so fast on his transition under the bar he actually finds time to change into a sports bra! Lookin’ good!

Jeremy D_Snatch - 1 Jeremy D_Snatch - 2

Jeremy D_Snatch - 3 M_OHS

2k Row

For Time:

2000m Row

Results

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Both of these 5 year old girls rowed a sub 8 minute 2k!

2k Row

Kidding!

I know the sun finally made an appearance today in what seems like an eternity, but I can’t help but wonder how crowded it would have been had we done something like rope climbs, rings, thrusters or running today. Hmmm maybe tomorrow…

The 2k Row for time is a mean, mean workout. It usually ends with the athlete in writhing agony on the floor from rowing so hard while both feet are still strapped in. It’s a 6 to 8 minute all out sprint that is meant to hurt. Every pull and every second matters. When you hit that rower, make it count and go for broke.

Notes:

Saturday Schedule 6/4:

  • 0930 WOD normal schedule  
  • 1045 we will start the Advanced Skills Challenge. You will be grouped with a Coach to take you through the entire skill set. Be prepared to move!

CF Kids Session II: For those who purchased the CF Kids Package I figured out what was set wrong and it should now show the online price. If you signed up yesterday when the price was set wrong (at $0) please add it again and purchase. Or let me know and I can add it to your account for you.

This picture represents how I felt working on the MindBody Online tool to fix and set it up: 

Hulk pic

The Position: Part 5-The Pull-up” with Kelly Starrett and Carl Paoli,CrossFit Journal preview video [wmv] [mov]

CrossFit Games: “I Love This Game” – video [wmv] [mov]

SnoRidge CrossFit Kids Session 2

5 Rounds For time:

20 Wall Balls (20#/14#)
20 Box Jumps (24″/20″)

Results

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This pic sums up the WOD:

Gasser

Quote of the Day: “That’s worse than a burpee!” ~ Chelley after seeing the demo of the Dumbbell Manmaker in the warm-up

Jim H. and Karrie hit some box jumps:

Jim H_Box Jumps Karrie_Box Jump

Notes:

“The Return of SnoRidge CrossFit Kids”

Sign up your little Squatch (ages 5-9) for session II chaos with Michelle, Moe, and Rona on each Saturday starting July 9.

SRCF Kids Logo Text-1SRCF Kids Logo Text-2

“Forging the Future of Fitness”

What is CrossFit Kids? A safe, fun exercise program designed to teach and improve areas such as coordination, flexibility, balance, agility, strength, speed and above all confidence! CF Kids teaches kids that “working out” can and should be fun and effective. These will be a once per week class that lasts 5 weeks per session. 

Session 2 will begin on Saturday July 9th and run every Saturday through August 13th (we will be closed July 28 through August 1 for the CrossFit Games) for a total of 5 classes.

Includes:

  • Space is LIMITED! We are expanding to 12 available slots per session (Once they are full the session will be sold out)
  • Sign up online now at MindBody to purchase a spot
    • Log In to your account
    • Select Series and Memberships, then CrossFit Kids to purchase a session
  • We are a CrossFit Kids Affiliate with a Kids Certified Program
  • 45-minute Kids classes (Limited to members kids ages 5-9 ONLY)
  • Each class contains a warm-up, instruction, Workout Of the Day or “WOD”, and a physically active FUN Game at the end! 
  • Bodyweight FUNctional movements like jumping, climbing, pulling, pushing done safely
  • Sessions are 5 weeks long of 1 class per week (Total of 5 Classes)
  • Classes on Saturday from 9:30am to 10:15am
  • Cost is $50 per child for each 5 week session (Sibling discount is $40)
  • Session 3 will run in August-September
  • Each session will require a re-registration per child
  • Kids classes will be held upstairs with Michelle, Moe, and Rona while the Sat. 9:30am adult class is in the main gym area

Matt learned a Back Lever and a Front Lever (he got straighter) tonight!

Matt Back Lever

Matt Front Lever

What's CrossFit?

10 Rounds for Time: 
3 Deadlifts (275#/185#)
6 Clapping Push-ups
9 Toes-to-Bar

Results

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Hang or Clap

Ever have trouble answering that question? I have been doing it for years and own a box and it still trips me up every time. Some days it’s easy to explain and I can’t shut up about it. Other days it’s like explaining to my daughter why sugar is evil and she can’t have dessert every night or watch Hannah Montana every hour. Painful. 

This article from a local news site in Houston does a great job of laying out CrossFit. Too bad it doesn’t make it any easier. 

Read: “How CrossFit changed my life: This humbling, hunk-making system is no cult, no P90X

If you are an Endurance nut or Tri freak then check out Competitor magazine that recently ran an article on CF Endurance coach Brian McKenzie and the CrossFit Endurance program. It also lays out a 6 week CF Endurance plan.

MackenzieCompetitorCover_june_th.jpg

Brian MacKenzieCompetitor Magazine

Snatch-tastic!

Strength WOD:

Squat Snatch
Take 12 Minutes to find your 1RM

Checkout WOD:

For time:

50 Double-Unders
5 Squat Snatch – Choose Your Load
40 Double-Unders
4 Squat Snatch
30 Double-Unders
3 Squat Snatch
20 Double-Unders
2 Squat Snatch
10 Double-Unders
1 Squat Snatch

Results

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Double Snatch:

Set Position_Snatch - 1 Set Position_Snatch - 2

Sean_Extension Dylan_Triple Extension

Sean_Snatch Dylan_Snatch

Coaching Tips on the Snatch (also known as Squat or Full Snatch):

  • Set up in a deeper squat than your deadlift, with feet right under your hips
  • Grip bar at your overhead squat grip
  • Utilize the hook grip to avoid pulling with your arms early and to lift more
  • Grip the bar and pull down into a squat, pushing the knees out with the chest up and weight on your heels
  • Take a deep breath and contract your back and ab muscles
  • Lift the barbell off the floor while pushing the weight through your heels into the ground
  • Keeping the bar close to the shins and ensuring that the hips and shoulders rise together
  • Accelerate the bar past the knees and gently pull the bar up and back as you explosively shrug and push your hips forward
  • At the top of the upward shrug simultaneously pull under the bar fast into the overhead squat position
  • Keep the bar overhead in line with your shoulders, hips, and heels while in the overhead squat
  • Look straight ahead and not down at the floor or ground
  • Push your armpits forward while arms are locked overhead as you stand up with the bar
  • Complete the rep by ensuring the hips open fully at the top before lowering the bar

Notes:

Let the Games Begin! – SicFit video [wmv] [mov]

Saturday Schedule: This Saturday we will run the Advanced RX Challenge Skills Test at 1100 for anyone who missed it last Saturday. The regular Saturday WOD will still be at 0930. 

There is also a CF Fundraiser and Team WOD Challenge on Saturday in Kent for anyone interested that is being run by Stoneway CF and has some participation from a couple of local boxes. If you or a group of you are interested in going then please let us know so we can get you the details.

CF Kids Session II:

Session II will begin on July 9th and run every Saturday at 0930 (we are not running it in June due to Regionals as well as the CF Gymanastics Cert that we will be closed for 2 weekends that month). There will be 5 classes in Session II and sign-ups will be via online. We will also be closed for the CF Games from 28 July through 1 August so will take a break from the Kids program that weekend and resume the following week.  Stay tuned for registration details tomorrow!

The “Twins” have arrived:

The Twins

General rules on using my “Big Balls”:

  1. Anyone wanting to go a little heavy can always use my balls.
  2. Make sure you handle my balls with care.
  3. Please clean the balls when you are done. No one likes dirty balls.
  4. Always put the balls away. No one likes to see big balls just lying around.
  5. When throwing them, don’t be scared of the big heavy ball or it might just hit you in the face.
  6. No fighting over the balls. They are first come first serve.

"Murph"

For time:

1 Mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 Mile Run
* If you have a 20# Vest or Body Armor wear it

or

“Half Murph”

800m Run
50 Pull-ups
100 Push-ups
150 Squats
800m Run

Results

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Memorial Day WOD

From CrossFit.com: “Murph” is dedicated to Navy SEAL LT Michael Murphy, 29 of New York, who was killed in Afghanistan in June of 2005. This workout was one of his favorites and he’d named it “Body Armor”. It is referred to as “Murph” in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more than to serve his country and the people who make it what it is. 

He is a Medal of Honor recipient. Read the link above for the harrowing account of his heroic actions.

Today was the “Memorial Day Murph” Hero WOD Tribute. If you wanted to buy a shirt or donate you can do so here.

   

39 of us honored a fallen Hero today on this Memorial Day. Either by completing “Murph” or a different Hero WOD by substitute. Thank you to all who came together today to share in something that is just a little more than a tough workout.

Murph Push-ups

Murph Vest  Murph Run