Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

Merry Christmas to everyone at SnoRidge CrossFit! Santa brought us a NEW box!

SRCF V 3

2011 means new things for SnoRidge CrossFit. We are taking a leap and hoping to go big or go home. Quite literally. We are super stoked to announce that we have bought a bigger space right here on the Ridge! If it doesn’t work then we will either go home or move in. (That means please stick with us!)

Hopefully by February we will be opening SRCF version 3.0 (1.0 was the garage, 2.0 is our current location). We have secured an agreement for a building that is more than twice our current size within the same Venture Commerce Center we all run around almost everyday, only this building is located in the long building along Center St. (same building as the All State office) that our 400m run route goes past.

The cool features:

  • Warehouse space will have more space than our current box (should handle 13-14 barbells comfortably)
  • 30′ fully exposed ceilings and rafters to hang more ropes and rings
  • 2 toilets to allow for twice the capacity of pre-WOD nervous pee-ers!
  • Front entry area that will have it’s own new Squatch Cave, office space, and a seating area 
  • Storage cubbies and lockers so you can lose more of your shit at the box!
  • Huge roll-up garage door on the back to the alley (this alone makes it CrossFit)
  • More wall space for wall ball and handstand push-up torture
  • No change to the run routes
  • Still has alley access so we can WOD outside
  • Ample room for an all new pull-up structure to hold more people
  • An upstairs area for Elements and Kids programs, as well as warm-ups and skills work
  • Front door entrance that won’t also be the WOD entry/exit
  • Overall size is around 2600 square feet
  • General all around badass-ness!!!

A few other things to announce:

  1. New weekly Friday 6pm class with Jeremy D. starts January 7th
  2. CF Kids will kick off in the New Year with Michelle and Moe (Class details TBA)
  3. Discount pricing for those wishing to pay their dues 6 and 12 months in advance will be announced January 1st.
  4. Plenty more epic things to come. 

Video Tour:

   

"The 12 Days of Christmas WOD"

CF Christmas

Like the song the “12 Days of Christmas”, complete each exercise in ascending order then work back down, adding one exercise per round. 

Ex. On the 1st day of Christmas, my coaches gave to me, one Sumo Deadlift High Pull; on the 2nd day of Christmas my coaches gave to me, 2 Thrusters and 1 SDHP; on the 3rd day of Christmas, my coaches gave to me, 3 Push Press, 2 Thrusters, and 1 SDHP; continue with 4 Power Cleans, 3, 2, 1 etc. up the ladder and down

For Time:

1 Sumo Deadlift High Pull (75#/55#)
2 Thrusters (75#/55#)
3 Push Press (75#/55#)
4 Power Cleans (75#/55#)
5 Power Snatches (75#/55#)
6 Kettlebell Swings (53#/35#)
7 Pull-ups
8 Knees-to-Elbows
9 Box Jumps (24″/20″)
10 Double Unders
11 Burpees 
12 Overhead Walking Lunge Steps (45#/25# Plate)

Results

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Previous Results

12 Days of Christmas WOD

Today was a record single class turnout! We had 37 Squatches turn out for the Christmas Eve WOD which made a packed box! For all who had to wait a few waves and put up with the multi-tasking I am sorry for that, but we really focused to get people moving and through the WOD to get back to your holiday plans. I’m also stoked with the energy and community everyone showed. Seeing so many people show up with holiday attire and good cheer means we must be collectively doing something right. Good games and chest bumps go to Moe and Jeremy for running a couple waves outside in the drizzle to push more people through.

This WOD is a long one and for sure a tough workout; however from a coaching perspective what I like about it is the loads are relatively light (or you should scale it to be light) which allow you to keep moving and to learn movements through repetition. The barbell complex at first can confuse some (I admit I even messed up when I finally went even after briefing it so many times), but after several rounds it drives muscle memory and links certain movements together that can make it “click”. At a minimum all of you should never ask “what’s a thruster” again. As I compared this to last year’s results I realized that today we did the WOD slightly different from what we ran last year (I honestly don’t remember why I pulled out power snatches but my guess is due to deadlifts being easier to coach and transition to cleans). Last year in round 5 we did 5 deadlifts each time. This time we had 5 power snatches, which are tougher, slower and more technical.  We also did burpees in the 11th round and lunges in the 12th round this year. Last year they were flipped and we did lunges in the 11th and burpees only once in the 12th round. I am pretty sure doubling the burpees takes a little more time than doubling the lunges. Yay burpees!

From your coaches at SnoRidge CrossFit, we want to wish everyone and their families a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and hope you are safe and warm with your loved ones. See you Monday!

 Flickr album:

   

Row, Run, Jump

For Time:

1000m Row
1 Mile Run
50 Double-Unders

Results

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From the book “Chuck Norris Cannot Be Stopped”:

“When Arnold says the line “I’ll be back” in the first Terminator movie, it is implied that he is going to ask Chuck Norris for help.”

  Rowers

Tomorrow is the “12 Days of Christmas WOD”!

CF Xmas

Wear something red and green, a bad Christmas sweater, or a santa hat, or bring your festivus pole. We will sing a carol, spread the yuletide cheer then start at 10am and send the first wave as soon as 8 are ready. If you can make 10:45am as well feel free to show up, begin warming up, and get ready for the next wave.

Also did you know every time a kettlebell swings an angel earns it’s wings?

Notes:

CrossFit vs. Zumba:

   

"Swing My Bell"

For Time:

20 Back Squats (225#/155#)
40 Toes-to-Bar
60 Kettlebell Swings (70# or 2 pood / 53# or 1.5 pood)

Results 

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Amanda Squats

What’s the theme this week? Hitting the target. Whether it’s “to elbows” or “to bar”, we have focused on a few movements requiring that you hit the target. Today is Toes-to bar. Count the reps that hit the bar. If you counted them and didn’t hit the target? Shame on you. Go to your room and do 100 burpees. No macadamia nuts for you.

Swing my Bell

From the CrossFit Archives 100707:

Chris Spealler demo of today’s WOD [wmv] [mov]

Mobility WOD by K-Star:

Pain in the knees? Tight behind the knees? Watch, learn and then mobilize. This site is a treasure trove of answers for aches, pains, and issues that have pretty simple fixes. #1 fix? Stop rushing out of the box after the WOD without stretching!

A Friend Calls With Knee-ities Below the Patella” Episode 107 video

Notes:

Christmas Eve “12 WOD’s of Christmas” at 10am. Sign up on the whiteboard so we can get an idea of how many.  We will run waves if it’s a crowd.

Dead Pull

As Many Rounds As Possible (AMRAP) in 15 Minutes of:

5 Deadlifts (225#/155#)
7 Chest-to-Bar Pull-ups
20 Double-Unders 

Results 

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WOD Demo:

Pat_DL CTB_Jeremy Mark_DU

When completing a chest-to-bar pull-up it is necessary to make contact with the chest in which the “target” should be to contact the middle of the chest or below to the bar. To complete this range of motion pull harder with the arms and lats while heaving your chest forward. Leaning the torso back while keeping the feet together will help. As the arms tire consider varying your grip.

CTB_Jenn CTB_Sean

Take 2 minutes. Watch this short preview video on Marissa Lelogeais on the CrossFit Journal (which is well worth the measly $25 a year to subscribe). She is a CrossFitter. She also happens to have cerebral palsy and is partially blind. If she can do it, then anyone can do it. Kinda makes any excuse a lame excuse, huh? 

Marissa’s Story” by Again Faster Equipment on the CrossFit Journal [wmv] [mov]

Schedule this week:

  • 12/23: No 6:30am classes on Thursday. All other classes are normal schedule Monday through Thursday. 
  • 12/24: On Christmas Eve we will have one WOD in the morning at 10am. 
  • 12/25: Closed on Christmas Day. Santa for time.

"Happy Birthday Jeremy!"

3 Rounds for Time:

31 Box Jumps (24″/20″)
12 Power Snatches (115#/75#)
20 Knees-to-Elbows
100′ Overhead Dumbbell Walking Lunges (40#/25# – 50′ per arm)

Results

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What is the birthday boy doing on the laptop?

Birthday Boy

 Read “Heels On the Box or Bust” by Lisbeth Darsh of CrossFit Watertown

When some of your coaches made this WOD over the weekend we threw out a few different combos. This is what “stuck”. Prior to all us doing this WOD we had a very short discussion about knees-to-elbows. All of us violently agreed that there is a reason they are called knees…to…ELBOWS. Otherwise they would be called Knees to triceps, or knees to chest, and so on. Like a “Chest-to-Bar Pull-up” we all reasoned that the contact with said body part was crucial to why the name was chosen and that would constitute the full range of motion. I know we previously have said slightly above and slightly below the elbow was a good rep. That is the old SRCF standard. Today we raised the standard.

Why raise it? Well, why not? One of the aspects of fitness is accuracy. Whether it’s hitting the line (or eventually target) in wall balls, getting our chin over the bar, or ensuring our feet land in the right position of a clean or snatch it’s important to be accurate. Practicing this in as many movements as possible is vital to getting fitter, faster, and just less sloppy. The key is practice. If you miss a rep, then do it again. It’s that easy. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t cheat yourself, and don’t hang your head. You get tired. We get that. Take a second, tighten up that shot group; then pull those knees all the way up to those elbows next time.

“Knees-to-Elbows” and their variation movements from CrossFit.com [wmv] [mov]

Congrats to Brad and Jim aka “Old Man Jim” who completed Elements tonight!

Elements_Brad and Jim

Holiday Schedule

Take a knee. Rest today.

Post WOD Snuggle

  • 12/20 – 12/23: No 6:30am classes on Tuesday and Thursday. All other classes will have a normal schedule Monday through Thursday. 
  • 12/24: One WOD in the morning at 10am! (“12 WOD’s of Christmas”!)
  • Wear a bad Christmas sweater if you have it. After the WOD is an open invite to go raid the local coffee shop for some caffeine to get us through the festivities.
  • 12/25: Closed. Santa for time!

CrossFit is now officially an ANSI Accredited Certificate Program Issuer for the Level 1 Trainer Course

ANSIAccreditationCF

"Nasty Girls"

“Hanging Around”

For Time:

3 Rounds for Time:
50 Air Squats
10 Hang Power Cleans (115#/75#)
15 Pull-ups

or

“Nasty Girls”

For Time:

3 Rounds for Time:
50 Air Squats
7 Muscle-Ups
10 Hang Power Cleans (135#/95#)

Results

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The guys tackle “Nasty Girls”:

Nasty Girls - Guys

I read a post today by our very own Rob who writes on his blog CrossFit Dad. The post I read spoke of the aspect of preparing for, practicing, and facing your weaknesses in the box. In Rob’s case it is the overhead squat. He dreads them. He knew they would be part of the WOD one specific weekend yet still came in early, practiced, scaled, warmed up properly, and focused on doing them right. The outcome? Achievement unlocked. Overhead Squat technique learned. Read it, reflect on it, and chart out your approach to a weakness you may have in CrossFit.

Read: “Sectionals Training Week 2” by CrossFit Dad (Rob)

We can’t do Nasty Girls without posting what is one of the “early classic” workout demo videos from CrossFit.com; classic because of the early style that included crappy music, no editing, and epic performances. This video is one I remember seeing early in my first encounter with CrossFit and thinking “cool, I wanna be like these girls”, who were the original trio of female firebreathers: Nicole Carroll, Eva T, and Annie Sakamoto.

The most memorable parts are that 3 women are doing muscle-ups (which wasn’t all that common several years ago) and that Nicole fights and cries her way through the last round of the WOD, failing muscle-ups and cleans while the tears are flowing yet still managing to finish the workout. Inspiring.

Video: Nasty Girls – [wmv] [mov]

Nasty Girls

"JT"

21-15-9 Reps for Time:

Handstand Push-Ups
Ring Dips
Push-Ups

Results

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Jeremy_HSPU

Josh

In honor of Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Taylor, 30, of Little Creek, VA, who was killed in Afghanistan in June 2005.

Notes:

Congrats to Amanda for getting double-unders today and to Moe and Michelle for learning how to kip a handstand push-up!

Rona’s “1 year CrossFit Anniversary” story made the CF Affiliate Page a few days ago! Click here to read.

Read: “What Would Happen?” by CrossFit Lisbeth

Clean Up

For Time:

25 Pull-ups 
15 Power Clean (135#/95#)
200m Run 
20 Pull-ups 
10 Power Clean
400m Run  
10 Pull-ups 
5 Power Clean 
800m Run 

Results

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Quote of the Day that Jenna found:

“Check your ego at the door, somewhere in the world a high school kid is warming up with your PR.”

Rona_Set Position

Hypothetical Question: If we had a 6pm Friday class would you honestly come to it? Post answer to comments.

Coaching Tip: The Power Clean Finish Position with Amanda and Jana

Amanda_Elbows High Jana_Finish PC

  • Keep the elbows high and parallel to the ground for the ideal “rack” or “finish” position
  • Fingers are loose to allow the elbows up 
  • Bar should rest above the chest and on the shoulders, chest is upright
  • Feet are in the landing position ideally beneath the hips

Pat and Mark completed the 2nd WOD in the latest 3 WOD Again Faster “Beat the Team to Win” series. This WOD was pretty tough and they both came away with killer times using different strategies (Pat 8:00 and Mark 7:55).

For time:

200 Double Unders
9000#/7000# of Deadlifts
75 Barbell Thrusters (45#)

* Weight on deadlift bar will determine # of reps.  If weight isn’t an even multiple of the 9000#/7000#, athlete will round up.  For example, if you choose to complete the 9000# with 185# (9000/185=48.6), you’ll complete 49 reps.  
* Reps can be partitioned as the athlete wishes.
* Once workout begins, deadlift weight must remain the same.