The cost of a free education

NOTE: I had a longer version of the following but as often happens, I got it start and had to set it down and come back to it several times. It’s probably obvious that this is a quick way to kill a train of thought. So I’m rewriting it in an abreviated form.

Thank you Chris and Teresa (does she spell it with an H?). I sprung the idea on Chris last Thursday or Friday that I’d like to drop by his house on Saturday. He had stuff to do but was willing to make time for Laura and me to come by. We dropped by and Chris and Teresa were wonderful hosts, letting us hang out in Chris’s home gym (a dramatic understatement). I got to see Chris’s nice, pro style kettlebells. Laura got to see the bell she has always wanted, the pink pro. Laura got to hear a bit from Teresa about the ups and downs of living with a lifter.

More important that looking at more weights, I really enjoyed getting to hear how Chris and Teresa got to where they were. I think I’ve heard all of it before but I can be dense so hearing it a second time was really helpful. It may have simply been the reminder that I needed.  There were a lot of memorable phrases that stick with me, a few come to mind typing this:

“I started building this gym in 2000 as a gift to myself” bear in mind that Chris has been training for longer than I have been alive, it’s not like he just built a gym on his first time out, he earned it in every way.

“We chose to spend money doing things rather than buying stuff” Laura and have tried to hold this philosophy in mind but it’s interesting to see the other side of it, where you can arrive at by following that path.

“You won’t get as strong with kettlebells but you can get more fit.”

“It won’t happen the way you think it will” This was in reference to my thoughts on the order I would go about getting stuff throughout my life.

It was a great education for me Chris, thank you.

Chris, if you decided to do the 14er thing, whether you take your big trip or not, please consider me interested. I’ve got a lot going on in the next 2-3 years but I’ll do my best to take part in an adventure like that.

Today

32K kettlebell

2H swing 25
Strict Press 5/5 -> 1/1
Front Squat 10
5 sets

Time: 20:47
Avg Hr: 154
Max Hr: 173
Body weight:251.4
tsk tsk, it was cake day at work and I had one slice additionally I ate late. My usual Thursday lunch date was unavailable and I hadn’t seen my favorite sushi chef in weeks so I popped over for a spicy bowl, a bowl of rice with some raw fish and hot sauce on top. All that contributed to a high bodyweight when I got home. I’ve actually been behaving myself very well the last few days, aside from this. So, we dust ourselves off and get back on the horse. 250, I never want to see you again.

additional note on weightloss. I went into Joseph A. Banks (a local men’s formal wear retailer) to look at suits. I need to lose a chunk of weight so I can get a nice new suit this summer and look good in it.

additional  – additional note, I think I’m going to start doing a light 20 minute workout in the mornings.

Welcome back

bodyweight 246.4
That’s pretty much where it’s been hanging out for a while but I’m glad I didn’t gain while on vacation. I credit a lot of walking that Laura and I did and Laura’s willingness to split meals with me for this. that’s said, time to head on down.

Snatch 25/25
Hindu Squat 25
Push ups 10
4 sets
I had to take breaks on the last set of snatches, my hands were just failing but that’s just why I was doing the snatches. I need to get more grip endurance.

Time 18:18
avg hr 164
max hr 179

shaved the dog

Other things needed to happen today so working out got skipped and the dog got clipped. I’m off for a few days of R&R. Don’t look for much from me until late next week.

10 minutes

work, life and weather appeared to wish to conspire against me but, due to a lucky break in the rain, I got the dog walked and found myself with 20 minutes to spare…what to do with 20 minutes

24K  10 minute snatch test – 160
30 second breaks at 5:30-110 and 8:00-140
avg hr 169
max hr 199

tomorrow ill probably just be swings with the 16K.

YouTube is my jukebox

32K kettlebell
2H swing X 10
C & J 5/5
Row 5/5
Sumo Deadlift 10
Floor Press 5/5

5 sets – at my own pace
time 28:04
avg hr 151
max hr 178

Trainer 3 X 5

you can bet I wore shoes

16K kettlebell

1H swings 10/10
standing press 10/10
TGU 1/1
Squat 10
Burpee 5
Row 10/10

5 sets
Time 23:02
Max Hr 184
Avg Hr168

Tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s leftovers: homemade black bean burgers.

random update

I’m just posting to say the semester is winding down and that makes me happy. I haven’t had a semester so full of busy work in a while. I’ll be glad to see the backside of it. This summer should be interesting. I’ll be spending roughly 6 weeks going to school four days a week, astually going to school, not online. The bad news is the logistical hassles, the good news is that puts me back in contact with some Concept IIs and the matches pairs of kettlebells. I’m thinking I’d like to alternate rowing and kettlebells and that for my kettlebell days I’d like to go back to work on that Enter the Kettlebell program or whatever it was caleld that I got from AoS.

The other update I have is that I took a shot in the dark on that idea of a kettlebell juggling contest and seem to have hit the right place. So if you’ve got bells, blow the dust off them and start practicing.

why go to the park?

I wanted to go to the park to do some juggling today. I headed out the door, kettlebell in hand, and thought, why go to the park? There’s peerfectly good grassy patch across the parking lot from me and my wife and I have the two cars that are parked nearest to it so no one’s property is in danger.

I don’t have any video but I went about 5 minute, tooa minuteish break, went 4 minutes, minute break,got going on round 3 and the handle of the bell hit the button on myheart rate monitor, I called it quits.
Time 13:10
AVG hr 162
max Hr 178

I came in and did 4 sets of v situps, counting to 30 at  amoderat pace on each, probably not a full 30 seconds, cal it 20-25.

I’m trying to talk myself into something with a dumbell but I don’t see it happening.
I’m wondering if I could do a kb juggling video contest like I did for kettlebell painting. Very early in the thought process but it would have to go down in August if I do it this year.

lovely day

It made me want to go do some juggling in the park but I passed for time. Maybe I’ll try tomorrow, we’ll see.

16K kettlbell Snatch
25/25 X 3
10/10 X 2
5/5 X 1

ending HR:177
Ending time: 9:50

Mountain Climbers X 25
rest
Mountain Climbers X 25
Hindu Squats X 25
Mountain Climbers X 25
Hindu squats X 25
Mountain Climbers X 25

Stopped because the skinas coming off the bottom of my right big toe, don’t do mountain climbers on carpet

Ending HR170
Ending Time 18:24

Disturbed

I tried to look up rif’s blog but it looks like he took his ball and went home. So I played a little Disturbed for him hese past two workout, since I’ve been doing more swings lately and he loved swings and always seemed to play disturbed in his videos.

Monday

32K kb
2 H swing X 20
uh oh, I’ve forgotten the rest. I meant to type it sooner and it’s clear I should have
I did 5 sets but that’s no help
I messed around with some of the movements from the new Bodytribe video on YouTube.

Tuesday

24K kb Clean and Jerk 10/10
mountain climber X 10
3 sets
I had my HR monitor on at the time but I haven’t had time to read it.

I had considered taking tonight off but I think I’ll do something because tomorrow I won’t be home until late so training is right out.

I have a bunch of other things I want to right but the time hasn’t been there. Also I’ve been tinkering with webpages again, 5 minutes here or there. have a copy of the Adobe suite in the mail to me that I hope to play with.