The Numbers Don't Tell The Story

OK, first the numbers from this morning's workout...

Swing: 16kg - 10/10

Jerk: 2 x 16kg - 3 minutes @ 6 rpm

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 1 minutes @ 5 rpm

Snatch: 16kg - 8 minutes @ 12 rpm

And now for the story... Just looking at today's numbers one would think this was a pretty good workout. In the end, I think it wasn't too bad, as happy as I am with the Snatch outcome, but here's how it came about...

Into yesterday evening, my lower back started developing some soreness and tightening up, most probably a result of my moving my workout room into my garage as well as some possible DOMS from the prior day's 24kg workout session. Therefore before I went to bed, I started thinking to myself, 'maybe I need to take tomorrow off'. Right then and there I knew I was in trouble. I typically get very aggressive anticipating my morning workouts, once I start to falter, it's hard to recover. But I wouldn't let up on myself. I went to sleep setting the alarm for 5:30am.

I got up with the alarm feeling the soreness and tightness still in my back. Pushing on went down and warmed up with my Swings. I could immediately feel that I wasn't 100%. That voice in the back of my mind was telling me I wouldn't make the 5 minutes. So I started my Jerks. And as expected I wasn't feeling it. My rack felt shallow. The bells felt like they were being pulled forward off of me. At 3 minutes I gave in and put the bells down. My head wasn't in things today. And that pissed me off.

Not to allow myself to get off that easy, I decided to throw in one set of Jerks with the 24kg's. I'm going to have to start working these soon as well. Might as well get a taste now. Observation: 24kg Jerks are much heavier than 16kg Jerks!

Following the Jerks I still had Snatches on the docket for today. I was planning a 7 minute set at 12 rpm. I tried to shake off the Jerk mindset and knew that the Snatches would help loosen my back up with the downswings. And this was only a single bell I was dealing with. I decided to not think about anything except my breathing and the clock.

And so I began. As I approached the 3-1/2 minute mark, when I had planned to switch hands, I realized that I could make it to 4 minutes with still good form. And so I focused on my breathing and went for it. At 4 minutes I switched hands and that first swing with my right hand felt great! I now knew it was all about the pace and keeping my breath under control.

Before I knew it, I was approaching the 8 minute mark and still going (relatively) strong. Pleased with how I finished today's session, I am now intent on putting those Jerks to shame!

And so, if you had only looked at my numbers for today you would have never understood all of the mental turmoil and angst that went along with it. Just thought I'd share with you. Until tomorrow!!