Biathlon Bells

Trained the bells today. I can see that my endurance has dropped a bit since I have started focusing on the Olympic lifts. It's ok, nothing that I couldn't pick back up with some focused bell training when the time comes. So I'll consider today's session a maintenance session.

Kettlebell Jerk: 2 x 24kg
4 minutes @ 8 rpm
1 minute @ 10 rpm
1 minute @ 12 rpm

Kettlebell Snatch: 24kg
3 minutes @ 14 rpm
2 minutes @ 16 rpm

That's it and that's all!

Training alongside the Fighters

So I've now begun to train my kettlebells in the local MMA. It's quite a change from the parking garage! First of all, there is actually air circulating and light to see. That alone is a big improvement. Today while I trained, there was a boxer working out next to me and a crew of jiu jitsu practitioners working on the mat. Having other dedicated individuals around you while training is definitely a great motivator. In a sense, it also makes me feel somewhat primitive, just pumping out reps while they engage in higher order activities. But we all do what we do, right? =)

So here's today's session...

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 8 rpm

Jump Rope: 5 rounds of 2 minutes on / 1 minute off

Snatch: 24kg - 4 minutes @ 12 rpm

Even taking the jump rope 'break' didn't help much with the fatigue from the jerks. The first few snatches in particular were shaky. They firmed up but two minutes per side was it for today. All in all, a good training day!

Jerks

Not too much happening lately.

On Wednesday I did some snatching and treadmill running.
Yesterday was a day off.

Today was training in a potential new location. A MMA gym opened up recently near the office so I hopped over there to train. Much better than the parking garage!! I'm going to try it out for a month, so we'll see how it works out.

Jerk: 2 x 24kg
5 minutes @ 7 rpm
1 minute @ 10 rpm
1 minute @ 10 rpm

Swing: 24kg - 25/25


Jerks went well although for some reason they felt heavy. The one minute sets were icing on the cake. I just wanted to squeeze in a few more sets are a quicker pace. I had intended to go 30/30 in the swings, but couldn't manage it today.

Swings Suck

Had a good weekend. This made today's session not-so-good.

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 7 rpm

Swing: 24kg - 30/30, 30/30


Jerks were pretty tough today. It was hot and the air was super heavy. Snatching would have been brutal. So I swung. This is the first time I've attempted two sets. They were brutal, but I got them done. How do I reward myself? Use the 28kg for the next session!

Weekly Update

I'm getting bad at keeping this up to date...

Tuesday:

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 7 rpm

Snatch: 24kg - 4 minutes @ 12 rpm


Thursday:

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 7 rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 5 minutes @ 14 rpm


Friday:

Snatch: 24kg - 5 minutes @ 12 rpm

One Arm Jerk: 24kg - 3 minutes @ 12 rpm

Jump Rope: 4 rounds of 2-1/2 min on / 1 min off


It's been a very busy week at work, so I am glad that I got in as much training as I did. On top of it, the heat and humidity have been off the charts. Not a pleasant environment to train in for any extended period of time. Hopefully, one of these weeks, things will let up a bit. In the meantime, keep moving as best as possible.

Monday!

My second attempt at Split Day Training was a success!

AM
Snatch: 20kg - 8 minutes @ 12 rpm

PM
Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 7 rpm

Swing: 24kg - 30/30

Jump Rope: 5 rounds of 2 min on / 1 min off

Feels good to be getting good sets of both jerk and snatch in again!

Split Routine

Sorry, have been a bit negligent in keeping up with my posting. I'm not going to try to catch up with what's past but start fresh with today.

Today I experimented with a split routine. It worked well and am going to try to keep it up. Not sure how easy that will be. It went like this...

AM
Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm

PM
Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 5 minutes @ 8 rpm

Swing: 24kg - 30/30

Jump Rope: 5 rounds of 2 min on / 1 min off

Since this was my first day I went easy on myself. The super heat and humidity was also a factor. It's really brutal training when it's this hot and damp. But we must try, mustn't we?!!

Catch Up

Haven't posted in a little while, but have been busy training. Let's see if I can catch you up...

Thursday, June 24th
Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 8 rpm
Jump Rope: 5 rounds, 2 min on/1 min off
Snatch: 24kg - 2 minutes @ 12 rpm

Friday, June 25th
Snatch: 20kg - 8 minutes @ 12 rpm
Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 4 minutes @ 6 rpm
One Arm Jerk: 24kg - 4 minutes @ 12 rpm

Monday, June 28th
Snatch: 20kg - 8 minutes @ 12 rpm
Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 3 minutes @ 6 rpm
One Arm Jerk: 32kg - 8/8

Tuesday, June 29th
Snatch: 20kg - 8 minutes @ 12 rpm
One Arm Jerk: 28kg - 6 minutes @ 6 rpm
Treadmill: 20 minutes, 1.5 miles

Whew! That's about it. All caught up now!!

The Jerk Express

Hop on the Jerk Express! Jerks are coming along amazing! I just wish I could say the same for my snatches!!

Friday was a tough session. Probably a result of cumulative fatigue over the course of the week.

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 7 rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm

Swing: 20kg - 30/30


Today I was able to pick it up even more...

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 8 rpm

Jump Rope: 5 rounds of 2 min on / 1 min off

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm


Tomorrow I attack the snatch.

Yesterday's Jerk Set

2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 7 reps per minute

Faster

After yesterday's performance with the 24kg bells, I felt like I still had a little bit left in me at the end of my jerk set. So today I thought I would pick up the pace just a little bit.

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 7 rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm

Swing: 28kg - 10/10, 10/10

This jerk set was tough enough! This is where I'll stay for a while. It's a nice combination of muscular and cardiorespiratory fatigue. Snatches are feeling much better as of late. I plan to stay here as well just a bit longer before pushing further.

Movin' On Up

Time to move up to the 24kgs for my jerks. I'm keeping the snatches where they are until those numbers get higher. But boy, what a difference 8kg can make!

Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes @ 6 rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm

Swing: 28kg - 15/15

Snatches felt best yet. It's a good feeling!

Hit My Jerk Target

I did it. I pushed through and did it.


Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 10 minutes @ 8 rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm


Well alright! Now I can enjoy the weekend!!

An Easy Day

Went easy today...

Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 5 minutes @ 8rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rom

Swing: 28kg - 10/10

That's it and that's all.

Assistance Work for the Mind

Today was my first day back to training this week. I wanted to start off with a long 8 minute jerk set today. I was successful, but not completely happy.

Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 8 minutes @ 8 rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm

Jump Rope: 5 rounds of 2 min on / 1 min off

Swing: 28kg - 10/10

The reason I'm not completely happy is because at the end of the eighth minute I could have physically cranked out a ninth minute, but mentally I wasn't prepared for it, so I ended the set where I had originally planned. I am happy because at my current body weight I need 63 jerks to make Rank II, and now I've exceeded that number with more still in the tank. But when you get that close to an even greater result and don't go for it, it can be a bit of a downer. That's ok. I'll be hitting 10 minutes at this pace very soon. Very soon!

An Easy Day

Today turned out to be an "easy" day, even though it really didn't feel so easy.

Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 5 minutes @ 10 rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm

Swing: 12kg - 15/15, 20/20

Jump Rope: 5 rounds of 2 min on / 45 sec off

More tomorrow!

Good Day

Shortened my jerk set today as I was a bit stiff from yesterday's session. But still keeping things moving.

Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 5 minutes, 54 reps

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm

Treadmill: 10 minutes, 0.8 miles

Things are progressing well!

After the Holiday Weekend

After three days off from training I wanted to ease back into things. Funny how things happen...

Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 6 minutes @ 10 rpm

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes @ 12 rpm

Jump Rope: 5 rounds of 2 minutes on / 1 minute off

As I hit my fifth minute in jerks, I was feeling good enough to add on the next minute at the same pace. I had to take about a 10 minute rest in between sets, but was able to hit my 6 minutes for snatches. Following the jump rope, I was wrung out like a wet towel.

Leading up to Memorial Day Weekend

Very good training week!

Tuesday
Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 5 minutes
Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes
Treadmill: 20 minutes

Thursday
Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 8 minutes
Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes

Friday
Jerk: 2 x 24kg - 5 minutes
Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes

Went a bit heavier with my Friday jerks. Five minute set felt good! Snatches are coming along nicely. I'm lovin' it!!

Slow Moving Monday

After a busy weekend with the family and a slow moving Monday morning in the office, getting to training felt like a slow, uphill battle. But once I got myself into that "place", things started moving considerably well.

Jerk: 2 x 20kg - 7 minutes

Jump Rope: 5 rounds of 2 min on / 1 min off

Snatch: 20kg - 6 minutes

That's it! Look out Tuesday, I'm coming for ya!!