Unbroken

Last Thursday's workout was doing as many rounds of seven clapping pushups, 14 box jumps and 21 kettlebell swing as was possible in 16 minutes.  For women, the prescribed kettlebell weight was 1 pood (36 lbs).* 

I really wanted go hard that day to make up for a disappointing workout the night before.  I decided to use the 1 pood kettlebell.  I'd never gone that heavy during a timed workout, but I thought I could swing it (pun intended).  I warmed up and felt ok, but 1 pood turned out to be too much for me at that volume.  Part way through round one, I dropped down to .75 pood, the weight I usually use.

Despite that hiccup, I felt good about the workout.  I'm glad that I tried the heavier weight instead of staying in my comfort zone.  I'm also glad that I stopped when my form went to hell. 

Perhaps more importantly, by dropping down to a lighter weight, I was able to focus on doing unbroken sets of 21 swings.  At 1 pood, I would've let myself set the weight down once if not twice during each set.  At .75 pood, I knew I had no excuse for breaks, as tempting as they were.  I fought through the fatigue and discomfort. 

In the end, I did six full rounds plus seven clapping pushups and three box jumps, but I was most psyched that I did all but my final set of kettlebell swings unbroken.

-Gym Belle-

*Coach actually didn't post a women's weight that day, but the men's weight was 1.5 pood (54 lbs) and the ratio tends to be about 2:3.

National Wear Red Day at CrossFit Metropolis

Happy National Wear Red Day, everyone!  If you're just getting dressed now, remember to wear red today to raise awareness for heart disease in women.  The gang at CrossFit Metropolis got totally into the spirit this morning.  Here we are doing heavy deadlifts in our snazzy red workout clothes.

 Go forth and go red!

-Gym Belle-

PS - I PRed with a 175 lb deadlift! Yay!

Fabulous Anonymous Blogger Knows What She's Wearing On Friday

Friday, February 4, a/k/a National Wear Red Day is less than an hour away.  Never fear, though.  There's still time to pick out a fierce red outfit for tomorrow to help spread the word about heart disease in women.

Need some last minute inspiration?  The always witty and very wise blogger behind dating blog Date, No Chaser is going to be wearing this red t-shirt (with gray floral motif) while she enjoys a morning workout on the elliptical machine.

I need to get to bed so that I can be bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow in my snazzy red outfit.

Sweet dreams, everyone!

-Gym Belle-