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Always Be Smashing

Last day of 2021 - another dumpster fire of a year. Time for a review.

This was a mixed year, for sure. Front half of the year was good, training-wise - finally broke 500# in the DL at the Spring TSC, that was actually unexpected. Also managed to get back out for a few road races, even an OCR.

But, things went a little sideways at the end of the summer. It was a combination of stuff: work demanding that people start coming back to the office full-time, change in my kids' morning schedule that threw off my routine, and a mild back strain. Add it all up, and I fell out of my training groove. And, surprise surprise, falling out of my training discipline also meant I fell out of my eating/drinking discipline - definitely went a bit out of control, and the scale shows it. Now, some of the weight I've put on I'm pretty sure is leg beef - I'm happy to be squatting regularly again - but there's more belly peeking over the top of my shorts than I'd like.

So, all in all, I didn't end up putting that much work towards a lot of my 2021 goals. I haven't squatted or benched heavy in while, just working on accumulating volume and toughening up. I didn't get a chance to try to peak for the Fall TSC snatch test due to the back injury. And putting on the weight and running less meant the pull-up and 10k goals were out of reach. Ah well.

I've found a new groove for the time being, but I also know it's going to be challenged again. It's easy to get into a groove while the kids are on break from school and there's no sports going on. But, school will fire up again next week, as will basketball, and hopefully even some indoor batting practice for my baseball team. Then throw on a critical work project that I'll be babysitting for the next 6 months. I expect things will get rough.

So, goals for this next year:
  • Re-establish discipline. Time to start rolling my grizzly arse out of bed before 6 again to make sure the morning session happens.
  • Shed the 15# I put on this year.
  • Pass the snatch test with the 32. I still think I'm in striking distance on this, just want to accumulate volume in the first half of the year, and do a peaking cycle for the Fall TSC.
Anything above that will be gravy.

Happy new year, my strong brothers and sisters. No matter what kind of nonsense is going on out there, happiness is putting heavy stuff over your head.
 
  • Pass the snatch test with the 32. I still think I'm in striking distance on this, just want to accumulate volume in the first half of the year, and do a peaking cycle for the Fall TSC.
Anything above that will be gravy.

Happy new year, my strong brothers and sisters. No matter what kind of nonsense is going on out there, happiness is putting heavy stuff over your head.
Amen brother! Look at the text above.. you have zero probs IMHO. F the BS :)
 
1/4 07:30

Daily mobility
29min treadmill walk 1.8m

1/5 18:00

WGS sequence
KB snatch 20x3 40
Dips 20x1
TGU 10x1 32
Heavy bag tabata

Tabatas are a bit like working on the hard-style plank. As you adapt to the work, you become capable of generating more force/tension, and the work actually gets harder rather than easier. Today felt like a bit of a step forward on the bag- I was getting in more strikes in a shorter amount of time. Tabatas seem like a good way of training short-term max energy expenditure.
 
1/7 08:00

Daily mobility
30min treadmill walk 1.9m

1/7 16:45

WGS sequence
SQT 5x5 225,245#x4
Push-ups x11,4x12
OP 5x5 105,115#x4
Ab wheel x6,4x7
Assorted grip pull-ups 4x(4,3,3,4)
Grip work
Chop wood carry water x5

Outside of training, the day was spent watching over a sick kid. No worries, she'll be fine. But, waxing a little philosophical for y'all:

Some of the worst days as a Dad at are when you can't do anything more to solve a problem than to give a hug.

Some of the best days are when you give a hug, and it actually makes things better.
 
1/11 08:00

Daily mobility
30min treadmill run/walk 1.9m
- 10W 5E 15W

1/11 17:15

WGS sequence
KB snatch 22x5 32
Chin-ups 22x1
TGU 10x1 32,40x4
Heavy bag tabata

That was a tough one - had to rest a long time between TGUs. Felt like tomorrow might be a good time for a day off. But, got 'er done.

In unrelated news: my daughter had a breakthrough COVID case. She's totally fine - she's vaccinated, it ended up being a mild fever that lasted one day, back at full strength a couple days later. I now know 5 families that have had breakthrough cases. Seems like this iteration may just be inevitable. If only we could figure out how to keep people from cramming up the hospitals...
 
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