Well, it's just about time to stick a fork in 2018, so good time to do a year-end review.
Looking at my goals for 2018:
Very pleased with my performances in my first 2 TSCs. My "training age" for the TSC events is relatively low compared to my biological age - I've only been deadlifting for about 1 and 1/4 year, and have just started to put focus on pullups as a primary exercise, not an assistance. So, I'm hoping that there's still some gas in the tank to make good improvements in 2019. In any case, it's a periodic excuse to get out there a test myself, which is important to me right now.
Was also really pleased with my run in the Spartan Super - and particularly please with how "easy" the Sprint felt. Just looking forward to getting out there again in the summer for 2019, hopefully a couple other times as well.
Track meet - I think I'm just going to have to let that dream go for now. Between work and coaching or watching a lot of kids sports, there just doesn't seem to be the time I need to get out on the track and train some of the event skills during daylight. I might get out there to goof off once in a while for 2019, but the focus will be on TSC, Spartan and karate. That's probably plenty to keep busy with.
Once of my other big goals for 2018 was to focus my training and get on an actual program. I did... sorta... and certainly learned a few things:
- PTTP: I enjoyed it, but I don't think I did it right. You can't keep pushing the weight when doing that much volume. You push it for a while, then back way off to recover and don't push again for a couple weeks. I kept pushing and pushing, thinking a deload week here or there would be enough. And guess what? I got hurt.
- Fighter pull-up program: a great program, but it's for peaking. No, you can't continue to add 1 to your pull up max every week or so, it doesn't work like that! I pushed too hard here too, and guess what? I got hurt. I like the reverse-ladder style, though, I'm continuing to employ that.
- S&S: I'm actually really please with my progress on S&S, though haven't really been using it as my primary program. At the start of the year working with the 40 was hellacious. Now working with the beast is hellacious - but still, I'm working with the beast! But I've come to the conclusion that I can't push heavy swings and deadlifts at the same time - empties out the recovery bucket too quickly. Have to pick one or the other, maybe cycle between them if I can get really clever.
- Running: I was trying to do a pseudo-half-marathon training program at the start of the year. At least I wasn't stupid on this one - didn't get hurt. But at some point I gotta learn to be more realistic in terms on how much I can really do. Hopefully I've learned...
- ROP: Probably pushed it too hard, tried to start off with a bigger bell than I should have, and guess what? I got hurt. At least this time I recognized it early and didn't let it drag on for a painful month.
Man - when I write it all out like that, I'm kind of an idiot!
But in the end, arrived in a good place. Tactical barbell has served me very well over the last half year or so, and has a lot of flexibility for me to work on the StrongFirst stuff I want. Also came to the realization this year that mobility/flexibility cannot be an afterthought - it's not enough to throw in 10 minutes at the end of my strength sessions. They deserve their own work session. EYFS has done really good things for my shoulders and hips, though I still have a long way to go.
So, goals for this year:
- TSC
- 2x BW DL
- Add 1 to pull rep max at each event (be at 14 for end of year)
- Be ready to try the elite division in 2020 - get some work with weighted pullups, some snatch volume with the 32
- Spartan - run the Super without cramping, which should put me in a sub-3-hour finish
- Get my 10k time below 57min consistently (i.e. without feeling like I have to kill myself)
- Be less of an idiot (notice I only said less...)
