Showing posts with label cf open 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cf open 2013. Show all posts

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Saturday 16.3: CF Open 13.2

Saturday. CF Open 13.2. Result 230 reps. 7 rounds + 5 box jumps.

We've been nervous about this workout for days with Toni! We scheduled this workout for today 'cause there aren't that many people at our Box on Saturdays. This week wasn't that tough towards the end of it. Sunday's squats and squat metcon was tough and I really felt it in my hamstrings. Also Monday's and Wednesday's metcons were good cardio workouts. Yesterday I only took some step-ups and double unders to get my heart beat but I feel my body was well prepared for this one. Toni also took it light yesterday. Pauliina joined the training and encouraged us in our workouts.

Stage is set and 13.2 going on

Workout 13.2. Result 230 reps. 7 rounds + 5 box jumps.

  • 10 min amrap of
  • 5 shoulder-to-overhead, 52.5kg
  • 10 deadlifts, 52.5kg
  • 15 box jumps, 61cm

This was a classic workout. Looks easy on paper but once you put the timer on, the reality hits you fast in your face. From the third round on my legs had to pay the toll on box jumps. Cardio action was in play from early on but that was something that simply had to be put on the background. Box jumps were clearly the toughest one on this workout and at least my legs were burning.

The first movement, shoulder-to-overhead, didn't matter which way you move the barbell up and down. You may shoulder press, push press, push jerk or split jerk, you name it. I went through with push presses and push jerks all the way. Even though the weight was light, I had thoughts beforehand this would turn out to be heavy mid-way in. Positively surprised I had no problems with this one.



This was the first time ever we were doing deadlifts with weights this light. I went unbroken with both the presses and deadlifts. I only had one no-rep on the last set of deadflits as the bar didn't hit the ground so I decided to play it safe and take one extra one. On the last boxes I didn't count the last one (sixth) because I lost my balance and was not able to extend to full range of motion.

Box jumps were the ones that probably make the difference between athletes. You must extend the hips all the way once over the box so there's a small stop before you can jump back down and repeat the movement. It's been advised to have your rest moments up on the box, not on the ground. It's way more taxing to slump down and then catch energy to jump again. That's why I had my rest periods on top of the box.



My fears of this workout were justified. This was a rough workout. Not that much strength involving but a classic cardio and metabolic training. Considering it's only 10 minutes you have no other chance but to go full throttle from the very beginning. For sure the pace is going to slow down but there's not much to strategize because of the time domain. I got 10 box jumps short of 8 rounds and I'm happy to that result. I don't know what I could have done better in this workout. Had to sit down for a few seconds after boxes because I felt my legs do not carry me anymore =) I'm happy I was able to keep the flow going constantly.


CF Open 13.2, Don


Cashout. After some rest I did some squats and pull-ups for quality.

  • 3 rounds of
  • 10 back squats, 60kg
  • 10 pull-ups


Toni's 13.2. Result 180 reps. Exactly 6 rounds.

Toni took the first turn today. He took a proper warm-up before we arrived to the Box and was eager to start moving barbells around. Toni's shoulder-to-overhead movements were something between shoulder and push press. Deadlifts were visibly the easiest one for him. On the box jumps he had some issues and decided to modify it to step-ups from third round on. It would help a lot by having the rest periods on top of the box once you need them. And everybody seems to need them in a workout around 100 box jumps =)



It was awesome to see he did the barbell work just like that, with a steady pace for the entire 10 minutes. And once he got psyched up he was able to shorten the breaks in the workout and no need to catch a breath for long periods. And on the fifth and sixth round he was able to pace it up and improve his time compared to the earlier ones! I say that's mental strength.


CF Open, Pony


Saturday, March 9, 2013

Saturday 9.3: CF Open 13.1

Saturday. Crossfit Open 13.1. Result 106 reps.

As I woke up I saw a message sent to me by The Crossfit Games: Your video submission is invalid. There was also a brief explanation why it's not valid. Basically the video was shoot from behind, stopwatch was not in the frame throughout the workout.

Had no other chance but to pack up my gear, get my head in the game and drive to the Box to perform the workout again and try to hit the PR again =) Toni and Pauliina joined as judges and this time we made it sure the video would be accepted! We shot the video (Pauliina) from the side with a running clock visible at all times and the judge (Toni) seen on the video all the time.

Me and my homie


Workout 13.1. Result 106 reps.
  • 17min amrap of
  • 40 burpees
  • 30 snatches, 35kg
  • 30 burpees
  • 30 snatches, 60kg
  • 20 burpees
  • 30 snatches, 75kg
  • 10 burpees
  • max reps of 100kg
  • Burpees must be completed to rings that are placed 15cm above top extension.
My previous record in the snatches has been 52.5kg prior to the Open. On Thursday I did this workout for the first time and hoped it would have been my last one. Then I snatched 60kg x 3, awesome result considering my snatch history and current max load. Yesterday we had a tough floorball game and my right shoulder got very sore in that game. Today in the morning as I saw the message, my first reaction was not smiling and joyful of having to perform the workout again. But hey, the reaction from the Crossfit Games was legitimate, so I didn't have any other possibility but to do the workout again and go over those mental barriers once more and snatch that damned barbell overhead several times.

Just in case Toni did the workout again as well even though he had not got that similar message. He played it smart today, took it a bit slower on the burpees and saved energy for the real barrier, 60kg snatches. Once he got that far, he took 3 failed reps for starters with only one minute to go on the clock. Then he got his head straight and snatched that barbell up! He also suffered a mini blackout at the same time but still had time to complete another snatch in the last 10 seconds to go in the workout!!! Result was 102 reps in CF Open 13.1, c'mon! He improved his snatch PR with 10kg for a total of 102 reps.




I really tried to suck that energy in to my own workout as well, this guy performed so well today. And even though the day didn't start in the best possible way in the morning, my result today was even better than the first time, 6 x60kg snatches for a total of 106 reps in the workout! Couldn't be any happier about the result =) Hopefully that right shoulder will be back in action some day soon, it really hurts now.

I was able to complete the first set of burpees 10 seconds slower than the first time but I made up the missing time in the first set of snatches (35kg) and finished at 5.54 (6.10 on the first time). This time is crucial if two athletes are sharing exactly the same result. Then the one who has completed the last full set of snatches in less time, is higher in the standings.

Once I was done with the 30 burpees, there was about 8.30 left on the clock, in the middle of the workout. So my goal was to go for about 1 rep every minute. I really wanted to improve from the previous result because I had done so much mental work to repeat this one. I manage to do 5 successful reps in a row, about 1 per minute. Then the sixth failed but I still had time to snatch it when there was something like 3 seconds left on the clock =) Unbelievable accomplishments from both of us today. Thanks Toni and Pauliina for this one!



Once again we can probably all share the feeling that these snatches were not beautiful, not from educational books so to say, but today it was competition time and then I believe it's not about style, it's about going beyond those physical and mental walls and hit PR's whenever it's possible. Toni did great today and I also did much better than I thought I could do. We both hit out snatch goals for this year and are proud of it. Now we'll have to make them beautiful as well =)

Double front squat =)