I'm crap at blogging...

Title speaks for itself, I started this whole crossfit thing with 'right, I'm gonna do this and this and I'm gonna learn this and this, blah blah blah... Where basically I'm having my ass handed to me pretty much every time we workout, which is enough learning without blogging about it too! You definitely push yourself twice as hard when in the gym with the rest of the group. I went 3 on 1 off as of yesterday. I stayed home to do the body weight workout:

Tuesday 18 May

3 Rounds for time: (My time 26'05")

50 x Push Ups

50 x Sit Ups

50 x Squats

All of these workouts look deceptively 'easy' on paper.

Am I getting fitter? Well it all seems pretty random so far. Every time I do a workout its feeling new, due to the nature of the programming the workouts are always finding chinks in the fitness armour, which isn't hard for me as I have plenty of those, so far so good.

It'll be interesting when Cindy or Fran comes to town again....

To wrap up the first week...

On Friday the early risers completed their first week of Crossfit metabolic conditioning with a workout that incorporated most of the movements we'd been learning in the warm ups prior to the WOD.

Before the WOD Gareth demonstrated the hang clean and the hang snatch with just a PVC pipe.

Then to the workout:

Friday 23 April

1 round
All lifts performed with empty 45# bar
Run 400m
40x Back squats
40x Front squats
40x Overhead squats
Run 400m
40x Shoulder press
40x Push press
40x Push jerks
Run 400m
40x Hang power cleans
40x Hang power snatch
Run 400m

The run was around 300m but this was still a killer workout! Time: 22':48"

I took a reluctant break yesterday (from Angie) to rest my legs for the 40 mile bike ride I wanted to do today. Now my legs are cooked. Its been a good first week although because I've not been able to get to some of the sessions, I have sort of missed out on the heavy lift days. But I'm sure it will all even out eventually. Especially when I get the Oxfordshire 60 miler and the Trail X 10 mile off road run out of the way in the next 2-3 weeks. Love being a part of this gym. Can't wait 'til tomorrow.

I Tabata straighten my arms!

Wednesdays WOD was Tabata Something Else. There was just Graham and Me doing this at the early riser 630 a.m. slot.

First some dislocations with the pvc pipe to stretch out and some work/demonstration on the deadlift movement and the medicine ball clean.

Then the workout:

Tabata Something Else

32 consecutive tabata intervals
(20 seconds work 10 seconds rest)

8 x Pull Ups
8 x Press Ups
8 x Sit Ups
8 x Squats

Count each rep for your total: My score 391 (Assistance band on pull ups and had to go to knees on press ups after around set four I think)

My arms and legs have been in serious pain since this workout. I managed some stretching just before I tapped this out, I can now just about straighten my arms! Tomorrows workout is also a beast in sheep's clothing, at least it has some running involved, I need the practice!

Day 1: 'Cindy' (is a bee-yatch!)

Arrived a little late this morning at around 6.45, the guys had already started the warm up. Overhead presses (press/push press/push jerk) and overhead squats demonstrations and instruction from Gareth and Darren.

Then onto the WOD:

'Cindy'
5 Pull ups
10 Press Ups
15 Squats

AMRAP 20 minutes. (as many rounds as possible)

Managed 13 rounds (I think) using assistance bands.

Good encouragement from the guys at CF Alternative Fitness and good all round effort from the four noobs!

I'd be happy if I could complete at least some of the rounds without assisted chin ups next time Cindy comes around. This was a good intro, felt good to be in a crossfit gym with other Crossfitters!

Unfortunately I'm only back in on Wednesday and it might be deadlifts/handstand pull ups (scaled HSPU), can't wait.

Does Crossfit work? I'm gonna find out.

Since around December 2008 I have been learning about CrossFit. I have followed the CrossFit main site, read journals, watched workout of the day (WOD) video's and periodically followed the main site workouts (scaled) and I have mainly done so alone.

Without going into too much detail here, I'm hooked and I have been wanting to join a CrossFit facility (or box, if you like) for some time but there hasn't been one nearby. Now a CrossFit gym has just opened, albeit a good 45 minutes drive away. Today I went to the grand opening of Alternative Fitness. Its primarily going to be a crossfit gym (or box, if you like). If I had been more organised I would have taken some pictures of the amazing chin up/rings/rope frame. In essence, this place is a CrossFitter's dream.

I have a conundrum. My available time is limited, I work two jobs; my full time job hours are 2pm-10pm mon-fri. I am currently carrying a shoulder injury. Due to time out I am now very unfit. I am torn between the financial commitment and my desire for consistent training and fitness. I don't have money to burn (ok, who does among England's working class?). Although the joining fee is a reasonable £25/month the fuel in getting there is going to be expensive.

I am going to my first workout at Alternative Fitness tomorrow morning at 6.45 a.m. More on the WOD and what I want out of joining the gym later.