Week of October 27

The plan this week is pretty simple.

1. Move the rope skipping warm-up to 150 reps. Now, if I could get the coordination thing down and keep my feet out of the way of the rope.
2. Double jerks 16kg – 6 reps per minute for 6:00.
3. Snatch 16kg – 14 reps per minute for 8:00, one hand switch.
4. Do the above for 5 consecutive days. One day down, four to go.

It’s moderately challenging (the jerks more so than the snatches), but I want to be careful and only increase the volume gradually. Comparing this morning’s work with training of similar duration (20:00) last week and the week before, the heart rate monitor is telling me that I am burning less calories, which I think tells me my body is adjusting to this level of volume.

I’ll test with the 24kgs again on Monday, November 3 and resume training with the 16kg with slightly increased volume – maybe 1:00 more on the jerks and 2:00 on the snatches.

This morning,

0:00 – 06:00. Double jerks, 6/6/6/6/6/6.
6:00 – 12:00 Rest.
12:00 – 20:00 16kg snatches, OHS
Right – 14/14/14/14
Left – 14/14/14/14

Test Day and the Week Ahead

I’ve decided to test myself every Monday or every other Monday. Today, I did

Warmup and jump rope (125 turns)
Dbl jerks 24kg – 5 5 5 5. 4:00. 55 calories
Rest – 21:00. 127 calories
Snatches 24kg – 2:30 right/1:30 left. 38/24 (62). 62 calories.

For the rest of the week, I will do a money set of double jerks with the 16kg, 6 rpm, minimum 6:00; one arm jerk assistance with the 28kg or 32kg; a money set of snatches with the 16kg, minimum 6:00; and maybe a set of double cleans to finish. Goal is four additional days.

Training, training as a new father, 24s, and heart rate monitors

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a training blog.

Training as a new father is quite simple – do it when you can. For me, that means sneaking in a session in the morning or the evening or both and try and be in and out of the garage in 25 minutes or less. I’ve kept it short and focused, with rope skipping as a warm up, some band work on the knees (I highly recommend terminal knee extensions), some basic mobility, and straight into a set of jerks. Sometimes I will do a second set. Then I will finish with a set of snatches or double cleans. Rinse and repeat the next day.

I’ve been able to get 4-6 days in a week for which I am happy.

Although I’m not at 10m with the 16kgs in either the double jerk (mental limitations) or snatch (hook grip technique and mental limitations), I’ve decided to start playing with the 24kgs for double jerks and snatches for some of my training. Results – well, a PR of 4m and 20 jerks with the double 24s and 2m/side at 12rpm snatching with the 24. Maybe I will use the 24kg as a test weight and do my money sets during the week with the 16kgs.

Finally, I’ve acquired a heart rate monitor with decent range. I’m using a Suunto T3c, which I can hang the watch on a hook about 6-8 feet in front of me next to my clock. I’m faithfully recording average heart rate, maximum heart rate, and calories burned. I haven’t done this enough to establish definitive cause and effect conclusions, but it appears that heavier loads burn more calories (per the watch) and that duration and rest have an impact as well. I need to do this for a couple more months to be sure and then I will report back.

Boomer This, Sooner!

I haven’t enjoyed the second Saturday in October as much as I’d like this decade, but I had to share.

By the way, if you are any sort of college football fan, you owe it to yourself to go to a Texas-OU game once in your life. I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like this game.