Decision to Back Off This Week

Talked things over with my coach and we have decided to back off this week. I can use the light week to rest the body and mind.

Warm Up

Jerk(2x28kg) 5 min @ 8 rpm

Rest 10 min

Snatch(24kg) 6 min @ 16 rpm

OAJ(32kg) 15/15

Swing(32kg) 50/50

Monday Road Trip

Long road trip today.....9 hours in the car. Tried to get in my workout, but conditions were suboptimal. Not much eating or hydrating during day and I was outside in 40 degree weather. Didn't effect my jerks much, but my hands got pretty cold during my snatches only adding to the grip/hand issues. Also tried the liquid skin on my troubled pinky with equivical response. Although I didn't re-tear the skin, the liquid skin seemed to bunch up and peel off the troubled spot.

Warm Up (if you can call it that)

Jerk(2x28kg) 7 min @ 8 rpm

15 min rest

Snatch(28kg) 8 min @ L16/16/16/8 -----> R16/16/16/8

Starting to think I might need a back off week soon as I am becoming tired both mentally and physically.

Snatchless Workout

Decided to alter the plan today to try to allow my left pinky to heal a bit. Removed the snatches today and replaced them with a longer OAJ timed set with the 32kg (this was tough).

Warm Up

Jerk(2x28kg) 5 minutes @ 9 rpm

OAJ(32kg) 6 minutes @ 12 rpm (1 hand switch at 3 minutes)

Swing(40kg) 35/35

Swing(40kg) 30/30

CC Narrow Stance Full Squat 20/20 x 2

Working this weekend. Will hit the bells next on Monday.

Continued Left Pinky Issues

Warm Up

Jerk(2x28) 7 minutes @ 7 rpm

Rest 15 minutes

Snatch(28kg) 8 minutes @ L15/15/15/11 ----> R15/15/15/15

OAJ(40kg) 10/10

OAJ(32kg) 15/15

Skipped Swings due to left hand issues

CC Full Squat 30/30 x 1

I seem to keep tearing the skin/callous on my left pinky. The initial injury was a blood blister following some 40kg swings, then the skin was pulled off during snatches and now I seem to keep re tearing this area. It is by no means a major injury but it continues to cause persistant problems. Will see how the finger is feeling tomorrow, but may have to take the long weekend off to try to heal this once and for all.

More 32kg Snatching

Warm Up

Jerk(2x28kg) 5 min @ 8 rpm

10 min Rest

Snatch(32kg) 6 min @ L15/15/14 ----> R15/15/14

OAJ(40kg) 10/10

Swing(40kg) 30/30 x 2 sets

CC Full Squat 30/30 x 2 sets

Jerks continue to feel better. My knee is back to normal. I think adding some regular leg work into my GS routine has made a significant improvement in my overall knee health. Snatches also went well. My legs really fatigued by the end of the set. Also re-opened a small skin tear on my left pinky. This is pretty minor and should not give me much trouble by Thursday. OAJ and swings with the 40kg are getting easier, but are not particularily enjoyable, especially the swings. However, I am beginning to see how they are improving my snatches and are helping me groove my pelvic shift and use of my legs on the ascent of the snatch. Off tomorrow.

Monday Monday

Warm Up

Jerk(2x28kg) 7 minutes @ 7 rpm

15 minutes rest

Snatch(28kg) 8 minutes @ L16/16/16/16 ----> R 16/16/16/13

CC Full Squat 30/30 x 2 sets

Snatches felt good today. Last minute on the right was getting ugly, but I had the reps until I caught the bell a bit too far on the fingers on the descent of rep 13 and dropped the bell on the backswing. Next time........

The Snatching Zone - 62/62 28kg Snatch

My hands were feeling much better today. I drained the blood blister on my right pinky yesterday which seemed to help. Coach is slowly increasing my snatch volume to 8 minutes at 16 rpm. Was a bit worried about today, but I just gave it a shot and things went very well. Once again, I was in the zone during the early minutes. Today, I tried to block out all other distractions. During the last minute on each hand I was able to stay calm, focused, and in the zone. I hit 62 reps easily on the left with reps in the tank, the right side was a bit more of struggle with dead snatches during the last 3 reps. Overall, I was very happy. Hands actually feel very good tonight. I did tear the skin off the old blood blister and wasn't aware until after the set that I was bleeding pretty significantly and there was a fair amount of blood splattered around my basement gym. The good news is that it is from a very small tear and I don't think it should effect my snatching tomorrow. I decided to bag the 40kg swing set just to protect the hands for tomorrow.

Warm Up

Jerk(24 x 2) 7 minutes @ 9 rpm

Rest 15 minutes

Snatch(28kg) 8 minutes @ L16/16/15/15 ----> R16/16/15/15

OAJ(40kg) 10/10 x 1

OAJ(32kg) 15/15 x1 @ 8 rpm

Swing(32kg) 40/40 x 1

CC Full Squat 30/30 x 2