The Iron and the Soul (Full Version)

As a lifter, and just a human being, I’ve always liked what I just learned is an excerpt from Henry Rollins’ essay titled “The Iron and the Soul”. Always one for detail and context, I thought I’d post excerpts I’d appreciated before, plus a link to the full version for context.

It took me years to fully appreciate the value of the lessons I have learned from the Iron. I used to think that it was my adversary, that I was trying to lift that which does not want to be lifted. I was wrong. When the Iron doesn’t want to come off the mat, it’s the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn’t teach you anything. That’s the way the Iron talks to you. It tells you that the material you work with is that which you will come to resemble.

That which you work against will always work against you.

I used to fight the pain, but recently this became clear to me: pain is not my enemy; it is my call to greatness. But when dealing with the Iron, one must be careful to interpret the pain correctly. Most injuries involving the Iron come from ego. I once spent a few weeks lifting weight that my body wasn’t ready for and spent a few months not picking up anything heavier than a fork. Try to lift what you’re not prepared to and the Iron will teach you a little lesson in restraint and self-control.

The Iron is the best antidepressant I have ever found. There is no better way to fight weakness than with strength. Once the mind and body have been awakened to their true potential, it’s impossible to turn back.

The Iron never lies to you. You can walk outside and listen to all kinds of talk, get told that you’re a god or a total bastard. The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds.

For the full essay, you can go here.

WOD for 07-25-19:

5 Rounds for Time:
15 Russian KB Swings @ 53/35 lbs.
15 Box Jump @ 24/20 in.
15/12 Cal Row/Ski or Bike

Twisted Sister

Who remembers the “Karen Kardio” WOD from earlier this year in January? Well I guess you could call this one her twisted sister…

Enjoy.

WOD For 07-24-19:

Front Squat:

4-4-4-4 Climbing

Back Squat:

2-2-2-2 Climbing

-then-

For Time (13 Minute Cap):

150 Burpees

***You must complete 7 Wall Balls every minute, on the minute, including at “3-2-1 Go!” to start the workout.

If you’re time-capped at 13 minutes your score is the total number of burpees completed.

Tuesday: Back to Back EMOMs & an AMRAP

Moderate weight, high skill, high heart rate AMRAPs tend to tempt athletes to overlook foundational principals like maintaining a stable midline pulling from the floor or locking out the overhead position prior to standing with the bar, and instead race through the movements, allowing fatigue or distraction to take away from the opportunity to focus on executing each rep with precision and accuracy.

Today we’ll try to help you avoid this temptation by giving you a chance to really focus on refining the movements beforehand - using two back to back EMOMs of touch & go doubles with focus on mechanics and consistency prior to adding the intensity that comes with 3…2…1…GO! To get the most of this workout, try to make each rep of the metcon feel as good as your best set of each EMOM.

Enjoy!

WOD for 07-23-19:

EMOM 6 Min:
2 Snatch (Touch & Go)

Rest 2 Minutes, then…

EMOM 6 Min:
2 Clean & Jerk (Touch & Go)

Rest 2 Minutes, then…

AMRAP 12 MIn:
3 Snatch @ 135/95 lbs.
6 Clean & Jerk @ 135/95 lbs.
9 Chest-to-Bar Pull-Up
54 Double Under

The BURN of Light & (Im)Polite

The beauty of a light and short-ish AMRAP is that you really have very little reason (or excuse) to stop or rest… which begs the question, “how much is this one going to BURN???”

Happy Monday, everyone.

WOD For 07-22-19:

Behind The Neck Strict Press:

5-5-5-5-5 For QUALITY

Strict Press:

5-5-5-5-5 Climbing

Push Press:

3-3-3 Climbing

-then-

AMRAP 7 Minutes:

Sumo Deadlift High Pulls @ 75/55

Push Presses @ 75/55 lbs

Summery Saturday?

Enjoy!

WOD for 07-18-19:

With a Partner, Complete as Many Rounds & Reps as Possible in 25 Min:

Run 200m Together
20 Burpee Box Jump Over @ 24/20 in.
Run 200m Together
20 Toes to Bar
20 Pull-Up
Run 200m Together
60 Wall Ball @ 20/14 lbs. to 10/9 ft. Target

Zhivotnoye: Russian for Animal

In honor of our newest member, and in preparation for today’s workout, a helpful description of proper kettlebell technique:

WOD for 07-18-19:

Every Two Minutes for 10 Rounds:
2 Cleans + 1 Jerk

Squat cleans, power cleans, push jerks and split jerks are all acceptable. Start with a weight that feels light and work to maintain consistent technique across all reps and sets as weight climbs. Decrease weight if you miss and/or if your technique begins to break down.

-then-

Zhivotnoye (Russian for Animal)

For Time:
150 Russian Kettlebell Swings @ 70/53 lbs.

Sloth Attack!

We were going to be done with the sloth videos, but today Sormeh admitted that she was a little hurt that we didn’t credit her with the great sloth question, so, to make it up to her, a sloth video to answer her question.

What happens if a sloth tries to attack you?

Based on Googling, it turns out sloths actually can claw and bite humans, but they usually don’t. So, don’t try to befriend them or anything, but you’re probably safe in the event of an unexpected encounter.

Also, for today’s workout, it’s only 9 minutes, so it’s probably best to go faster than a sloth. Even one who’s chasing you.

WOD for 07-18-19:

Hang Power Snatch
10-8-6-4-2-[4 DROP SET]

-then-

AMRAP 9 Min:
27 Double Under
21 Cal Row
15 Hang Power Snatch @ 115/75 lbs.
9 Ring Dip

Flash Flash Hundred Yard Dash

Apparently Sarah posted a video of a sloth yesterday in response to some QoD commentary.

Well, here’s Day 2 in a row of sloth videos BECAUSE DAD JOKES.

WOD For 07-17-19:

Deadlift:

3-3-3

Climbing

***Superset 7-10 Hollow Rocks Between Sets, Including Your Warm-up Sets.

-then-

“Running Christine”

3 Rounds For Time:

400m Run

12 Deadlifts @ Bodyweight

21 Box Jumps @ 24/20 in

Since the above video puts us somewhat on the topic of the DMV… sure go ahead and use your weight as listed on your current driver’s license AKA your “media guide weight.” Unless, of course, your driver’s license is like mine and puts you at 15-20 lbs under Rx LMAO.

What if a Sloth Tried to Claw You?

Last Thursday the QOD was “What jungle animal would you want to tame for a pet?” As usual, the answers were wonderful, but in particular, the answer of sloth led to an important question:

What would happen if a sloth tried to claw you?

Think about that for a second.

WOD For 07-16-19:

5 Rounds, Go Every 6 Minutes:

7 Back Squats @ 225/155 lbs

25 Push-ups

500m Row

The back squat weight should not exceed 60% of your current 1-rep max.

If you have less than 1:00 of rest for every round then scale back the weight, the push-ups, and/or the row. In fact if you have less than 1:30 rest you may want to consider that as well.

Motivation Monday: The Good Stuff

"All the good stuff is on the other side of tired." 

-Andre Agassi

WOD For 07-15-19:

2 Rounds For Quality:

Max Set of Strict Chest-to-Bar Pull-ups

20 Single Dumbbell Strict Press (10 Right / 10 Left)

80ft Single Dumbbell Overhead Carry (40 ft Right / 40 ft Left)

10 Single Dumbbell Overhead Squats (5 Right / 5 Left)

4 Single Dumbbell Turkish Get-ups (alternate sides)

You pick the weight for each of the DB movements, but be sure to prioritize position and movement quality over speed or loading.

-then-

AMRAP 8 Minutes:

8 Chest-to-Bar Pull-ups

16 Single Dumbbell Overhead Walking Lunges @ 50/35 lbs

Switch sides with the dumbbell whenever you like, but we recommend splitting the reps roughly 50/50 right/left.

Sweaty Saturday Special: The Dumbbell Thruster

It’s just like the barbell thruster, except a tiny bit spicier (how bad could it be, it looks so harmless in the video). But remember, if you drop the dumbbells at any point it means two things:

1) You’re not strong enough to be using that weight in the first place

2) Coach Hillary will tackle you from a sprinting start

XOXO and Happy Weekend!

WOD For 07-13-19:

With a Partner AMRAP 25 Minutes:

500m Ski or Row

10 Burpee Box Jumps @ 24/20 in (facing box not required)

20 Dumbbell Thrusters @ 50/35 lbs (each side)

60 Double Unders

Only one athlete working at a time, switch whenever you like.

Bueller?

As it turns out many of you took Thursday’s blog title seriously. So your cherry-picking gift on Friday is 185/135 overhead for 6 rounds. Have fun with that, friends.

Oh, and Happy Friday!

WOD For 07-12-19:

1 Power Clean + 3 Push Jerks:

12 Minutes to Build to a Three Heavy Sets (which should be heavier than the weight you’ll use below)

-then-

6 Rounds For Time:

20 Wall Balls @ 20/14 lbs to 10/9 ft

10 Toes-to-Bar

5 Push Jerks @ 185/135 lbs