15.5

Workout 15.5

27-21-15-9 reps for time of:

Row (calories)

Thrusters

Men use 95 lb.

Women use 65 lb.

Open workout 15.5 was my opportunity to redeem myself after a very disappointing 15.4. A year before, I did thrusters at 65# for the very first time during 14.5. They were difficult and I could only do about three at a time, and I got no-repped like nobody's business.

My friend Laia Marti captured me mid-thrust. Awesome photo, but it also motivated me to start tracking what I eat. I still consume all sorts of fried deliciousness, but at least I'm tracking my macros?

14.5: 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 reps for time of 65# thrusters and bar facing burpees

I love Laia's photos and she has some great shots of 15.5 from CrossFit Hell's Kitchen and Reebok 5th Avenue that I'm excited to showcase in this post. She is seriously talented and you should hire her to photograph your next event.

Couples who work out together, stay together.
Tommy Wornham and Christina Gryte from Reebok CrossFit 5th Ave

15.4

It became brutally apparent this past weekend that handstand push-ups with two ab mats are not the same as handstand push-ups from a level surface. Three attempts later, I had yet to clear that motherpuppin tape line and had a big fat score of zero. I completed one push-press to submit a scaled score before the submission window closed. Now I know what I need to work on.

Workout 15.4

8-minute AMRAP:

3 handstand push-ups

3 cleans

6 handstand push-ups

3 cleans

9 handstand push-ups

3 cleans

12 handstand push-ups

6 cleans

15 handstand push-ups

6 cleans

18 handstand push-ups

6 cleans

21 handstand push-ups

9 cleans

Etc., following same pattern

M 185 lb.  F 125 lb.

I might have bombed 15.4, but I had the pleasure of judging two people who absolutely rocked it. My friend Jenna is nasty at handstand push-ups, but was nervous about the heavy clean. She PR'd her clean by 15# and surpassed her goal of 20 reps. So proud of her!

Ryan, the boyfriend, was in town this weekend and I ordered gently encouraged he give the workout a try. Forty-nine reps later... We need to get that man to join a box!

15.3

While most of the world was bemoaning Open workout 15.3 because muscle ups were first, I just sad that I wouldn't be getting mad points for my strong doubleunder game.

Workout 15.3

Rx'd

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 14 minutes of:

7 muscle-ups

50 wall-ball shots

100 double-unders

Men use 20-lb. ball to 10 feet, Women use 14-lb. ball to 9 feet

Scaled

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 14 minutes of:

50 wall-ball shots

200 single-unders

Men use 20-lb. ball to 9 feet, Women use 10-lb. ball to 9 feet

15.2

I've improved a lot at CrossFit over the past year but the Open has a way of really highlighting one's weaknesses. I have been really proud of myself because I can now do anywhere from one to five unbroken pull-ups depending on the day. I was pleased enough with my performance that I didn't see a need to push myself to get chest to bar pull-ups until I had a sinking suspicion that I'd see them last Thursday in the Open workout.

I was right because 15.2 was the same as 14.2. Womp womp.

Workout 15.2

  2 rounds of: 

  10 overhead squats (95 / 65 lb.)

  10 chest-to-bar pull-ups

  2 rounds of:

  12 overhead squats (95 / 65 lb.)

  12 chest-to-bar pull-ups

  2 rounds of:

  14 overhead squats (95 / 65 lb.)

  14 chest-to-bar pull-ups

For as long as possible:

From 0:00-3:00

From 3:00-6:00

From 6:00-9:00

Etc., following same pattern

I spent about a half hour trying to get a C2B last Thursday afternoon and I think it was too much time because my arms failed me during the workout on Friday. I said I'd go for the scaled workout or try 15.2 again over the weekend, but then I told myself to stop beating myself up over it.

Unfortunately, I had also convinced myself that I had improved from last year because I was able to do the 10 overhead squats at 65# unbroken but a little rereading of my 14.2 post from last year tells me I have already done this. At least now I know what my 2015 goal is - chest to fucking bar pull-ups, preferably strung together like an effing butterfly.

At least my outfit was sick.

                                                      shorts: Via Privé for Team Dangerous

                                                      shirt: Look Human

                                                      socks: Walmart (No joke!)

15.1

I've submitted my 15.1 scores and I must admit that I am pretty pleased with how I did. My goal was to complete 2 full rounds of 15.1 and then get through the deadlifts of the third round. I ended up completing 3 rounds plus 2 TTB for a score of 92 Rx. My 1RM clean and jerk had been 115# so I made my goal 105# because I factored in being tired from the first 9 minutes of the workout. I was able to PR with a 117# clean and jerk.

Workout 15.1

9-minute AMRAP:

15 toes-to-bars

10 deadlifts

5 snatches

  (M 115 lb. /  F 75 lb.)

Workout 15.1a

1-rep-max clean and jerk

  6-minute time cap

Kristen Alexander Photography

I prepared for 15.1 by getting my underarms waxed and curling my hair. I learned last year that the Open means our professional photographer boxmates can often be found with their cameras. As a self-admitted narcissist, I have no shame telling the world that I perform much better if I think a camera is on me. There doesn't even need to be a memory card or film in it. I LOVE the photo that my friend Kristen took of me locked out with my 117# jerk.

I was very lucky to have Coach Victor as my judge. I also loved the Friday Night Lights format and appreciate the Bud heavies waiting for me after I finished.

The Open is Here!

Guys, the most wonderful time of the year is here! The 2015 Reebok CrossFit Games officially kicked off last night with Rich Froning and Mat Fraser going head to head in 15.1. I watched it with Frank on my couch and cheered my head off for Fraser. Dude, 3 reps? And he missed that last jerk? Bah!

So how am I preparing for 15.1? We've got Friday Night Lights at CrossFit Identity tonight so I took off yesterday. Weekday rest days kill me and I found myself voraciously hungry. Might have been because I forgot to take my Ritalin all day. I ate all the rice, all the butter, and then ordered some sushi with extra rice for good measure. When I honeybadger the shit out of the workout tonight, I will credit my excessive butter consumption. Fun fact: Frank's favorite treat is grassfed butter!

I also borrowed Frank's favorite ball to work out some knots in my shoulder. I'm a little nervous for the toes to bar and the 75# snatches but I've decided to compete Rx. Anthony says no one at CFHK is allowed to go scaled and I'm following his lead.

Fitbit, CrossFit, and Two Tiny People on TV

You know what sucks? Finding out that your Fitbit is dead on the day that you walk 36 blocks in Manhattan and that day becomes your WEEK'S LEAST ACTIVE DAY. Eff that shit.

Ryan found this from the 2014 CrossFit Games and sent it to me with the caption, WE'RE FAMOUS.

I made it to CrossFit one time so far this week. Sheesh it was a killer.

Tuesday’s WOD…

The warm up:

Row 5 minutes

1 minute easy

then alternate 30 seconds hard and 30 seconds easy for four rounds

EMOM 10

Clean + 2 Jerks (climbing)

I made it 55#, 65#, 65#, 75#, 75#, 75#, 75#, 85#, 85#, 95#

For time:

Row 750m

21-15-9

Shoulder to OH

50 Double Unders after every round

then, Row 750

Rx was 75# and I used 55# and I DIED.

Reunited with Cleo

Last November I was talked into volunteering with children on a Saturday afternoon. I spent three years of my life working with children. I like to volunteer with animals, the elderly, and the environment, but somehow I ended up at a school on a weekend. There was a boy involved. Most of my really poor decisions are because of a boy or boredom or both.

Anyway, this day was not a total loss. It's where I met my friend Cleo and soon after we were enjoying Kettlebell Kitchen lunches during the workday and watching the Chargers on the weekends and WODing whenever I could get him to drop into Hell's Kitchen. Life was glorious until February when Cleo up and left me for San Francisco. His leaving was the kick in the pants that I needed to leave New York and the rest is history. Oh, and that guy I was willing to volunteer with in order to see? We don't speak anymore, which is for the best.

Cleo and I reunited at the CrossFit Games and enjoyed beers and gossip while watching other people work out. It was exactly like it used to be except it was warm out. We got a workout in together and I haven't been that happy in a really long time.

Squats with Charlie and Pat Sherwood

Charlie and Ryan at the CrossFit Update Show desk
I know that my boyfriend will always love Charlie more than me, and really, I can't blame him.

Remember when I was so nervous about meeting Pat Sherwood? Well it went swimmingly if I do say so myself. Charlie, my boyfriend Ryan's best friend, met us at the StubHub Center, gave us nifty CrossFit Media wristbands, and then took us on a tour. Part of this tour included meeting Rory Mckernan, Tommy Marquez, and Pat Sherwood. I said hi, thanked everyone for letting us come in to see where they work, and tried not pee myself. Ryan said my eyes got really big and that this is the most quiet he's ever seen me in the thirteen years that we've known each other. I call that a success.

I cannot thank Charlie enough for a wonderful weekend. One of my favorite parts of the trip was being able to have dinner with Charlie and Ryan at a sushi place in Manhattan Beach on Friday night. We ate Kobe beef corn dogs, nbd.

While we were at dinner, Charlie mentioned that he and Pat made a video about the squat. And then I saw it posted on CrossFit's Facebook page. Charlie and his dog Riley are famous. Enjoy.

My CrossFit Games Date

I had a great date for the 2014 CrossFit Games. My boyfriend, Ryan, loves lifting as much as I do, if not more, but he's not a CrossFitter. Despite having a girlfriend who won't shut up about CrossFit and a best friend who works for CrossFit, he has remained adamant about staying at a globo gym and following his own programming. I think that spending three days in CrossFit paradise may have convinced him otherwise. There's a glimmer of hope for him yet.

#cheatclean

Post CrossFit Games Depression

I spotted and ambushed CrossFit Games athlete Cody Anderson at LAX.

Today I am suffering from post CrossFit Games depression. Nothing about an inbox with 186 emails excites me and I wish I was back in Carson. It was a real struggle at work and I think I almost cried twice (not really sure what crying feels like but there was this weird pressure behind my eyes.) PCFGD is a real thing but going to CrossFit this evening helped.

Why thank you CrossFit Identity for programming a WOD that caters to my wheelhouse.

WOD
1. Front Squats 5×7

2. For time of:

Row 1,000 meters
100 double-unders

Run 1 mile

Front squats are my favorite thing. I like them even more than back squats and cleans. I worked up to 125# for my last set.

The metcon was a scaled version of the first individual event on Friday called Triple 3. This was the event that got Rich Froning to WALK.

TRIPLE 3
Points Available: 100
Location: Outside of Track and Soccer Stadium
Friday Morning

For time:
Row 3,000 meters
300 double-unders
Run 3 miles

I finished SINGLE 1 in 14:21 Rx. (See what I did there?)

Pat Sherwood

When I started CrossFit, I YouTubed everything because I normally had no idea what the posted WOD meant and even if I could decipher the acronyms, I still had little to no idea of how the movement should look. Thinking I should go to the source, I frequently hit up CrossFit HQ's channel, and while they certainly post instruction, I didn't always find what I needed as a beginner for the day's particular WOD. I may not have found the how-to videos I was looking for, but I did find Pat Sherwood.

I love Pat Sherwood.

What started as a casual affinity for The CrossFit Games Update Show, became quality time with my future husband. I didn't care that most of the content was outdated considering it was already July 2013 and the Games were fast approaching. It was all new to me and I enjoyed it.

the picture that really stole my heart

14.3

I missed the 14.3 announcement because GoGo in-flight wireless refused to live stream it for me. That's some malarkey because I really wanted to see Alessandra Pichelli kick some major ass. My name is Alessandra, her name is Alessandra. I'm 27, she's 27. This workout made me giddy with excitement, she schooled this workout like nobody's business. This is what I call fate because back in 1986, our parents' clearly named us with this moment in mind.

WORKOUT 14.3

WOMEN - includes Masters Women up to 54 years old

Complete as many reps as possible in 8 minutes of:

95-lb. deadlifts, 10 reps

15 box jumps, 20-inch

135-lb. deadlifts, 15 reps

15 box jumps, 20-inch

155-lb. deadlifts, 20 reps

15 box jumps, 20-inch

185-lb. deadlifts, 25 reps

15 box jumps, 20-inch

205-lb. deadlifts, 30 reps

15 box jumps, 20-inch

225-lb. deadlifts, 35 reps

15 box jumps, 20-inch

14.2

I'm a little tardy with a 14.2 write up, partly because I was traveling and partly because I was unhappy with my score.

14.2 was announced on Thursday, March 6 when Camille Leblanc-Bazinet and Talayna Fortunato went head to head in Miami. It was effing crazy. Talayna killed that shit.

WORKOUT 14.2

Every 3 minutes for as long as possible complete:

From 0:00-3:00

   2 rounds of:

   10 overhead squats

   10 chest-to-bar pull-ups

From 3:00-6:00

   2 rounds of:

   12 overhead squats

   12 chest-to-bar pull-ups

From 6:00-9:00

   2 rounds of:

   14 overhead squats

   14 chest-to-bar pull-ups

Etc., following same pattern until you fail to complete both rounds