November 25, 2008

I Finally Got It!

Wow, I have been chasing this 20L/20R 24kg snatch (40 nonstop) for a long time now. A year? Probably about a year. I got it tonight! Didn't get it on video (I actually don't have a video camera) but it was witnessed by Anton.

It was really hard. At rep #30 I thought there was no way I'd make it... I'm so glad I pushed through. It feels SO good to meet a big goal.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

November 9, 2008

Giving Up?

I do feel like I've given up... at least for the time being. I don't know, at least until I drop 15 pounds or so? Maybe.

A 24kg weighted pull-up has been my goal. I have the 24kg press and pistol... the pull-up has been the last of the "three" to achieve for quite some time now.

Yet, it's been a goal I haven't trained toward with any sort of consistency. Progress has "stalled" at 8-10kg. I'm gaining weight (this week, at least). I'm just not into it as much as I want to be/should be.

Maybe the reason is the motivation - why do I want to achieve a 24kg weighted pull-up? Really just for the beast challenge. Honestly, I don't know what else a 24kg pull-up is good for (for me) other than strong pull-up strength. It doesn't seem there's as much carryover for that as there is for the other strength skills. I'm probably wrong. But, the point is this - my motivation was really not strong enough. It would take a HUGE amount of work to get that pull-up - and I guess that should be reason enough to go for it - it's a challenge, and a healthy one... but.... ???? I can imagine getting it, and then just letting it go after it's "done". Do I sound like I'm reasoning my way out of this? Maybe I am. I do have a tendency (so I've been told) to make excuses. Whatever the case, it does not feel good to give up on a goal. But maybe my thought/energy/whatever would be better spent on more rewarding/more easily achievable goals. MVO2 progress. 20/20 24kg snatches. A 28kg press, a 40kg TGU?

I'm selling my TAPS bar and will still train pull-ups on my deadlift days (the days I'm at Gold's Gym Venice). And, I guess that will be it, for the time being...

Am I being reasonable or ridiculous?

November 3, 2008

Thank You Mark and Tracy

Thank you to the Reifkinds for their generosity and inspiration in the online KB world.