Feb 11 – Nightly Workout 10: #6

As said in my last post, I rolled a 6.  I had to do something, so I chose the chinnies.

• 500 Chinnies

I wasn’t gonna go for time, just try and get full range of motion and do it fairly relaxed, whilst watching UFC 69 highlights.   It took me 4 minutes 45 seconds, 15 seconds slower than last time.  After about 300, much right quad started paining a bit, so I slowed down a bit and didn’t take it too hard.  It’s still a bit paining now, nothing too much though.

Anyway, until tomorrow!

Feb 11 – First REAL workout in ages! Fun!

Warning: This is gonna be long.  I actually did a REAL workout!!

The clock turned 7.  I was bored.  I could think of nothing to do except watch TV, or waste time on the internet doing, well, nothing.  What could I do, which would be worth doing, and fun?  Well, I could do some coursework – Some Religious Studies about a Catholic Church: “Explain the significance of those features and furnishings for the worshipper.”  Fun.  Actually, not at all.  I was NOT going to do that.

Then it struck me: Why not go and work out?  I mean, a proper workout, outside in my gym-barn hybrid.  So I did.  I had a drink of water, got changed, grabbed my iPod/speakers/hand wraps/Gymboss etc and out I went.  Like normal, it was pitch black outside, and cold.  But oh well, who cares?  Lights remove the darkness, and workout out and clothes stops the cold.  I was set.

Before going out I decided I wasn’t going to structure anything.  I don’t have to work out, and following specific rules and limitations removes much of the fun aspect of it.  And not-fun mixed with not-necessary normally ends in boredom, and then not doing anything.  I didn’t once use the Gymboos, I just did what I felt like doing.  And it was great!

I started with rope work.  In some ways I was dreading this, taking in mind my current… record.  Max of like 20 before catching, and getting annoyed.  Well, I turned on some music, did some jumping jacks to loosen off, then got my rope.  I started with simply bounce-steps (two feet), and to my absolute amazement I beat my previous record, which was around 50.  No, beat is the wrong word.  Thrashed.  First “set” I did 122.  Yes, one hundred and twenty two turns of the rope before catching.  I was stunned… and motivated to carry on.  I couldn’t believe it.  I thought it must just have been luck, as I hadn’t done a proper workout in ages, let alone touch the rope.  I do think my anti-fatigue matting helped though, and my new trainers.  I had a rest of a minute or two (didn’t count, which felt good – freedom), and next set, I beat my record again!!  134.  By now my legs, unused to such quantities of skipping, started to lag.  The next sets I only got 20 and then 46, which didn’t surprise me.  They were still pretty good compared to my previous ones though!  I also think I didn’t rest enough between sets (under a minute, probably more like half of one), I was just so  enthusiastic!  After that, I rested and went onto the alternate-foot-step.  At first, this went badly.  I always find starting this a bitch, as I can’t get everything going in time.  First couple attempts I got caught sub-10 turns.  And it hurts when you catch it, as the rope keeps going and slaps hard against my back (only covered by thin cotton tee) and bare hands.  Oh well.  I did get it going though, and managed 52, which I think was another new record.  After a couple more fails, I did 57.  More fails, then 48.  Amazed by my performance, I called it a day on the rope work.  To finish off, I tried some max-speed bounce-steps, just to see how long I could stay going as fast as I go.  I was really impressed, as I got 42.  Bloody fun stuff!

I rested for a bit, and decided to do a bit of strength work.  I didn’t care if I actually gained strength, I just wanted to test some stuff (back to my “do whatever I feel like” theory).  I did 5 negative pullups (going as slow as I could physically manage), which was surprisingly hard.  I really can’t do pullups – I need to train them more!  This pretty much killed my arms, and when I tried doing the same with chinups I only managed 3 before my hands refused to lower me slowly, or even hold on (the pipe was damn cold too).

Next, one-legged squats.  I can barely do them, but I did 10 for each leg, going as low as I could without falling over.  I know I lack the strength, flexibility and balance to do full ones, but I believe all of these can be improved by simply trying, and doing as much as I could.  I don’t know how much I went down (it’s hard to see through my body, and from a different angle), but I went down a fair way.  Again, something to add to my strength workout.

Now, pushups.  I’m not great at pushups (my arms are pretty weak), but I tried doing them with hands under my shoulders (very hard for me), and going pretty low (so forehead is on ground, can’t quite go down to nose with head flat yet).  I managed 16, before I didn’t think I could do any more without failing.  Another area to improve!

That was the end of the “strength” section.  I saw my heavy bag starring and me, begging to be used.  I gave in.  On went the wraps, on went the gloves, and away I went.  I have no idea how long I went for, but I’m pretty sure it was 10-15 minutes.  I barely rested at all (no actual sit downs or standing away from the bag for more than 10 seconds), although i wasn’t going full out.  I was going pretty hard though, and like everything else, it felt great.  I was trying to do everything I remembered from boxing sessions: hand positions, fast movements, twisting body, moving etc; and it worked pretty well, as I remembered and implemented most of it.  I think what helped me was I visualised the bag as various things, such as teachers I didn’t like, people at school I didn’t like, the fat on my body, a wall stopping me reaching all the hot babes.  Lots of stuff, and it worked.  Definitely got my heart going, my chest heaving, and I was taking some of my pelt up aggression out (I also kicked the wooden door a couple of times, it made some very satisfying *slams* ).

I decided to call it a day now – I’d been out there for about 40 minutes.  I packed up and went inside, straight to the PC to write this!  As I came in I saw the sky was covered in stars and the moon was very bright, it was very beautiful actually.  Next time I think I’ll spend more time out there, just relaxing, watching.

One thing I did notice was how much a head sweat band helps.  During none of the workout had sweat from my hair/forehead reached my eyes or face, a common problem I’ve had.  The band was fairly sweaty by the end, but who cares?  It did it’s job, definitely worth the £2 or so it was.   Also, I normally roll my hand wraps up.  This time, I decided to hand them up, open out, like my rope, over a horizontal, raised wooden bar.  Hopefully they’ll dry out better that way.

I think that just about covers it actually.  Pretty fun, will no doubt do it again sometime (probably not tomorrow, I have my RS to do ).  BTW, I rolled a 6 tonight for my nightly workout, which means I can do any of them, or none.  I was planning on doing the burpees before I went out, although I don’t think I could manage it now without making lots of noise! I’ll probably do the chinnies, or possibly just do nothing (which, TBH, is unlikely).

Until tomorrow (or later tonight)!  As normal, please comment!

Feb 11 #1

• Rope jumping (bounce-step, alternate-foot-step)
• 5 pullup negatives
• 3 chinup negatives
• 10 pistol partials per leg
• 16 under-shoulder forehead-to-ground pushups
• 10-15 minutes heavy bag work