PROGRESS

So what has been going on...with each passing week I am become more confident with my ability to pass the certification.  I am nervous about the fact that people will be staring at me and judging my technique but that is to be expected. 

But can you snatch? Yes, I do believe I can.  I have been following Iron Body Studios certification program and training with Artemis.  There was a problem with my snatch.  I was opening my hand at the top.  Once I started opening my hand another problem resulted...crazy bruising at the wrist bone.  It was very painful and it was evidence something was wrong with my form. 

I explained the painful problem to Artemis and it was solved.  Break the arc!  Now it took some work and I am still working on form but I am much improved from when I began this journey.

This week I started snatching with my test weight.  I did 9 rounds of 9 with 12 KGs on Saturday.  This is what it looked like.

There were some pictures with crazy ass faces.  Those will not make the internet. 

Listening to Artemis pays off...until I had a couple set backs.  The first one was this.

This big ugly blister on my left hand after snatching at work last week.  I don't show this as a badge of honor but an area of snatching.  Was I doing my snatching correctly?  What was going to happen when I did a gazillion snatches before the test?  How was I going to prepare before the test?  I cut off the skin but not quite enough of it.  I made the brilliant decision to attempt to pull it off.  Ouch.  It is healing and I am still able to snatch.

My second concern became...how was I ever going to be able to pass the snatch test.  I wasn't snatching enough.  I twisted my perspective.  I was thinking I was snatching 90 times in 9 minutes.  Nope....180 in 9 minutes.  I will be good.  Yesterday's work out at Iron Body Studios will Artemis increased my confidence just a bit. 

This is what the testing will look like!





and this (This is a better video.)

WEEKEND WRAP UP

Usually I post my weekend work outs...primarily so I can remember them from weekend to weekend.  I guess the blog becomes a training log.  I am not going to detail my work outs.  I have some different thoughts this weekend.

When I walk into the Y on the weekend, I really do think of myself as a lifting badass for a 56 year old anyway.  It is the place I wear what I call my bad ass shirts.  Today it was this shirt

And yesterday this one.

Just a side bar...I am not quite ready to wear these but you know I want to wear them.

Today I met someone who is really badass... There is a woman who has been going to the Y the past several months. She is overweight and wears bulky sneakers. Every weekend I am there, she is there riding that bike. She has been a constant presence. She is always smiling. You know she is enjoying her work out. I am not one for conversation when I am working out but have been exchanging pleasantries with her. Good morning. How are you doing? Have a nice work out? Today after she finished out the bike, she started walking the treadmill. She looked like she had lost some weight. I went over to tell her how amazing she was working the bike and then the treadmill which was clearly a little more difficulty for her. During my exchange with her I learned she is the real badass...not only does she wear a brace to her knee, she has spina bifida. She told me she is at the Y 5-6 days/week. Her plan is to walk the Cancer Walk...all 6.2 miles of it. And with all her training she has lost 15 pounds. I was humbled by her dedication to her goal. Despite our limitations as people, if we set our mind, we can accomplish great things. I know, I know the pictures don't line up. Posting this for now but will work on it. I am learning.