2010 01 13: Still Work - Mini Barbara Workout of the Day

This was one of those WODs where it sneaks up on you. Truth be told, I wasn't able to get as aggressive as I'd have liked, but I think that level of intensity and energy will come back soon.

Metcon 3 rounds w/ 3:00 rest between each round
- 20 Pull ups (5-3-2)
- 30 Push ups (5-3-3)
- 40 Sit ups (slow, but only broke once)
- 50 Squats (slow, but unbroken)

Rd 1 – 3:55 (3:55)
Rd 2 – 12:00 (5:05)
Rd 3 – 21:01 (6:01)

Skills: cleans
Worked on form more than weight-training/strength-building. Wouldn't make sense given that my performance isn't back yet. I still struggle with squat-related movements anyway.

Overall, it's been pretty humbling to see my body function at a fraction of where it was 4 weeks ago. According to my beyondthewhiteboard.com graphs, bodyfat has increased and lean body mass has decreased - pretty normal given how inactive I've been. Today's metcon broke me down to tears. Eileen pushed me as I struggled to finish - she and I are very much on the same boat. Age plays a big part in recovery for us and she seems to really understand; incremental progress is also a struggle since our bodies don't respond to
training as dramatically as they did when we were in our 20's and 30's.

The good news is that my return is right at the beginning of the Paleo Challenge. Hopefully, I'll have dramatic improvements over the next 2 months.

The pressure is on. I have 115 days until we leave for Denali. There's so much at stake - the level of commitment goes to team safety and my ability to do my share of the work on the expedition. If I don't have the strength or conditioning to pull one of my male teammates out of a crevasse, build snow/ice shelters during a white out, or keep pace with the rest of the team as we climb, I become a liability, not an asset. It goes beyond humping a 50lb pack and 70lb sled up the route - after 6-8 hours of climbing in altitude every day, I have to help build snow shelters made out of ice/snow blocks every time we set up camp, dig out group latrines and kitchens, set up storm-proof tents, dig gear storage holes, set up ropes, and dig out caches. It's going to be a lot of pack mule work... I'm not afraid of what lies ahead, but concerned about being a solid member of the team and doing my part.