Take care of yourself

I can't do one unassisted. I can knock some out if someone is holding my legs. Otherwise, I'm toast. I feel bad that even though I've done all these pushups, I can't do pullups for crap.

 

I did 36 pullups today as part of a 15-12-9 set of 135-pound thrusters and pull-ups. They were supposed to be pull-ups with a 45-pound plate added, but since I tend to do most of my heavy pull-up sets on the assist machine, I just pledged to do them all unassisted. Was able to get eight in a row on the first set of 15, but it was slow going after that.

It's a hard exercise. Damn good for you, though. And I second the kipping. It's not cheating.

 

PR on the bench press today: 255.

 

I've lost about 3 pounds a week for the past four weeks on my version of the Gary Taubes low-carb thing.

Can't sustain that pace for very long, obviously.

I'm back to my "wedding weight" of 235 in 2004. I'd been adding, on average, a couple of pounds a year since. Now I have some "new" clothes already hanging in my closet.

Needed to get a couple new holes punched in my belt last week and I don't feel quite as leg-weary as I'd been feeling lately. Also, I've felt like getting up a little earlier in the morning, possibly lured by the promise of bacon.

 

Took my PT test this morning. I passed with (almost) flying colors.
I did 39 pushups in 2 minutes (worth 65 points; points are based on gender and age and you have to get 60 per event to pass), 66 situps (89 points) and ran 14:47 (first mile 7:25, second mile 7:22; 90 points). My final total was 244 points, which is my best score in at least a year, maybe even two (I'd have to look it up).
I improved by 3 pushups (3 points), 2 situps (2 points) and 33 seconds (5 points) over my last record PT test in October 2012. My situps and run are pretty much right where I want them to be, but I have to keep working on my pushups. Gives me something to shoot for on my next PT test.
As a crossthread reference, I weighed 209.5 pounds for height and weight. Because of my age (39) and height (measured at 6'3" in sock feet), I get to weigh 217.

 

Great job. I don't know if it's a goal, but imagine how much faster, etc. you'd be if you were 195 or 200.

Just a question: Are pushups chest to deck, or is there a shorter standard to count?

Anyway, great job.

 

Pushups (in theory) are to where your triceps are parallel to the ground. Of course, that leaves a little room for subjectivity and some people have been known to take advantage of it and not go down all the way.
I've thought about dropping even more weight than where I'm at (to the 195-200 neighborhood). I was 195 when I shipped to Basic Training in November 2010 and got under 190 in Basic, but got fat (like 215-220ish) in AIT. Since I got here to Fort Benning in July 2011, I've gone from right at 200 (or just under) to just over 210. I usually am somewhere between 205-210.
I do think if I dropped a little more weight it might help me speed-wise and possibly with strength. I have run faster before, as my fastest PT test time was 14:03 right after I graduated from Basic (in February 2011). but that was a number of pounds (and a lot of miles) ago. My ultimate goal would be to go under 14:00, but I don't know if that will happen or not.

 

I'm scheduled to run my first 5K in the morning.

I wish I could say I'm ready to go. In reality, my nose has been doing more running than my legs this week... and I really hope chasing high school athletes counts as cross-training.

Pinning on my first real race number was inspiring, but I may need to settle for simply crossing that finish line any way I can.

 

Congratulations. I'm sure you'll do well. I've wanted to do some 5K's and road race type-things, but have never gotten into it for whatever reason, so you're at least a few steps ahead of me.

 

I ran my first marathon on Sunday.

It's something I've kind of dreamed about for 20 or so years.

And, it went pretty well -- just under 4:30 -- except for some nasty chafing.

I'm going to call them "noob nipples" and not wear the cotton event shirt next time.

 

Great job, woman or man.

Never cotton. Never.

 

Q: What's the best way to increase grip strength?

I'm topped out on my dead lifts because I can't hold any more weight. Should I look at straps or something?