February 22, 2021

Great start to the work week with a rainy, dreary day that would have most people pulling the blankets up and hitting the snooze button.

Not us. We had a hearty group of dudes ready to get after it today and this whole week despite the weather, inconvenience, unpleasantness, laziness or comfort.

Today started out with

Back squat

10-8-6-4-2

Increase weight each set and take 2:00 between each set

then

Roll right into this one

TRICYCLE

60 cal on Assault Bike

then

4 Rounds of

21 Thruster @75 lbs

18 Alternating Dumbbell Snatch

15 Chest to Bar pullups

This one took me a little over 22 minutes including a poop break after the 2nd round. I was disappointed in this because I did not exercise discipline yesterday. I ate too much and too late. I was not burning clean and my body said…We got to get rid of this…and it did. I was able to come back and finish pretty strong, however, I believe I could do much better on this workout.

This is going to be a great week that will have lots of good outcomes at work but also in the training part of my life. My stretching program has been paying some big dividends as I have overcome my back injury and increased range of motion in almost every position and lift. I will continue to work hard at this flexibility for this entire year and probably for the rest of my life. Joe Hippensteel says that it is the fountain of youth and I do believe him. I feel better than I have in a long time.

Cameron

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U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Junior Grade Thomas Cameron, 24, of Portland, Oregon, in training at the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama, died on February 28, 2012, when his unit's helicopter crashed into Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico during a training mission. He is survived by his parents Bette and John, and brother Alex.

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RRL Warm Up

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Cameron

"Cameron"

For time:
50 Walking lunge steps
25 Chest to bar pull-ups
50 Box jumps, 24 inch box
25 Triple-unders
50 Back extensions
25 Ring dips
50 Knees to elbows
25 Wallball "2-fer-1s", 20 pound ball
50 Sit-ups
15 foot Rope climb, 5 ascents

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Still Water

8 minutes

Rankel

U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant John Rankel, 23, of Speedway, Indiana, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California, was killed on June 7, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He is survived by mother and stepfather Don and Trisha Stockhoff; father and stepmother, Kevin and Kim Rankel; and brothers Nathan Stockhoff and Tyler Rankel.

RRL Warmup

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"Rankel"

Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of:
225 pound Deadlift, 6 reps
7 Burpee pull-ups
10 Kettlebell swings, 2 pood
Run 200 meters

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Baseline, Bodyweight tests

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RRL Warm up

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100 Double Unders for time

:50 for me today

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Baseline

Row, 500 m

40 Air Squats

30 Sit-up (abmat)s

20 Push-ups

10 Pull-ups

For time

3:57 me, 3:53 Trevor

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Death by Burpees

Complete:

1 burpee 1st minute

2 burpees 2nd minute

3 burpees 3rd minute...

Continue until you can not complete the required number by the end of the minute

19 rounds + 16 burpees

Cindy

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RRL Warmup

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Cindy

5 pullups

10 pushups

15 squats

AMRAP 20 minutes

27 + 1 pullup for me.  Keith KILLED it and got a PR with 27 + 5+ 1  Great job Keith!

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Still Water

Meditation 8 minutes

Turner's birthday/CrossFit Games 11.5/Shoulder Press

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Happy Birthday Turner!

17 years ago today, Cynthia and I became parents.  Turner Rowland was brought into this world at a whopping 9 lbs 1 oz.  He has had a big smile that pretty much remained the same from the time he was a little kid to last year when he got his first car.  I am so proud of him and extremely proud and happy to be his Dad.  Since he is our first, we are learning every day on how to be a good parent.  It is a constant process of improvement.  I hope that Turner has patience with us as we do with him.  I love you Turner!  Happy Birthday!

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Shoulder Press

Work to 1RM

175 for me today which is a new PR!

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CrossFit Games 11.5

20:00 AMRAP:

5 Power Cleans, 145 lbs

10 Toes To Bars

15 Wall Balls,

20 lbs, 10 ft

I got  8 rounds + 5 Cleans + 10 Toes to Bar + 10 wall balls (with a bathroom stop in the middle).  Trevor cleared 10 rounds today which is exceptional!  Great job Trevor!

I did this workout back in 2011 in the CrossFit Games Open as a project for the CrossFit Journal.  I traveled with Jessica Pamanian and we went from Key West to New York competing in the Open workouts.  In 2011, I did 8+5+10+6.  Today was an improvement especially considering the bathroom stop in the middle. 

See the full Journal article here

Or watch the video below

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As with parenting and virtually everything else, fitness is a constant process of improvement.  It is crucially important to document your journey of fitness so that you can clearly see what is working and what is not not working.  If you are seeing constant improvement and feeling stronger and better then you are doing it right.  If you are seeing a decline or not feeling good, then something needs to be adjusted. 

Despite what so many of the "fitness experts" tell you, there is not just one way that works for everyone.  In fact, it is my opinion that there is no one way and that each individual needs to find what works for them, fits into the structure of their life and truly makes them happy.  Finding enjoyment in fitness is one of the most important things that will fuel your success. 

For me, the camaraderie of the group is what fuels the success and consistency.  I like lifting weights and doing SealFit workouts, but honestly, we could be doing thousands of other things and achieving some pretty good results as long as we were doing it together. 

Today, we had a large group which consisted of a couple of old regulars who have not been back in a while.  It was so good to see them both back in the group this morning.  I hope that we will see them regularly again this winter.

I was happy to see that my score on this workout increased and that I felt good doing it.  Additionally, I set a PR at Shoulder Press today.  I feel great, and I am stronger than I have ever been at 46 years of age.

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More CrossFit workouts:

Thruster/Run

Wet but warm this morning.  Matt Lawson hits the last few Thrusters.

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RRL Warmup

30 Overhead Squats

10 Push-ups

10 Ring Dips

10 Pull-ups

5 Muscle Ups

Jump Rope (Singles), 3 mins

20 GHD Sit-ups

20 Hip Extensions

20 Toes To Bars

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Warm Up #2

30 Air Squats

20 wall balls

10 Push Press 95-135 lbs

10 Thruster 65-135 lbs

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15 Thrusters, 135 lbs

Run, 200 m

20 Thrusters, 95 lbs

Run, 400 m

30 Thrusters, 65 lbs

Run, 800 m

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Stretch/Yoga

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Related

Team workout

RRL Warm up

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Thruster
5-3-3-1-1
Work up to a 1 rep max

then

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Team workout

In teams of 2

AMRAP 20 Minutes

5 Pull-ups
10 Push-ups
15 Air Squats
One athlete will run 400 Meters while the other completes as many rounds of the AMRAP as possible. The athletes will then switch, with the athlete coming off the run starting a new round. Only completed rounds will be counted.

I suggest that each team has sidewalk chalk.  

Fight Gone Bad

A travel day for me so I will have to make up my missed days this weekend.

Meanwhile, back at the RRL:

Fight Gone Bad

"Fight Gone Bad!"

Three rounds of:
Wall-ball, 20 pound ball, 10 ft target (Reps)
Sumo deadlift high-pull, 75 pounds (Reps)
Box Jump, 20" box (Reps)
Push-press, 75 pounds (Reps)
Row (Calories)

In this workout you move from each of five stations after a minute.The clock does not reset or stop between exercises. This is a five-minute round from which a one-minute break is allowed before repeating. On call of "rotate", the athletes must move to next station immediately for best score. One point is given for each rep, except on the rower where each calorie is one point.

This is a great workout and a CrossFit benchmark.  You can see the guys scores on the board.  Post your scores to comments if you try this one on your own.

Chip Lusk and the Birth of a garage gym

The men and women of the RRLanta at a Goruck Challenge in Atlanta.  Chip Lusk, front row center

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“This group has made life richer for our family. The garage guys look out for each other’s kids and property, we help each other out with projects, we laugh and argue, we talk religion, sports, politics, family and work, and we hang out at our neighborhood park and pool with our families and each other. Some of us have spent vacations together and shared holiday meals together. I feel lucky to know these guys."

-Chip Lusk on the RRLanta

 

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Chip Lusk and the birth of a garage gym

Recently we ran the Ragnar Trail race which is an event that goes on all night.  We have done these events before but on the roads and each team has vans and leap frogs through the 100+ mile course.  The trail event was much different as all teams simply camped in a central area and sent runners out from there.  This format allowed for way more camaraderie and fellowship. 

We were fortunate to camp next to Chip Lusk, RRL alumnus who moved away from Chattanooga for a job opportunity and quickly recreated our setting in Atlanta.  I was very impressed with Chip’s RRLanta group as they were just like ours.  While we all miss seeing Chip, I have to say that I am very impressed and proud that he has been able to build a strong community right out of his garage.  I caught up to Chip to ask him how he did it and learn more about his group.

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TR: Hey Chip, great to see you at the Ragnar Trail event!  I loved seeing what you have created from your garage.  Tell us a little about your group.

CL: Hi Tom – RRLanta is similar to the original RRL. I learned from your leadership. I am confident that much of what I say will sound familiar to you.

Our group is mostly a bunch of dads. Their ages range from mid 30s to mid 50s, but I think most of us are in our mid to upper 40s and feeling younger each year. We have lawyers, bankers, business owners, sales brokers, a doctor, and (it is the ATL) some commercial real estate guys.

TR: How long have you been hosting workouts from your Garage?

CL: We moved into our Atlanta home in July 2011. I worked out on my own five days a week until approximately Thanksgiving. That’s when I was joined by a friend who wanted to get back into shape. Within a month, he had lost 25 to 30 pounds. From December to April, it was the two of us. Then, we were joined by two more friends, who also saw immediate results. Next, word of mouth took over. Neighbors saw guys losing weight and getting stronger and wanted to be involved.

TR: Why did you want to set up your own rather than just joining a gym?

CL: The main reason I wanted to set up a garage gym was to develop community. I missed the workout community you developed and I wanted to recreate it in Atlanta.

I welcome anyone. While we have only a few rules, one of them is no ‘a-holes’ allowed – this one has never needed to be enforced, but I’ve joked around about it a couple of times.

TR: Tell us about how it started?  How did you get the first few to start coming regularly?

CL: It started in a bar over a couple of beers in the Fall of 2011. The friend I mentioned before was between relationships and looking for some positive changes in his life. We agreed to meet at 5:30 am Monday through Friday. The results followed and spoke for themselves.

Honestly, the best sales (I use that term loosely) tactic is when our community swimming pool opens each summer. Suddenly, neighbors are noticing that the new ‘garage guys’ have lost their beer bellies and now have abs and upper body strength.

TR: How much does it cost?

CL: I don’t charge anything for the workouts. It is my gift to our community. With that said, good CrossFit equipment is expensive. To get started, I bought the first round of equipment (about $3k) for the garage which arrived on two wooden pallets from Rogue. Since then, the guys usually pass the ‘equipment replenishment fund’ hat every six months to collect money for new equipment. These donations are completely optional and capped at $200 per person.

TR: What time do you workout?

CL: Guys start arriving at the garage between 5:15 and 5:30 am to stretch and warm-up. During the school year, we are done by 6:30 am, so everyone can get home to help get kids ready for school. In the summer, we have been known to go until 7:00 am.

TR: You probably have lots of different athletic abilities at your garage.  How do you create workouts that all of your athletes can do?

CL: We have all different fitness levels. The beauty of CrossFit workouts is that they are easily scalable. I like it when we have eight or more guys because then usually everyone has someone at his level. If we have a new guy, then I always do a form demo, encourage him to scale and tell him what that looks like. It is smart to scale. I often scale workouts myself.

TR: Did you, or do you face any challenges with neighbors/your wife/children/police?

CL: My wife is a tolerant champ. She understands that this community is important to me. These guys hold each other accountable and help each other out. We have become great friends.

My kids think I have an obsessive addiction to CrossFit – they’re probably right, but I see it as a way to stay fit and build a kick-butt community of trustworthy men.

My immediate neighbors are intrigued and (fortunately) good sleepers. I reserve tire flipping, sledge hammer striking and heavy weight dropping workouts for special late workout days.

We live in an active neighborhood. There are bikers, swimmers, runners, speed walkers, and dog walkers. Many regulars pass by the garage to say hello. Overall, the neighborhood has been supportive of the garage/street workouts.

TR: How many people show up on a regular morning now?

CL: We typically have about eight to twelve guys.

TR: How do you determine your training?

CL: Training is determined by what we have on our event calendar. If Ragnar, then we do more running. Our typical week is a CrossFit WoD on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Cardio (run, swim or row) on Tuesday and Thursday. And, a small group long run on the weekend.

Lately, we have been focused on Hero WoDs, but my favorite format is a team WoD.

TR: What events has your group done together?

CL: We did the Atlanta GoRuck Challenge in 2012, the 2013 Tennessee Ragnar, the 2014 Atlanta Ragnar and the 2014 Atlanta Tough Mudder. We do the Peachtree Road Race together each year – it goes right by our neighborhood. We also do family workouts in our neighborhood park several times a year. And, we’ve had lots of parties together to celebrate events and life.

TR: What events are you currently preparing for?

CL: We have a small group planning to do Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon in Fall 2014, so I am adding long(er) runs on the weekends. We have two 12 man teams going to Miami for the 2015 Florida Keys Ragnar. But, our next fun team event is this coming weekend – the Best Butt in Brookwood Hills – it’s a BBQ cooking competition to raise money for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The garage has several four man teams who are each cooking butts, ribs and briskets on our Big Green Eggs. One team is doing an open pit whole hog. We plan to set up an outdoor movie theater and watch classics, like Fletch and Caddy Shack while the BBQ cooks.

TR: What does this group mean to you?

CL: This group has made life richer for our family. The garage guys look out for each other’s kids and property, we help each other out with projects, we laugh and argue, we talk religion, sports, politics, family and work, and we hang out at our neighborhood park and pool with our families and each other. Some of us have spent vacations together and shared holiday meals together. I feel lucky to know these guys.

TR: How big is your garage and what equipment do you have?

CL: I have a normal two car garage, which will still hold one car when no one is working out.

We have two pull up bars, two sets of rings, seven Olympic bars and lots of bumper plates, three pairs of kettlebells, two sets of dumbbells, two plyo boxes, three med balls, a squat rack and bench, two C-2 rowers, one GHD machine, and lots of jump ropes, logs, sand bags and AbMats. I’m sure that there are things that I’m forgetting.

TR: How did you collect equipment?

CL: I am always watching for a good deal on a piece of equipment we can use. Occasionally, I’ll find a good opportunity on Craigslist. Most of my equipment came from Rogue Fitness.

TR: Many people follow our facebook page and this blog that have expressed interest in starting their own RRL-style group.  What advice could you give someone who would like to get a group started?

CL:  Building a RRL-type garage is a good way to develop community and stay in shape. Here’s what worked for our group:
Find resources – find a few go-to websites for workout ideas.
Be consistent – set days and hours that are easy to remember and then rarely deviate.
Communicate – establish a google group email distribution list and then add the guys that have been to the garage. We use the list to organize events, long runs or even to ask who’s going to the pool on a Friday afternoon.
Communicate, more – establish a forum to communicate the daily workout. We use a Facebook page – RRLanta. Guys that miss the workout want to know what it was.
Encourage – it is okay to critique form, but do not criticize performance
Have fun – we bought a 40 cup coffee urn this past winter. Now, we usually have a cup of coffee at the end of the workout. I can’t think of a better way to start the day.

TR:  Thanks Chip and congratulations to you and your group for creating a rich community!

RJ

Robert Mountjoy of the RRL gets his CrossFit L1 with friend and 3 time CrossFit Games Champ, Rich Froning

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“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Show respect to all people, bow to none. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”

— Tecumseh

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Warmup:

Box Breathing 5 minutes

30 overhead squats with PVC

10x each: Pushups, Situps, Dips, Pullups, Burpees

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Skill: Jump Rope 3 minutes

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Core:

12 minute Amrap

Sandbag Get-ups with 60 # sandbag

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Workout A.

RJ
Run 800 meters
15 ft Rope Climb, 5 ascents
50 Push-ups

x5 Rounds

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CrossFit and SealFit both honor fallen heroes by naming workouts after them.  Usually, these workouts are longer in duration than most and often very difficult.  I am looking for longer duration workouts and the Hero workouts are often perfect for our training. 

While I enjoy a difficult workout, it is also important to take a moment to reflect on the the purpose of naming a workout after someone who has given their life for the rest of us.  It is important that we give these workouts our best effort and to not forget their meaning. 

Today's workout is called RJ and it is accompanied by the following description on the CrossFit website.  Hooyah! to RJ and his family.

Robert Cottle  | Age 45

Veteran LAPD officer and United States Marine Corps Reservist Sergeant Major Robert J Cottle, 45, was killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. RJ joined the Marines at age 18, and the LAPD in 1990. His various LAPD assignments included Hollywood Vice, Southeast Area, LAPD Dive Team and, most recently, SWAT. He is survived by his wife Emily and 9 month old daughter Kaila. The LAPD established a trust fund for them.

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Post times, reps and/or loads to comments

Row, Row, Row

Testing out grip strength in the Florida Keys on a Saltwater Experience shoot.

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“Adversity causes some men to break, and others to break records.”
— Unknown”

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Warmup:

Box Breathing 5 minutes

30 overhead squats with PVC

10x each: Pushups, Situps, Dips, Pullups, Burpees

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Skill: Jump Rope 3 minutes

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Core:

200 flutters

2 min plank

200 flutters

2 min plank

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Workout: A.
Row 15,000 m

or

Run 7.12 miles (4 Bridges route)

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As I am still nursing a healing calf muscle, I laid off the running again today.  While I am not running, it is crucial to get some LSD (long slow distance) to increase my overall volume in preparation for Selection.  I know that I should be running 10-12 miles today, but if I dont let this calf heal properly, it will be a nagging, frustrating injury that will prevent proper training and probably resurface in Selection.

Believe me, I would rather run 10 miles than do a 15,000 meter row.

At any rate, I gave the guys a choice today and Trevor, Clay and I chose the full 15,000 while Robert and Blythe also stayed back for a long row.   Keith, Jay, Will, Justin and Turner ran and the 7.12 mile, 4 bridges course was completed within 1-2 minutes of the 15,000 m row.  Interesting.

I rowed 15,000 meters in 1:03:00 and Trevor came in at 1:00:17, Clay 1:06:00.  For me, I had a goal of keeping my splits under 2:10 for the entire row.  I saw 2:11 a couple of times as I lost concentration but was able to bring it back down.  Mostly I was around 2:02 but my overall average split was 2:05.6.  I am sure that I could improve on my technique alot.

Sweat index on this one was a 9.7 and I was completely soaked. 

Post times, reps and/or loads to comments

Curtis P

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Warmup:

Box Breathing 5 minutes

30 overhead squats with PVC

10x each: Pushups, Situps, Dips, Pullups, Burpees

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Skill: Jump Rope 3 minutes

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Core: 20 sandbag getups at 120 #

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Workout: A.
Baseline: Pre-SOP and box breathing, then ROM Drills.

Run 400m,

30x walking lunges with barbell in front rack position,

20x ring rows, 10x toes to bar

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Workout B.

Work Capacity: Complete the following for time…

        100x Curtis P’s (75#/55#)
        75x Pull ups
        50x Ring dips
        25x Toes to bar

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Workout C.

Bench Press 5@75%, 5@85%, 5@90%

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Workout D.

Still Water

Post times, reps and/or loads to comments