Chinatown

So, it's been way too long since I have done a good workout. I have been waiting and strengthening my ankle again after that rhinoceros of a human rolled into it playing basketball. It didn't bother me too much while I did an ok weight circuit. Need to ramp things up again, I may plan on doing long jump at the first meet here in blacksburg, just to see my speed and fitness. Hopefully open up for triple jump at the elite meet. We'll see. I am newly committed to self control and determination, I need to focus, I need this. 

Enough!

This is just getting ridiculous. I played basketball yesterday to get a nice overall workout in. Things were going ok, I have gotten alittle better at basketball. But randomly a bigger guy was going for a loose ball and bowls right into my lower leg and rolls my ankle! Geez! Luckily nothing was vitally injured, I dont have deep pain like ligaments and all that jazz, but another tangential set back from training really sucks. I seriously can't afford to be playing non track stuff anymore. Which really sucks, but I have a goal this year and i'd really like to see it come to fruition.

Endnote- Hopefully swelling will go down soon and I can a least maintain cardio for the time being.

Pre-Thanksgiving

I remember in 2010 pre-thanksgiving I was in the best shape of my life. Maybe not jump shape, but I was lean and fit and my muscles were so cut. I definitely don't feel that way this year, but I do feel pretty good coming into this benchmark. My training has been hampered by work schedule and ridiculous nicks and dings, but overall I feel strong. My diet has been pretty good. I think I finally have a full repertoire of vegan meals to prepare that actually taste good, and I have found a good whole wheat bread recipe. The weather has gotten colder, so the farmers market is out of the question now, so I have to buy from Kroger (which actually saves lots of money, but I feel like I'm betraying my principles!).

I just need to keep in mind how great it feels to eat right and exercise regularly, and PR in triple jump! To keep me focused when I'm deciding whether to buy some donuts. 

First Jump Day

I finally manned up and decided to see how my body felt flying through the air. This preseason has been plagued by stupid non-track injuries, from dodgeball and football. But apparently those injuries were minor as I didn't feel any inhibition while completing my technique. I didn't feel strong using my ankle-flick to get off the ground, but that is where rehab comes in. Excited to keep pushing, now that I have given myself a mental clean bill of health. 

Calories!

Today was a pretty good day. My nutrition was on point, I even prevented myself from getting some baked sweets in lieu of trail mix at the gas station (also where I almost lost my credit card). Had some uncharacteristically bland oatmeal in the morning. Had my trail mix and garden sandwiches and carrots scattered throughout the day.

I did a treadmill run and got to 300 calories by 18 minutes!! New record I think. J Alvarez had me rocking boy! Then did some ankle rehab. 

For dinner I made some chickpea and rice goodness for the first time, hopefully I can incorporate more beans into my diet. The problem is they take so long to soften, and I don't trust canned beans because they are already salty and stuff. 

Endnote- Thinking about buying bulk dry goods online.....

Stronger?

Haven't updated in too long. Last week was actually pretty solid. Had 3 nice treadmill days (350 plus calories each) as I was trying to stay off my ankle. I also played basketball on Friday, hadn't played that since Russia. Ankles held up thankfully. 

On Sunday I did my classic circuit. A modified Coach Taylor circuit. It seemed much easier than usual. Thinking about ratcheting it up for next time. 

Today I did my first weighted sled pulls of the 2014 season. So easy! I usually do 2 sets of 5, 50 meter pulls, with 30 lbs, with 1 minute rest between reps and 5 minute rest between sets, but since I was meeting a friend for dinner I did 1 set of 8. I was laid out on my back at the end but I had no problem keeping my form through the fire. I know my ankles are terrible right now, but I think I may be really strong, more so than expected. 

Leg Circuit

Completed a leg day circuit in the apartment weight room today. Fellow deity Ronnie Black wrote it. Was really tiring and surprisingly cardio-y since I moved from station to station quickly. I am eager to see how my leg feel in the morning, hopefully terrible!

Ankle Mend

Ran from home to campus and back today. Good cardio. When I hit campus, I took a rest and did ankle rehab with chair scoots. I also got on the runway to see how my ankles would hold up in a super slow jump. Ughhh. My dodgeball injuries used to be cute and now the last one I got this past week made this serious. I hurt my ankle running into someone while going for a ball. I really need to calm down, I keep going 100% at dodgeball, and I realize I haven't been going 100% for track. Needs to change. I need to get into a rhythm of working out again like I had in September. These injuries always side track me, they aren't serious, but I end up taking TH-SU off because of them, and that's not ok. 

Worst Day

Today is the worst day of the rest of the year

world war z

hill day. I planned on doing stadiums, but something about band practice just drew me toward the track. ended up doing a solid med.ball.hill.workout. added a new exercise to arsenal; backwards downhill stabilazition lunges. also I talked with coach z (I'll be sure to catch his full name sometime) he bought Blacksburg athletechs a jump ramp, some weights for the shed, platforms, speed hurdles, and new sleds. also, he mentioned his availability, an idea worth entertaining?

Sunday Sircuit

Wrote my own training circuit today. Was only body weight exercises meaning no use of med balls or weights. Did 3 laps of the circuit. Saw Marcel Lomnicky a hammer thrower who placed top 8 at the world championships. We talked for a bit about track life.

Hopefully will feel really sore tomorrow.

Catching Up

So, time is really starting to fly now that I am getting acclimated to my job. Things have been kinda busy/tiring at work do my workout schedule has been much spottier than expected. Last week I got in a really good med ball circuit. Also 2 bike rides. I am not going hard enough and I can feel it. I need to harken back to the days of 2012 ACC training, so much intensity and drive! It would also help if I could stop getting dings playing dodgeball. Or just stop playing dodgeball...... Never!

Went on a 40 minute run through a new running trail in the hills with 30 uphill abs mid way through. Actually my mid point was when I heard gun shots and promptly decided I didn't want to die.

tell em'

got a phone call from a fellow high jumper today. I can't speak for other sports, but the track community is really tight. we exchanged training tips, season goals, and passed along professional advice. I should probably make it an objective to keep in touch with other athletes on a monthly basis in order to keep things in perspective.

I hit a plateau in climbing not too long ago, and switched up my routine to include finger strengthening exercises and core. tremendous help. its been very similar to doing half approach jumps. I've limited myself from relying on large muscle groups in order to work important techniques a strengthen my tendons. I hate to use others as an indicator of my improvement, but guys who were better than me a month ago are now asking for advice.

eh, still trying to find the climbing relationship to high jump, but until then I'll stick with:
core ie leg raises "body tension" flexibility

SOULJA BOY TELL EM

Thumb Me

Played dodgeball today. Nice good cardio day, lots of fast quick spurts of energy with little recovery time. As always I got dinged. This time it was my right thumb trying to catch a ball. Have pain all down my fore arm now. But the kid will be fine, don't need that to jump, plus it's not that serious.

Dean Hills

Did 1set of 10 hills and 1 set of 5 hills really working on turnover, getting my knee through as swiftly as possible. Really started to feel it in my hamstrings in a good way halfway up the hills. Did some weights and rehab in the shed afterwards. Blacksburg Athletechs Deity Ronnie Black was also at the track doing 2 sets of 10 hills with a friend Dean Hill.

Cotton in the Lungs

Went for a run today to get back in workout mode for the week. I worked so many hours last week I was just so exhausted to do anything, and to top it off dodgeball was cancelled! Ugh, that has become the highlight of my week. So I did 20 minutes solid on a back paved trail. Did some abs and run about 10 more minutes. Did 2 sets of 30 leaps to get these legs working again. The sun peeked through the clouds just as it was setting and shot an orange ribbon on the glass of my favorite building in Blacksburg as I was working out. Such a beautiful fall day. I felt such a calm. Hills tomorrow!

Weight Circuit

My training has been a little off lately because of my ridiculous dodgeball injury. I need to stop having non track issues. So I just did weights today, my glute still hurt to the touch, but I can walk normal again and plus I was standing for 10 hours at work today so I decided not to run.

I did a light series, my body has gotten so weak, just need to see where to ratchet up. Did a chest machine (bench like), Quads, Hamstrings, Pullups, Russian Twist with a weight, Balance ball sit-ups with a weight, Bent over dumbbell rows, and Jack Knives with a weight. Did all of that 2-3 times depending on the exercise.

Good little sweat but I can feel my body hunger for more. Will step it up soon!  

Dodgeball

Played dodgeball with the Architecture peeps today for the second week in a row. This workout works such a different muscle group than I am used to. But overall it is a nice cardio day. Last week my lower back and abs were worked pretty hard. Today, it wasn't as good because on my first throw, my high glute, butt muscle, idk, pulled or something. It really hurt the rest of the night. I guess it was dormant pain from last week that finally got aggravated again this week. So, I was off my dodgeball game, couldn't do my signature throw any more, no power in my throws. Had to come up with some new throwing techniques and get better at dodging. All in all, good Cardio day, saw some good friends, hopefully I will be able to walk tomorrow. 

Jackie Jack

Staying in blacksburg was a good move. Ask any aspiring professional track athlete and I'd bet they have a long list of struggles and obstacles they have to overcome just to get meet minimal training standards. Not quite the same story that seems to be playing out thus far (knock on wood). I rode my bike to campus, saw two "bluebirds" fly 2 feet away from me on the trail, had a quality stadium workout*, caught up with a couple friends,  and then did lunges on one of the softest indoor surfaces this side of the mississippi. to top it off, jackie jack did some work on my glute and piriformis. How many athletes have that service available to them?

scheduling note for next week: cheerleaders workout on Wednesday at 6pm


*stadiums: single, double x 3 + lunges 35 yard lunges with 35lb dumbbells

Hillsville

Did 2 sets of 10 hills today with 10 minutes rest in between. The band was playing on the field so that was cool motivation. Afterwards did only 1 set of 45lb dumbbell bench, some hammer twists, and then 50 calf raises on each foot.

FoxFit

After another ultimate frisbee mishap, I decided to train at the Foxridge Apartments Gym. I did 300 calories on the treadmill. In between that I did general body lifts, arms, abs, quads. Some dymanic weighted punches (to prepare for dodgeball this Thursday, lol). Pretty good day, kind of a wake up call to how weak I have gotten. 

Crowd

Ran 3 500's today to eat back in the swing of things after a shady past week of training. My goal was to get under 1:25 each time. I ran the first one too conservative and came through at 1:27. The next 2 were under the goal which was good. I also had a fan on my last one cheering me to 1:24, when I saw him I accidentally cracked a smile as he motivated me. Getting better at my breathing and confident when I tie up. Most of this training is mental for now, I just want to get comfortable pushing myself again after a pretty lax 2013 campaign. 

Huckle too

Strong 20 minute run today, walk back recovery.

Band Practice

Fridays practice was interesting. I planned on doing 3 500's all under 1:25. But I began practice just as the gazillion band people lined up for practice, and there was some other stuff going on in preparation for the football game. So I got one 500 in, ran 1:31, too light. Things got busier and I decided to run a 400, by then the softball team? was doing conditioning and being all up in the way. Ran a 1:10 400. Decided to just flow with it and run another 500 and 400. Can through at 1:26 and 1:04. Did abs afterward. Felt pretty strong for 275 on that 400, then had a minor crash for 20 meters, then had an okay finish.

Endnote- Excited to see my 800 this Sunday

300 Calorie Treadmill

Tried to find a frisbee game to play today to get some alternate conditioning in, but Gobblerfest is coming up so the entire Drillfield was taken with tables. Went to War to peep the basketball scene, didn't really feel like it, since I was really wanting frisbee. Just found the treadmill room and got my 300 calories in. Alittle harder than I would have expected. Didn't do core or stretch like I should have though.

Endnote- Gotta get more disciplined

Huckle Run

Ran for a good 40 minutes today, took a break half way to do jack knives on a bench. Listened to j alvarez the whole time. The man makes hits! I assume I ran at least 300 calories which is my September minimum daily. Stretched my ankles on a tree afterwards. My upper left calf was sore during work today. Both my calves felt really tight during my run. My guess is that it's just getting used to running again.

Endnote- I will probably end up running to cburg one of these days. Scenic trail.

Seasons Greetings

Started out my 2014 chase for CAC medalling with 4 500m with 7 minutes rest. Came thru at 1:25, 1:30, 1:30, 1:31. I really felt it in my calves. I could have pushed harder on the last 2, I need to get past the mental block of hitting a wall. Once I can get passed that, then my body is actually getting better. For now I am just sitting in my comfort zone. I need to be laid out now in September so I don't die in July. Hit up some Russian twists with a weight and some ankle stretching. I'm making stretching. And strengthening my ankle a staple of every workout this year. I cannot have another season like last year, humiliating.  

Endnote- it's just a minor thing and I'm a minor king