Training Log: Entry 3626

AM WORKOUT (0400 wake up via alarm)

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL SPECIFICITY BRAVO

Operation MILO Cycle 3, Week 3, Workout 3

MAIN WORK

(4) Texas Deadlift Bar Mat Pulls
11+5+4x455

DB rows
5x8x140

Axle curls
5x8x83

GHRs
5x8x60

ASSISTANCE

GHR sit ups
3x10

Reverse hyper/band pull apart superset circuits
3x15x340/3x50

Notes:

• 1 min of rest on rows, GHRs and GHR sit ups, 90 seconds on curls.

• I legitimately do NOT know how I managed those mat pulls. I wasn’t feeling particular weak or beat up today, but those pulls were just plain heavy, and I approached it with a goal of just getting 10 on the first pull and figuring it out from there. Breaking it off the mats the very time felt ridiculous, but somehow I found myself with plenty of strength to get through the reps. Very light taps on the mats. I’m rediscovering that “other gear” in me that, as long as I can get the bar a millimeter off the mats, I can move it to lockout. It’s great to feel strong again.

• Wore the strongman belt for most of the workout after that, because having my back warm and compressed felt good.

• No chins between sets. This morning, I found that my right elbow was showing some of those warning signs of getting beat up, and chins tend to be something that accelerate that. I’ve got Friday to really get these in. Part of me imagines it’s the keg carry that is doing this.

• On that note, 246lbs moved VERY well yesterday compared to the past 3 carries.

• Tang Soo Do sparring was a bit of a mixed bag. I got to go up against one of our adult black belts who has been out due to wrist surgery for a few months. It’s rare I get to spar someone larger than me. He has no cardio at all, and I pushed the pace to make him uncomfortable, but ended up fouling out. I got in a very nice hook kick to the head that made too much contact, and then caused him to panic twice, which resulted in him spinning out while I had launched a strike, getting me called on 2 strikes to the back, giving me 3 fouls. Not a way I want to lose a match, but I was pleased with how I was able to control the pace of the match.

• On that note, I signed up for another grappling competition on 7 Dec. Since I’ll have turned 40 by then, I’m no longer a Masters athlete, but instead in the “Directors” division. Here’s hoping a few more old dudes sign up.