Training Log: Entry 3470

AM WORKOUT (0413 natural wake up)

**12 LABORS: CAPTURING THE CRETAN BULL**

*Tactical Barbell Operator* Cycle 2, Week 1, Workout 4

“90 MINUTE RUCK”

Treadmill

Incline: 1

Speed: 4.0

Distance: 6 miles

Time: 90 minutes

45lb weighted vest

Notes:

* Actually got a decent night of sleep last night.  Was able to get the dog some meds that controlled the cough, which meant we all got to sleep better and I woke up feeling quite refreshed.  And between that and my kiddo STILL having school canceled, it led to me making the decision to do a long workout this morning vs a short HIC workout.

* This is technically a program deviation, as I did an E workout last week and, with the Black protocol, I am to limit those to once every other week.  However, with these past 3 snow/cold days, my general activity level has been poor.  I’ve done my best to get in indoor steps, use a walking treadmill, etc, but I just really needed to get in some focused general movement today to compensate for a backlog of listlessness.  Between this being Tang Soo Do sparring week AND physical testing requirements month and the possibility of getting in more strongman workouts this weekend, I don’t think I’ll be hurting for HIC workouts, and a one off extra E workout isn’t going to turn me into a fountain of estrogen.

* I DID push this harder than usual.  3.0 is my leisure pace, and 3.5 is my general working pace, so 4.0 is an uncomfortable walking pace.  It’s that “My flight is boarding soon and I’m at the other end of the terminal” walking pace, where I still don’t break into a full on 2 feet off the floor at one time jog.  And all that is when I DON’T wear a weighted vest.  In turn, I kept the incline at a basic level so I could focus more on pace.  I also wanted to get in 6 miles of distance in the 90 minutes, once again prepping me for my 10 mile race coming up in early April.  I don’t plan to do any actual long distance running to prep for it, but the short hard runs of the HIC workouts combined with hard rucking should put me in a good enough place to finish without destroying myself for a strongman competition in the following week.

* Tang Soo Do sparring went really well last night.  I was thankfully not paired up against any of my family during the inner-Dojang tournament, instead squaring off against one of our black belts in the first round, which I took rapidly in a 3-1 scoring match, securing 2 points with a variety of off angle hook kicks, crescent kicks and roundhouses.  The second match was similarly a 3-1 short match against our resident “wild-child” who likes to coming in fists flying as a swarm fighter, but then also likes to employ the Mighty Ducks strategy of “Take the fall, act hurt, get indignant” in order to foul out larger opponents.  I went in as a crouch fighter for the first round to negate his wild swinging and scored a straight shot into his body, then impaled him with a front kick as he charged in on the second round.  Don’t remember the third point.  Final match was against our resident black belt sparring champion, and, unfortunately, I can’t beat the halo he has around his head as a result of his status.  Valkyrie and I noticed that he was getting points called for him before his technique was even fully extended: the judges just assume that, if he throws a technique, it’s going to score.  He got 2 points just from hitting my elbows, but I at least secured a solid point by leading him in a circle with left leg kicks before catching him off balance with a right side roundhouse.  We went 1-3 with, and then transitioned to some individual sparring.  My kiddo sparring the black belt champion before I did, and I was blown away by their defense last night.  Really just turned a new corner.  They asked me for advice, I informed them to watch out for the body punch, and they didn’t let a single one slip through.  Meanwhile, despite being ragged by what is most likely RSV, my Valkyrie put on a fantastic show during the individual sparring and tooled many of our black belts.  Was a good night for the family, and we’re slated to go again tonight.