Into the New Year (2021-2022)

Tuesday, Dec 21:

HDT March Madness "Elite 8 - Fast Break" 20 min ruck AMRAP with 6 rounds, wearing 30#, followed by HDT IR18-19.1.3 (legs and arms).

Thursday, Dec 23:

For the ruck club, I planned the 12 Days of Christmas ruck WOD from GORUCK, which took 27 min.  To my delight, kids came with their rucking parents, so we sang the song, did the exercises, and had fun. 

Afterwards, we rucked in McAdenville aka Christmastown, USA., wearing 30# in the v3 shorty rucker.  I'm a kid at heart, and it's the best getting to see little kids enjoy and be surprised by everything they see and discover, too.

When we got back to the parking lot, I handed out those well-earned patches!

 

2 miles in 1:13:23.

Friday, Dec 24:

12 mile run at 11:57 pace at the USNWC.  Did Parkway->Panda->Smokey->Bandit->Rail->Parkway->LakeLoop.  The Mazamas were tough on my arches for a while, and they didn't offer much cushioning.  I normally don't have issues with them, so I don't know what's different.  

I did feel like I had more endurance today, and didn't crash in the last couple of miles like I had the past few times I did this route.

In the afternoon, I went to Blackstone for ball and dummy pistol work.

Saturday Dec 25:

I went on a solo trip to a friend's outdoor private range for the first time.  Normally, I go there with SB.

Range days always mean full cars!

Setup takes longer when you're alone.

Fun with new baby steel... knock-overs kind of like what I encountered in Stage 1 of the Team Match Gun Run.

Range-inspired Still Life photography...

The screws holding my O-Light on the Magpul handguard came undone.  It wasn't a good fit to begin with because of the shapes of the two pieces I was trying to combine.  Not a huge surprise, but I was unable to find the screw.

I tested out my new 6mm Creedmoor Ruger Precision Rifle for the first time, at about 100yd.  Not sure where it went.  I didn't have a bipod yet, so I used a sandbag up front.

Sunday, Dec 26:

I did the JD Davis 45 min hero WOD with a 45#SB, followed by a 30#R/60#SB coupon ruck up and down the street hill for a mile in 24:00, wearing Ballistic Trainers.  

I did lots of exhausting cleaning around the house yesterday and today.  It did look nicer, though!

A nice gift from Albert... a hand-made wooden flag!

Monday, Dec 27:

Yoga for PMS and cramps with Adriene, for 21 min.

Tuesday, Dec 28:

Took my dad on a ruck through Uptown, covering 5 miles in 1:42:41.  We went from Trader Joe's to BoA stadium, wearing 30# in the v3 shorty.  The Ballistic Trainers did well.  I didn't even notice them.

Interesting fun fact... Mecklenburg County declared independence from GB on May 20, 1775!  First in Freedom, indeed.

Thursday, Dec 30:

3 mile ruck to Old Salem with my dad and sister in the v3 shorty with 30#, wearing the Salomon XA Comps.  Afterwards, I beta tested the Airport Overlook 30 min ruck AMRAP of 10 lunges/side, 10 strict presses, 10 getups, 10 highpulls.  Afterwards, to fill in the time, I did 3x (10 slick inchworm pushups, 50 ruck situps).  

My sister loves board games, so of course, there was plenty of that...

This tea tastes incredible...

Friday, Dec 31:

Did a 7 mile run in 59:50 (8:32 pace) in the Brooks Pure Flow at Salem Lake in 64* temps.  Played Zombies, Run!  Slowed a bit in the last couple miles, but it was a good effort.  I hope to gain back some of the speed and stamina that I've lost.

More games, of course!

(We finished the puzzle)

Saturday, Jan 1:

It was time to leave Winston-Salem...

(Lavender is a surprisingly delicious addition to coffee.  My sister made it for me.)

Back in CLT, I gave my dad his Xmas presents...

(He enjoys National Parks, so I got him a scratch-off poster where he can mark off the ones that he's visited)

I think he gave me some rechargeable batteries, and he gave Dave some trail mix, haha.  My sister got a game.

Later, I did the "Heavy Week" session 3/4 in 28:30 for PATHFINDER Compete, with a 30#R and 45#SB, same as usual.

Sunday, January 2:

A special opportunity to go to an undisclosed location for some physical, mental, technical, and spiritual training.

• 20 min tabata workout with planks, kettlebell swings, flutter kicks, ab rollers, 60# back squats, 60# clean/squat/press.
• Glock armorer's class. 
• Catching up on each others' lives.
• Ball and Dummy drills @ 3yd
• To controlled pairs
• To 2, 3, 4, 5 until you start messing up fundamentals
• To 10 yards at steel, but maintaining fundamentals
• Adding in 180* turns

This year, I started logging all of my shooting work, like I would with workouts, to be more aware of my progression, focus areas, etc.

Monday, January 3:

Timed 12 miles in 2:40:56, with 30# in the Speed Rucker.  Drank 1/2L H2O at mile 7.5.  I had Kodiak pancakes for breakfast, so I didn't need anything during the ruck.  I played lots of Pokemon.  

(I enjoy watching airplanes take off from my neighborhood)

In the evening, I did Yoga for Transitions with Adriene for 22 min.

Tuesday, January 4:

It was time to put my airport overlook 20 min AMRAP to the test, with the ruck club!  The Airport Overlook is my 2nd favorite place in CLT, and I thought it would be unique to do a workout there.

We started with a 2 mile warmup ruck around the perimeter of the runway.

I selected exercises that tied into the theme of riding a plane, somehow.

• Lunges = going up the stairs
• Strict Press = putting your luggage in the overhead compartment
• Getups = Take off
• High Pull = Mile high pulls

Wednesday, January 5:

32 min MTB ride on the 0.32 mile neighborhood mini loop through the forest.  Covered 4 miles total.  

The first two times, I tipped over at the same uphill rooty spot.  The third time, I stayed upright but lost too much momentum and had to put a leg down.  The fourth time onwards, I was able to stay on the bike, after finding a better line with fewer roots, and building up more speed going in.

It was a good exercise in problem solving, not being afraid to fail, and trying again until I got it right.

In the evening, Blackstone with SB, doing ball & dummy...

It's fun to read the shapes, like you would with clouds.  What do you see?

Thursday, January 6:

Hill repeats for 2 miles in 51:04.  I did ruck only, water bucket, sand bucket, ruck only, water bucket and sand bucket, 2x30#SB farmers carry, 60#SB on the back, bear hug 45#SB, ruck only.

More time at Blackstone afterwards...

Friday, January 7:

HDT SAQ Pre-test and 1.1 in 57 min, including a bit of warmup.

Speed, Agility, and Quickness is a new program that Heavy Drop Training put out.  I enjoyed this first workout.  It's exhilarating, and it doesn't wear you down too much.  It does make you feel more agile, and it's fun to shake things up with workouts.