PR: Overhead Squat

I'm just posting to update my personal records for the overhead squat:

• 1 rep:  185 lb, set yesterday, 2012.05.15.
• 2 reps:  175 lb, set 2012.01.19.
• 3 reps:  172.5 lb set 2012.01.19.

Clearly, I should be able to do more than 185 for one rep.  I'll aim for 190 next time.

PR: Double-Unders

Double-unders are an inconsistant skill for me.  I feel as if I sometimes take them into the gym with me and sometimes leave them in the car.  It's not uncommon for me to only manage to connect 2 or 3 together in a set.  Last Friday, I did a number of sets of that size.  I also did several sets of more than 30 and a set of 67.  That 67 was a personal record.  Clearly, I need to practice more.

PR: Weighted Pull-Up

My personal record for weighted pull-ups, 118 lb (plus bodyweight) was set on September 16, 2011.

Recent PR: Bench Press

One thing I don't like about CrossFit is the infrequency with which bench press appears.  I think the bench press is a great exercise, and I'm pretty good at it, at least for someone of my size.  One result of this infrequency is that my bench numbers have dropped off since I began CrossFitting in January of 2007.  I distinctly remember doing 250 lb in the gym at Georgia Tech in my grad-school days, but since I've been following the CrossFit protocol, I've mostly been mired in the 230s.  Last week, however, I managed a bench of 245, which is a PR for me in the CrossFit era.  So, I'll record that number here for future reference.  I hope to be back at 250 on my next bench workout, and then to be in new territory after that.

PR: Annie

My personal record for the WOD known as Annie was set on June 8, 2011.  It was 6 minutes, 49 seconds.

PR: Mary

I set a new personal record for the workout named Mary* last night:  12 rounds plus 25 reps.  That's just over one complete round more than my previous best.  I'll aim for 14 rounds even next time.

* As many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of the following:
5 handstand push-ups.
10 pistols (one-legged squats).
15 pull-ups.

PR: Grace

Today I set a new personal record for the WOD called Grace (30 reps of clean and jerk at 135 lb, for time): 6:13. That's about 2.5 minutes faster than my old PR. I'll aim for sub-6 next time.

The Sea of Rails

The 50% of my readership that has enjoyed China Miéville's writing will be glad to hear that he has yet another novel coming out this May, 12 months after Embassytown was published. The new book, Railsea, is, as the blurb indicates, a recasting of Moby-Dick into a fantasy setting. What the blurb doesn't indicate is that the book is aimed at young-adult (and older) readers. I'm looking forward to reading it.

PR: Elizabeth

I set a new personal record for Elizabeth last Tuesday: 12:02. That's not a great time, but it is a 4-minute improvement for me. As with many of the PRs I've set in the last few years, this record was not the result of improved fitness so much as improved technique and tactics.

PR: Elizabeth

My personal record for the workout known as Elizabeth was set way back in July 13, 2010. It's 16 minutes, 10 seconds. I don't think I've done that WOD since then.