Friday's Workout

Is it just me, or do we tend to do tougher metcons on days we mess around with gymnastics stuff?

Strength Skills:

• L-Sits
• Pass-Throughs
• Skin-the-Cats

I need to work on my L-Sits. A few months ago, I was able to hold an L-Sit for 30+ seconds without too much effort -- but today, my arms began trembling just ten seconds in.

Good thing I have a pair of parallettes at home, though the kids are constantly perched on 'em. M want to use them to practice her L-Sits, too. Looks like I may have to go pick up some more PVC pipe.

Metcon:

A barbell complex is a fine way to kick off the weekend.

7 rounds for time:

• 3 power cleans
• 5 front squats
• 7 deadlifts

When Tim first wrote this workout on the board, I was annoyed. I knew I couldn't do this one using the RXed weight of 165 pounds. The rate-limiting move, I figured, was the power cleans. On my best day, I might be able to power-clean 25 pounds in excess of my bodyweight for one or two reps (if that), but certainly not 21 times. I was stuck with a 115 pound barbell.

"But that's too light a weight for the front squats and deadlifts," I whined to Tim.

Smiling, he replied: "I'll remember you said that."

At the time, I didn't register what he was trying to tell me -- namely, that I was insane to think that the weight would feel at all "light" once the clock started. And of course, he was right: Even as I began my first round of front squats, I was regretting my choice of weights. Throughout this WOD, the only thing that kept me from setting down the bar during the front squats was the knowledge that I'd have to clean the damned thing back up again.

Result: 9:22.