After seeing the new programming that Sean’s posted up I decided to lay off the Westside/Wendler stuff that I’m doing for the last 5 weeks and jump in on Adapt’s latest 4 week cycle. The cycle finishes up the day before the 14 November which just so happens to be the Smash Clash so it’ll be good to see how some consistent training will go towards helping to do my best.
The other night I had the absolute pleasure of watching one of Adapt’s true firebreathers: Aves hitting ‘Dianne’ (21-15-9:100kg deads & HSPUs) – OMG! For anyone that doesn’t know: Aves is a total beast. The guy’s as strong as and as soon as he dials in a little more tech and skill work, he’s going to be very, very tough to beat… Anyways back to Dianne – he moved so quickly through the first 2 rounds (21-15) that everyone just stood silently with their mouths gaping as he lined up ready to hit the last set of HSPUs at the 2:32 min mark! – believe that! The last set of 9 (or more specifically the last 2 HSPU reps and a number of no reps…) proved to get the better of  him as he blew his time out to just over 5 mins – He was pretty disappointed because he’d managed a 2:49 time only one week earlier (I think he wanted to come in and show the crew what he had in the tank…) but backing up after hitting 3×5 s-press (@60kg) 20 mins earlier, I’m sure he’d probably fried himself a bit. Does this guy have a 2:49 Dianne? – You better believe he does and I can’t wait to film his next attempt when he’s fresh!
Watching Aves I got to thinking how much I’ve actually been fluffing about (over the past 3 months) in regards to what I want out of my fitness. I want to be ‘Beast’ strong… I want to have a better engine… I want to have mad skillz… I want blah… But watching Aves I remembered what I really want… My number 1 goal is to make it to the 2012 CF Regionals next year. Aves is definitely the type of guy who could do that and I realised that I’m going to have to start dialing absolutely everything in (training/sleep/nutrition) and stop making excuses to beat athletes of his calibre. I think I’ve been coasting for a while. Happy to beat the guys I train with because I can. I haven’t worked out with anyone that’s really challenged me for a while and its time that I sucked it up and threw my hat in the ring with someone who will. Aves is that person.
Cool thing was that last night Ave’s was back and regardless of the fact that I spent most of the day fearful of the impending Metcon hell in which Aves and I would battle it out for supremacy, I knew it had to be done. Sure enough 6pm came round and it was time to put it all on the line. I waited for the second heat and lined up behind Aves. I got Becca to count my reps (even though it’s generally a bad idea to have your partner count reps/encourage you – because it can end in tears…) and it actually worked to my advantage – she kept her voice low (so Ave’s wouldn’t know how many reps I’d hit) and gently encouraged me to get back on the bar…
I got off the first set of 21 cleans a couple of reps before Aves but it wasn’t long before he was on the ring dips too. He finished his ring dips before me (I had 3 to go) and walked back to his bar. I finished my remaining dips and jogged back to mine. Aves seemed to spend an eternity looking at his bar and before you know it I’d done 3 reps before he’d even picked up the bar for the second set. The rest is well, history… I managed to stay ahead of him and even pull away to post a PB time of 7:20. I was speaking to him after the WOD and he knew it was over when I walked past him to the rings after the set of 15 cleans… Nice.
I don’t train with our guys as much as I’d like to so they probably don’t quite know what I’m capable of. They have however, seen Aves throw down on a number of occasions and a fully aware of his BEASTmode presence and work ethic. I’m going to make an effort over the coming weeks to join in on all the sessions I can (and don’t have to run…). I hope Aves is there to keep me on my toes. Even if he’s not I’m going to start putting it all on the line every time. I’m going to embrace the CF model wholeheartedly: Go as hard as I can, as often as I can. Make sure my recovery’s great (eg. good nutrition, good sleep & minimal stress) and keep reminding myself of my number 1 goal: Get to the Regionals in 2012!
0 comments