push ups – Ruck and Field Fitness

Continuum Part 1

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When I look in the mirror, I see that time does not slow down, nor does it stop. No matter how much we may wish for it to slow / stop. How often do you look in the mirror, and just wonder how much time has passed and what choices in life you have let slide thinking that tomorrow would be a better time to begin that new endeavor?

Well, health is not something that should ever be overlooked by anyone in any time frame for its decline is visible, and so are its effects on your body, and mind.

Movement, hydration, sleep, and nutrition (not in any specific order) are monumental for every human being. Healthy mind, healthy body, and you will benefit so much more than being idle and eating processed foods.

I’ve spent more time since the last time I wrote on this blog moving, resting, teaching, learning, and helping others reach their goals. How has it turned out? Heck, I’m blown away by it. Does it warrant me to post before and after pictures? Nope. The following will have to do.

Endurance athletes, with weights is what my crew should be labeled as. Neither the body builder, heavy weightlifter, endurance only athleticism is a type of mold or cookie cutter label they’d fit under or into. They are all around athletes and enjoying life because of it.

Work on them abs people! Six packs, Big bi’s, large tris, and the like is not what I hear when listening to them tell their tales of success, or work that needs to be accomplished to get to where they need to be for Goal success!

What I do hear is – “I ran without stopping”. “I was able to squat lower and did more reps too”. “I have never run that distance in my life before, much less entered any race prior to today!” “I am moving more weight, and not being broken down by it during the exercises, and I’m able to recover better because of it!”

“I ran today what you had programmed, and since I felt good with the amount of running previously, I decided to go a little further, and I ended up doing 4 more miles than I had planned for”.

These are some of the quotes I have received this past year. I am blown away by them (clients) with them putting in the work and trusting me with their health I am humbled. I’m very appreciative of each and every one of them.

They show up, I program, and we all get it done!

Here are some highlights – No certain order:

Summer heat, sweaty mornings

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Amongst the throngs of people working out early mornings I’ve ascertained that not many really can be comfortable being outdoors for prolonged periods of time due to the weather. Yes, fair weather athletes come in all shapes and sizes.

Not judging at all since they give a good ribbing as well as take it. Once the frost clears, the grass is growing with flowers to boot. So the interest of doing work outdoors increases. The next step is getting them to commit to a schedule and then to commit to the varied weight loads and types of movement included while wearing a ruck.

We typically use the ruck as primary tool for resistance and exercises, and not limited to sliding down muddy slopes without much of a second thought since it’s a benefit added once we get rainfall (dry now), while working out at our favorite hill. Going up is tough, going down fun. So it’s a ying yang type of thing. We adapt accordingly.

Recognizing that every time there is a plan of action we must be fluid enough to adapt to a plethora of circumstances like construction here. Our staging area is beside an under pass where we get some of our work done. It’s being fixed and bricks, rock, and steel can fall on you so we’ve staged further away to keep our nuggets safe.

Then, there is bright sunshine! I love it. Early light means no headlamps, and no reflective clothing for our dreary dark workouts. Shorts, tanks, and bug spray has replaced much of our attire. Not complaining one bit. Except for areas near the river where we ruck the mosquitoes are huge! So, spraying bug juice will continue until we’re comfortable with the bugs everywhere. Then spray some more so you don’t get mugged by them.

Am I the only one that looks forward to a hot cup of coffee on a Hot day, with my favorite cigar to boot after a workout? What is your go to post workout in any temperature or time of year. I’ve been very consistent without losing a beat on endurance.

There is heat then there is-Humid heat! Sweating while thinking of working prior to getting to our workout location is something to ponder if you consider going outside in the summer. In the Midwest, more like Chitown there are two seasons, 1) Winter, + 2) Construction.

You fight the battle in front of you one at a time. Keep hydrated, and smile knowing you can do the things many more can only dream of doing. Complete each evolution, set, rep, workout in the knowledge the the discomfort you’re experiencing is temporary and the benefits outweigh your exertion. Heat subsides, sweat cools you down unless it gets in your eyes then it’s a blistering paragraph of expletives! Speaking from experience here.

Oh let’s not forget the little snags or cuts out in the field you get while crawling around like a mad person doing your thing. Searing hot burning is a threshold you need to learn to appreciate. Swear, scream, laugh, cry, just don’t quit! The high fives and funny post workout pics are well worth it.

I’ll leave you with this.

Get up, go outside and move. No matter how uncomfortable you become just keep moving. The chemistry involved between your ears is what we’re trying to change. Change it will, and for the better.

Below

1) 210611 – RED Friday partner WOD at our hill. Video included of my partner in crime and I

2) 210604 – RED Friday WOD at our Sandlot

Partner WOD 1 mile ruck, hill lunges, hill ruck, dive bombers, push ups, 400m run, bear-crawl ruck drag, candlesticks, and sweaty high fives!

Got pretty sweaty, scratched, itchy, and encouraging everyone to get it done!

Sandy WOD with squats, sit ups, bear crawl ruck drag, low crawl-ruck press, flutter kicks, leg levers, walking lunges, mtn climbers, hello dolly’s, 200m ruck run, prone flutter kicks, crab walk. Yes, hot, sweaty, and sand everywhere!

Get some!

See you out there! Hopefully with us soon!

Cool Morning Mash-up

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Okay so it’s dark with sparse clouds and a sliver of a moon out as we make our way towards our workout location. I’m stoked because it’s above freezing this morning so I don’t have to scrape the icy film from my windshield and that is good by me.

Arriving early is important for a couple of reasons one being not having to rush getting myself and my equipment to be used in their proper place so I have no issues as to the weights I’ll be using. As in weights for today it’s a kb and my ruck.

What’s different this morning is that only one exercise requires the use of our ruck for burpees step ups and the kb for snatches. That’s pretty cool with everyone when they read the workout. They knew going in since Monday of what this morning will bring. A lot of work.

Most all of exercises were to be performed on grass since its forgiving when you face plant while doing the dive bombers (google it). I enjoy it along side the yoga/Hindu push ups. A challenge to be had for developing upper body strength, core stability, joint mobility and endurance. Yes, muscle endurance is needed.

3-2-1, Go!

RED Friday WOD

It was good to work with like minded individuals. Many found out that the workout was deceiving since the reps were a tad small for a regular RED Friday, but the sets were high. Balance.

The #Ruffcrew took it in stride working within their capacity to complete the workout and joking, laughing and encouraging each other through it all. Some finished faster than others while others put their heads down due to a heavier weight selection on their part for a better challenge to be had.

Skills are needed to improve technical proficiency to strengthen connective tissue, and get stronger in the process. Once you are proficient then the weights go up and you get faster. Not the other way around so be patient is what I tell the team.

All of them have made great strides this year. Since March I’ve pushed some buttons and gotten them to become mentally stronger and physically stronger. I love watching them grow.

Go out and enjoy your time, life and physical self. Challenge your norm. Challenge yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically. You never know what your limits are. Or will be.

‘Til next time.

Mi A Gi

Keep moving, mental health is your reward

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The continuing order to endure enclosed spaces for most people means a lot of time spent being either complacent in their life’s choices, or deliberate on staying focused and active. Which are you?

Well, for starters I like being active. I love to workout, mostly outdoors with my ruck, kettlebell, sandbag, hilly area or just a trail. Either way, I can make it work also at home since exercise is not exclusive to either out of doors or indoors in the context of moving. Complexity is not useful, simplicity is the norm.

Using basic movement patterns of push/pull, press, extension, flexion, and rotation you can basically move in any pattern that your body can get into without much effort, but the magic in that pudding is the amount of times you perform it, and frequency with a good serving of either resistance, time or speed.

Look around your environment right now. Where are you seated? Let’s begin with a simple chair, either folding, fixed four legged model with or without padding. Pry it up against a wall and you can use it for squats if you’re learning to sit and stand again for rehab or prehab. Squats once more if you are trying box squats with a weight to a prescribed depth. How about upper body work by performing dips, on one chair while legs are elevated on the other, or push ups with feet atop of seat while hands are on floor?

Core work? Sure, lets try this: Sit ups with elevated feet on the seat portion of the chair, plank holds in same manner, or glute work like butt biters- where your butt raises from the floor while feet (heels) remain on seat portion of chair for multiple reps. Bridges (one legged) with heels in the same place (atop of seat) go for multiple reps/sets. You see that it’s just imagination that is the limiter.

Food items – no, not raw food like chicken or frozen fish. I’m talking about canned foods, and there are plenty of sizes and weights to use for exercises. Cans in a backpack/rucksack wrapped in a towel so it doesn’t jostle around in the pack while you exercise with it. You can run with the pack, squat it, swing it, plank with it and press it. Imagination once again is your limiter. Indoors/Outdoors are your playground.

Just because you’re asked to stay home does not mean you should be sedentary. You need to keep moving, because mental health is not a given. You’ll need to make the effort to sweat a little and get the benefits you so desire.

Happy Easter All!!