Catching Up

Monday, June 1

I don't need another bike.  Do I?

Mountain biking

After we biked the Pilgrim River loops (5.7 miles, 39:14,) we returned home to meet our visitor, Alex.  We had seen a tent at the trailhead and upon investigation found it was a demo from Surly Bikes.  Once we met Alex he was game to go and try some out, so back we went.  We all three tried out new bikes. This was my first time on a fat bike.  It was fun in a steady traveling sort of way.

Sunday, June 7

Shootim

At the barn, Shootim was getting his front shoes.  He must have done this before, he had no trouble.  Since then Kirsten has had a couple of good rides on him.  I've just been too busy.

Tuesday, June 9

WOD

AMRAP 10'

• 5 Pull-ups
• 10 DB Thrusters 45/35#
• 15 Overhead Walking Lunges w/ Plate 45/35#

With an appointment rescheduled, I went to 906 in the morning.  This was their workout.  I used 25# DBs and plate.  I think I got 4 rounds.

Thursday, June 11

Our coach at 906, Jared.

WOD "Steve"

"Steve" died 4 years ago.  He's a local guy, you can read his story here.  906 does the WOD in the local park every year.  This year, Kirsten and I could come.

• 1 mile Run

5 rounds

• 5 Push Press 135/95#
• 27 Sit-ups
• 11 Box Jumps 30/24"

• 1 mile Run

My feet were feeling maybe ok.  We did a run/walk mile  clocking 13 minutes.  Push press was 75#, 10 sit-ups, and about 14" box jumps.   After all of this, my feet were in no shape to run.  I should have rowed, but instead we walked the last mile.  As the run was around a lake, there was no shortening the distance.  Although not good for my feet, it did make a really nice cooldown. 

Monday, June 15

At CF Worthy for our anniversary.

Warm-up

• 30 Goblet Squats
• 20 Snatch Press Unders
• 10 Duck Walks

• 3 High hang Muscle Snatch
• 3 Snatch Balance
• 3 1st Pulls + High Hang Snatch
• 3 Snatch

Weightlifting

5 rounds @ 70%

• 1 High Hang Snatch
• 1 Hang Snatch
• 1 Snatch
• 2:00 rest

WOD

AMRAP 15' @95/65#

• 1 Power Clean
• 1 Front Squat
• 1 Push Press
• 1 Back Squat
• 1 Push Press

And that's part of a de-load week at CFW!  We had a great time.  Where better to celebrate our 30th anniversary?  I think I got 32 rounds + 1 rep.

Since getting back home, I've had a cold.

Will Work For Potatoes

Now we can eat!

From CFE

Gymastic Volume

EMOM 8'

• 15" Strict Pull-ups

WOD

from CFE

• 1000m Row

Then 2 rounds

• 50 Squats
• 25 Russian KB Swings

Kirsten wanted to fix potatoes for dinner.  I said we needed to work out to earn our potatoes, so she cooked up this WOD with a little help from CFE.  While the bakers baked, we worked out.

CW: Pullups: 5-5-5-5-4-4-4-4.  WOD DNF  My back has been dicey and I had a major twinge on squat number 28.  I hung it up there, discretion being the better part of valor.  I'll get more couch stretching, that should help a lot.

A Little WOD

Thanks, Honey, for kicking my butt.

WOD

From CFE
30 - 20 - 10

• Push-ups
• Double Unders
• Knees To Elbows

10 minute cap

I was very lazy.  Kirsten made me do the workout, for which I am grateful.  I felt much better after.
I got through the 20s. Knees on the ground for push-ups, single unders, knee raises.  My back was twingy; I've got to get back to doing regular couch stretching.

Try It In The Big Pen

Sunday

Sarah grazing with Kirsten.

Shootim

It was another great day.  After a bit of turnout while we cleaned stalls, I tried some of the collection work on Shootim.  Things went ok yesterday in the round pen, so today we tried it in the large pen.  First a little lunging, Shootim had a little motor on him.  Then briefly we did some close lunging drills.  Up in the saddle I repeated the drills, after which we were ready for work on collection.  I tried to remember to keep contact with seat and legs, driving him into the bit. We started at the trot.  It was nice and low key.  I thought that we were communicating nicely.  On to the canter!  To the left, we tried the same thing, driving him more and more into the bit until he collects up.  Not only did he collect nicely, but as I let him out, he maintained his pace for half a rail!  Happy with his progress, I stopped there and patted him.

Cantering to the right did not go nearly as well.  Shootim was quite a bit more resistant.  I'll have to work more with him on his right side; I'll give it some thought.  After that, I gave him a few more things to do so we could stop with some successes.  It was a nice time.

Strava This!

What a rat's nest!

Mountain Biking

A big day!  This weekend was the area mtb festival, Ride The Keweenaw.  This morning we met at MTU trails for a clinic in basic mtg skills.  We worked on:

• Moving fore and aft over the bike.
• Moving the bike back and forth under you.
• Attack position: elbows up, bent low, knees out, feet level.
• Windshield wipers: attack position, move the bike back and forth with your arms.
• Load and release: attack position, just before obstacle push down handlebars, let it pop up and over.
• Bonus question, uphill obstacle: load and release, then shift body forward for rear wheel.

I've ridden for several years, but never had organized instruction in the basics.  I learned a lot.  For instance, isolating the body from the bike means that the head is less jostled.  Moving the head is what makes you disoriented and start to lose control.  It makes sense with all the inner ear/balance stuff.

Kirsten's group.

Shootim

Another graze.

A lovely afternoon for working with the horses.  Shootim worked briefly from the ground, then we went through his paces under saddle.  Wearing the shank snaffle bit again, we worked on his parts yielding, then went on to collection.  Shootim is starting to get it, but is not yet able to hold position.  I caught myself doing it wrong.  I was focusing too much on the bit, bringing Shootim back, without adequately driving him forward with seat and legs.  At least I can recognize it now.  When Shootim collects up under himself, you can feel his back arch.  It's really cool.

More mountain biking

A last ride for the day.

We joined the last Saturday ride for Ride The Keweenaw at Swedetown.  Arriving late, we took a shortcut and caught up with a group that was just right for us.  I even got to use my bonus question skill on an big, undercut tree root on an uphill!  It was as far as we've gone and a good bit faster.  Near the end, I stopped with leg cramps in both quads.  I expected to walk up the road, but after resting and stretching for a few minutes, I could continue down the singletrack.  The poor ride leaders went back to look for me - on the road!  Oops, sorry guys.  They were fine when they returned, though.  Afterwords, there was a cookout, yum.  There was even a drawing for prizes.  I didn't win anything.

Later, I was sitting and writing this blog entry.  I hadn't stretched.  Can you guess?  Cramps, ye-ouch! Both legs, hamstrings and one of my quads.  How do you stretch that out?  Three bottles of water later and I could stop making animal noises and go back to work.  I'm typing this standing up.

Calling Collect

Just a glimpse.

Shootim

A piano tuning cancellation and a bit of reshuffling of the schedule by Kirsten and we had a day off. Yay!  At 6:00 a.m. it was too windy to row, so we had a nice sleep in.  After a nice session at the piano we took a trip to the barn.  

Shootim was playful when turned out.  He jumped around like a baby goat. I joined him with lead rope and whip and went through his ground work.  We both gave it less than our best, not great but ok.  We have to improve at the sidepass.  After some successes, I took him back in to saddle up.

We worked under saddle in the round pen with better results than the ground work.  Today we used a shank snaffle.  Trainer Jack was there and encouraged me to gather him up and attempt some collection at the canter.  At our last session, Trainer Susan had recommended starting the same thing.  I would keep a leg on him, urging him forward while holding his front end back.  It was really cool to feel his back round under me and his back end reach under.  It was my first time asking, so I didn't ask for long.  Once he had done it both ways, I backed him and got off.  Besides, my thighs were cramping up.

Mountain Biking

Today's MTB map.

We got the bikes ready and travelled to Swedetown trails in Calumet.  Trails were very good, mostly dry and mostly cleared of leaves.  There was one confusing bit where the ski trails are being modified.  We worked our way around it.

Ready Or Not

Boats ready!

Saturday

Rowing

Just a news item. The wonderful Kamrads brought out our boats this morning.  This evening, we spent an hour loading in oars and rigging both singles.  Not to bed early enough tonight, perhaps we can get out Monday early.

Sunday

Shootim in the round pen.

Shootim

Today we did a repeat of yesterday's workout, but this time in the round pen.  Trainer Susan was there to see it.  She said that this was the best ride we've had so far.  We cantered this time. Shootim's body was balanced pretty well, but with his head up.  Next time we'll start to ask for collection briefly on the front end as well.

in front of the garden.

Strength

3-3-3-3-3

• Deadlift

WOD

3 rounds, not for time

• 10 Superman
• 10 DB Floor Sitting Press
• 10 Ring Rows

We did Kirsten's programming.  An excellent workout, not too difficult; perfect for a long stress-packed day.  I hit a deadlift PR, yay!