Finally!

KIrsten demonstrating proper form.

Sunday

Shootim

I wish we had a video of me riding Shootim.  He was excellent.

It was a hot day.  Shootim bucked once on the line and then we went right to work.  We got out the CB reins again and Shootim picked up exactly where he left off the day before with Jack.  I put him through his progression, yielding each way the head, then shoulders and finally, hindquarters.

Shootim was a champ and we zipped right through the workout.  Cantering to the right was excellent.  To the left, Shootim had more difficulty, but he seemed to get the basics of it right, just not as smooth and easy as the other lead.  Something Jack discovered Saturday, Shootim gets his best position for the canter from sidepassing toward the rail.  It worked a treat today!

Tuesday

WOD

AMRAP 5'

• Man Makers

CW: 8 reps.  This came from CF906 programming.  Getting back to working out.  I took it easy, waiting to catch my breath if I got going too hard.  I still have a cough left over from being sick. I used 25# dumbbells.

Wednesday

Rowing

Finally we got out on the water!  Blame it on me being busy and being lazy.  The boats have been waiting patiently for us since May.

Drills:
Finish to catch (in place)
One oar circles (I shouldn't have had the gps on for this, it screwed up my average pace.)

51F, winds 5 - 10MPH  The water was mostly flat.  We rowed out and back for 2,000 meters.  It was great rowing again.  The week before I was wondering if we shouldn't just sell the boats. Not any more!

36:29
2760m
6:35/500m
(drills included)

Jack Makes A Collect Call

Shootim trying out his new halter.

Some freaky cold virus has kept me out of things for quite a bit.  Kirsten lured me out for a bike ride over near Gay, Michigan.  It was fun, but I had to cough most of the time.  The GPS didn't work out there, so I have no data to share. 

Shootim

I did get a couple of rides in last week. The real news, however, was today.  After I warmed Shootim up with the usual stuff, Jack had a ride on Shootim. He hasn't been on a horse in about a month.  His work schedule has been that hard.  With some CB reins, he got some extraordinary collection out of Shootim.  The CBs are like draw reins with  a stop to prevent their over-leveraging. 

When Jack was done, I had a turn.  The CB reins work great!  Such easy control, and Shootim went right to work.  From the ground, Jack and Susan coached me on what to ask for.  It seems that Shootim is ready to 'go to town.'  The standards are raised quite a bit.  I must confess that I wasn't used to the feel of a very collected canter.  It didn't actually feel right, downright lumpy feeling.  I'm promised that it will improve with time.  It was a very interesting time.

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.