Just be.

Wow. Life has been busy. It's pretty remarkable how short the days can be -- usually at this time of year I'm celebrating the extension of daylight hours.

By the way... why would you NOT go outdoors when it's sunny out? Why would you ever opt to sit inside? Perhaps because it's routine. Well, I think that's why I do it.

Last week, Doug and I drove up to the Botanic Gardens that was my stomping grounds when I was a kid. We explored the paths and admired the serenity and beauty of stillness, the scent of redwoods and just-rained upon foliage. We went scampering around, and went rock hopping down the creek, trying to touch nothing but rock with our feet (Doug was better at this than I; I just wanted to hop and stomp around with my crusty old waterproof boots :) ). We played, disbanding any curious looks we got from people walking on the paths above with a smile and a wave. It was such fun. What better way to appreciate the big things, than to practice by soaking up the little things, as well?

Make time to do this. Make time to shed the layers of responsibility and obligation, self-imposed and otherwise, and strip yourself of any expectations society might have. Just be. Nurture and love that naked, raw element that makes us who we are, that part that is so often neglected and forgotten. Be still, or play, or do whatever feeds you, and leaves you feeling radiant and full of life. There is always time for everything else, no matter how short the days are; this, you cannot replace, nor substitute.

It's official...

In 3 weeks, I will have my motorcycle license.

F*ck yeah. :)

Well, I guess that's not very official until it's official. Haha. But I'm signed up for it, and it's going to be awesome.


On a training-related note, tomorrow marks the first day of a 16-week workout regimen that Doug and I will be test driving for Geoff Neupert that targets fat loss. I've seen the first four weeks, and it ain't going to be pretty. Looking forward to the challenge, though!

Gimme some STRUMPH!

Hello, lovely people. :)

I am back from an amazing vacation, where I came in contact with only magnificent people and adventures. I feel rejuvenated, besides being more tired than I was before the trip since Doug and I were running around all day. My spirit feels full, my heart is happy, and I feel vibrant and ready to take anything on. Well, most of the time.

Last night in kettlebell class I realized something: I haven't been maintaining my strength. I've sort of been fixated on doing a variety of things, which is great... but I love me some strumph. I realized that for most of the things in class, I had just gone back to using the 16kg kettlebell. So last night, every set of swings was with a 24kg, as well as all of the TGUs, the double front squats (those felt HEEEEAVY... I was very displeased), and double rack walks. I will continue to use the 24kg for all that I can in class -- I want to be growing stronger!

I also need to do some more deadlifts again. I must say, having the right music playing is oh so key... normally at the gym we have class out of, there's some crappy punk music blaring, and you just sort of need to phase it out. Or enjoy it if that's your thing, in which case... where are the pink weights? ;) Someone plugged their iPod in and played some metal the other night while I was doing a few sets of DLs before class. I just had 225 threaded on the bar, and was poised, ready to lift, when some excellent chunky metal synchronized with my heart beat. BOOM! Up goes the bar! Rep after rep, no problem. Best feeling ever... well, one of, anyway.

So training is going well. So is eating, might I say. I learned what cut and how to cut up sashimi on our trip, which is ideal since we've been on a huge sushi kick for the last... year? So now we can have it at home! I'd like to attempt making sushi as well... maybe when I'm feeling particularly daring.

Anyway, time to enjoy the lovely weather. I hope the new year has kicked off in an excellent manner thus far, and that everyone is treating themselves well, healthfully, and happily. With much love, and tough love.

Another day

I had never attempted the SSST (Secret Service Snatch Test) before. After watching Doug do 45 minutes of Turkish Get Ups without rest with a 24kg (solid all the way through! So awesome to watch!), it felt right to do 10 minutes of work.

We set the GymBoss at 1 minute increments, and I did 10 snatches R/L at the top of every minute. In this way, I ended with 210 reps (added 5 R/L in the last set) at the end of 10 minutes.

I wasn't going for numbers, so much as overcoming the mental mindf*ck aspects of the SSST. Now that I've done that, I'm going to keep doing it, and eventually reach 300 reps. I have no doubts I can achieve this.

On another note, I've been thinking a lot about writing lately. My mind has been teasing the idea of a novel... we'll see what unfolds in this year...

And a F***in' Happy New Year!

Get the juices flowing:

Around-the-worlds, swings, overhead walks

Circuit: Each station, 30 seconds, followed by 20-30 seconds of rest

(Rounds 1 & 2)
-Standing hot potato, 16kg
-Rope waves, 1 1/2, 50 foot rope
-Two-handed swings, 16kg
-Rotational lunge with 16kg in the goblet hold
-Military press 3 R/L, 16kg

(Rounds 3 & 4)
-"Mashed Potato" - Standing hot potato, down into a front squat, and up again, passing the kettlebell back and forth continuously - 16kg
-Undulating rope waves
-One-arm swings; L arm 3rd round, R arm 4th round - 16kg
-Heartbeat lunges
-Around-the-world, 16kg

(Rounds 5&6)
-Seated Russian twist, 16kg
-Rope standing hip toss
-Alternating swings, 16kg
-Seated hot potato, 16kg
-Standing hot potato, 16kg

Done.

Merry Christmas, and a motherf***in' happy new year :)

Nikki, I did it! :) 20kg Snatch Test

It's been awhile since I set this goal for myself; I don't remember exactly when, but I know Nikki and I swore to each other that we would do it by this coming February.

I set up the video camera today while Doug did some clubbell exercises, and set out to do the Snatch Test with the 20kg bell. I finished at 4:56, and didn't tear my hands, though they were pretty hot.

I recently read the quote, "To err is human... to err at a critical moment is printer." Apparently, this applies to video cameras, as well.

I'm very loathe to say it... the camera died before I finished the test. :( SO aggravating! Doug watched the whole thing though, and my 97th rep sucked, and needed to be redone. I finished the test with 4 seconds to spare.

I've experienced shakey legs before; until now though, I've never experienced shakey traps.

Thanks to Doug for the tutelage and support, and thanks to Nikki for the motivation and inspiration! :)

And now: Corn Huskers.

Snatches, complexes and circuits

-RKC Snatch Test (16kg): 100 reps in 3:45

-Complex (16kg): 5 one-armed swings, 5 high pulls, 5 presses, 5 rack squats; R/L = 1 set, repeat 4 more times.
-Circuit (16kg when applicable): Seated tornado ball for 1 set, standing against a wall the other 3 sets; one bell bear crawls 10 yards; standing hot potato; 8 lbs. sledge hammer strikes against a tire. Timer was the bear crawler, so roughly 20-23 seconds. Rinse and repeat 3 more times.

I leave for the Midwest for my grandmother's funeral today. I don't really know what to say... I still feel sort of numb. It comes of waves. Grieving never has rhyme or reason to it.