Friday, 30 March 2012

Gymnastic Week 2 W/O3

Another sunny day, so looking forward to this one...

Warm Up (5 minutes)
Main (30 minutes).
1. Handstand work (10 mins)
2a. Chin Variations (Two Arm + 35kg x 7/6, +45kg x 3, Slow One-Arm Eccentric 1 x each arm 10xBW 2 Arm)
2bi. Headstand RLLs (7)
2bii. Deadlift (2x135kg, 2x135kg)
2c. Manna Progression (three rounds for time)
2di. Wall Walk (3)
2dii. Backbridge (15s, 15s)
3. Two-Way DB Rotator Cuff (12 x external and internal shoulder rotations)
4. Reverse Dumbell Curls (12)
5.  321 (8L, 8L, 8M)/Bouldering

Class-action suit against Vibram

Sports One Source report a class-action suit against Vibram USA,
  • The lawsuit asserts that; 1) health benefits claims Vibram FiveFingers has used to promote the shoes are deceptive; 2) that FiveFingers may increase injury risk as compared to running in conventional running shoes, and even when compared to running barefoot; 3) that there are no well-designed scientific studies that support FiveFingers claims.
I can't help thinking that point three applies to most modern sportswear products, cosmetics and, to be honest, the pharmaceutical industry.  The irony here is that V5Fs force runners to adopt a more 'evolutionary concordant' forefoot strike.  The product is sold with cautionary materials emphasising this point and offering guidance, but for some people somewhere, "..SOMEONE MUST PAY BECAUSE I HURT MYSELF!"  Sales of V5F have grown 300% a year for the last 5 years, so we should follow the money on this one.

I've achieved ultimate paleo-wanker status in that I often train completely barefoot.  My V5Fs are reserved for wild terrain, but much of my training is physically barefoot.

I await the day some train-wreck of a fat person with metabolic syndrome sues a water company for recommending they eschew 'DietSugarCrap' in favour of a glass of water.  No doubt Mr Trainwreck will injure himself/nearly drown during the the transition...and those bastards in hydrology will be forced to pay....

Baise moi.

Thursday, 29 March 2012

Post-Fire

28th March 2010 "Sooner or later all 'movements' tend to thrash themselves to death on the rocks. Like all groups that reach a maturation stage, paleo seems to be splintering. It happens in all activities...


It is a natural consequence of maturation. As an idea, philosophy or movement becomes more mature, different themes are explored and ideas are mined to their logical conclusion (if not beyond). Sport, politics, science and religion all suffer from this to some degree.


I can see a signs of a similar split appearing in paleo. As people become more familiar with it, and have their own unique success, we get more gurus. Their way is the only way. Now me, I reckon we are all false prophets.."

31 March 2011 "...it is clearly high-time to '[leave] the tent to erect a proper building'...

I speculated a while ago that 'paleo' (or rather Paleo v1.0), was eating itself - becoming just another worthless term for narcissistic self-indulgence. Commodified."

After the cleansing actions of the flames you have to look around and see what's left - and to be honest, you SHOULD have something solid and meaningful left to work with.  An excellent example can be found here.

For me, I reckon we push on to Paleo 3.0 which should focus on sorting the planet out.  Shortening our food chain.  Buying local food from sustainable sources.  Reclaiming control over your health and life in general.  

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Gymnastic Week 2 W/O2

Time to max it!

Warm Up (5 minutes)
Main (35 minutes).
1. Handstands (over 5-10 minutes)
2a. Pistols (Bwx4, Bwx4, Bwx4)
2b L-Sit/Manna Variation (3x5ish seconds)
3a. OAC (2x69kg, 3x64kg, 10xBW)
3b. Backlever to Frontlever (5s, 5s, 5s)
4. Golfers Elbow Drumstick Rotation (12)
5. Two-Way DB Rotator Cuff (12 x external and internal shoulder rotations)
6. Wrist PUs from the Knee (12)

Sunday, 25 March 2012

Gymnastic Week 2 W/O1

Warm Up (5 minutes)
Main (30 minutes).
1. Stairgators (1)
2. Barefoot Sprinting (1x10s, 1x10s, 1x10s, 1x10s, 1x10s)
3. Planche Variations (20/25s, 20/25s, 20/25s)
4ai. Rope Climb (3)
4aii. MU to Ring Routine (3, 3, 3).
5. Scissor Splits (3x '2L, 2R, 2C')
6. Barefoot Kill Carry (1)
7. 321 (8L, 8M, 5/8M)

Wow- this workout left me feeling on a big high.  Odd how you can go in to the gig feeling ambivalent at best, but you come out the other side mentally refreshed!

Friday, 23 March 2012

Gymnastic Week 1 W/O3

Last day of deload.  I've a big walk tonight so will sack the 321 work.  I've also been thinking that in this training cycle I might focus on seeking to add reps rather than weight.  Once I repeat my maxes from the last cycle, I will go for one more rep.  I might have to make a modest drop in weights to achieve this in some circumstances.

Warm Up (5 minutes)
Main (30 minutes).
1a. Handstand work (10 mins)
1b. Manna Progression (three rounds for time)

2a. Chins (10, 10, 10)
2bi. Headstand RLLs (4)
2bii. Deadlift (2x135kg, 2x135kg)
2ci. Wall Walk (2)
2cii. Backbridge (15s, 15s)
3. Two-Way DB Rotator Cuff (10 x external and internal shoulder rotations)
4. Wrist Push Ups from the Knee (10)
5.  321 (8/8L, 8/8L, 8/8L)

I mixed in the handstands and manna work.  HS felt ok, but only one hold was in the sweet spot to my satisfaction.  I finished with some handwalking.  The last few reps of the last set of chins was tough.

Thursday, 22 March 2012

Moving Target

Dr B.G. has a great post up which features this line,
  • "A couple of things I harass and harp on are now shaded in grey instead of the archetypical black-white..."

Forget 'reps of 3x10' or 'nutrient ratios of x:x:x'.  These are static models and entirely inappropriate for an adaptive biological system that evolved to respond to variation on a diurnal and seasonal basis, variation in temperature, in energy in (including nutritional profile), and physical exertion.  Washes and waves of hormones are part of the picture.

Grey is the new black! 'Health' is a moving target. The measure of YOUR health is your ability to pursue that target. Once we realise this Paleo becomes a damn sight easier.