Uri Shadowstorm

Listening for my feet has helped a lot. Another thing that helped a lot is just doing the pull minus the clean. It really taught me to get the pull right, which is essential to getting under the bar for the clean.

Still awaiting my last Boss Fight, so this challenge isn't quite over for me yet. This Saturday I am headed to Charlotte, NC for Tough Mudder -- the reason I got started with all this to begin with. But my other stuff I did fairly well on, so here goes: Obtain the Hyabusa Powered Assault Armor -- Continue my CrossFit training A = 3x per week = +2 STR, +2 CON, +1 STA B = 2x per week = +1.5 STR, +1.5 CON, +.5 STA C = 1x per week = +1 STR, +1 CON, F = Go into my Boss Fights with no armor I definitely got an A on this -- in fact most weeks I went three or four times. My gains have been awesome. I'm up to a 215 back squat, almost to the point where I can do multiple unassisted pullups, and my body is showing clear muscle definition, which is something I have NEVER had before! Speed Boost -- Zombies, Run! Interval training A = Run 3x per week = +2 STA, +2 DEX, +1 CON B = Run 2x per week = +1.5 STA, +1.5 DEX, +.5 CON C = Run at least 1x per week = +1.5 STA, +1.5 DEX F = Get bogged down in the mud This is where my challenge really suffered, due to the time I put into the others. I still ran at least once a week, but it was nowhere near the amount of running I put in this summer. Still, it was enough to get me to an 11:26 mile and a half, which was a full 2 minutes faster than the last time I ran it for time. I give myself a C here. Overshield! -- Make my own meals A = 5 meals a week = +2 CON B = 4 meals a week = +1.5 CON C = 3 meals a week = +1 CON F = Lousy defense stats I really struggled with this early on, but as the challenge progressed I really got into it. By the time it was done I was averaging a little over 4 meals a week, so I am giving myself a B here. Over the course of this challenge I lost 8 pounds, and went down 4.9% body fat! Side quest: Level up my classroom -- keep up with my grading A = Work on it 5x per week = +3 WIS B = Work on it 4x per week = +2 WIS C = Work on it a few times = +1 WIS F = Deal with some seriously upset students This one was really tough, as I picked up a sixth class midway through the challenge and that really threw me off. At first I was getting an A all the way, but the past two weeks I have really fallen off. So I am going to give myself a C and hop back on it. All told this challenge has been pretty successful from my point of view. I have really made some measurable gains. We did the CrossFit hero workout "DT" at the beginning of this challenge and it took me 12:56 to finish it at 65#. Last week we did it again to measure progress and I did it in 7:32 at the same weight (we were told to use the same weight, otherwise I would have gone up). I crushed both of the Boss Fights I have done so far. I need to find some way to carve out time to run and grade more papers, but other than that, this challenge system has really helped me focus my goals and work towards them. Looking forward to my final battle with the Mud Monster on Saturday! UPDATE: FINAL BOSS FIGHT = PWNED

I'm a Richmond nerd, but I go to Norfolk once a month for Coast Guard drill.

UPDATE: I know it's been a while since I last posted, so here's a big update! I've been doing well on my food challenge! I'm actually pretty excited about it. I've been cooking meals, refrigerating/freezing them, and taking them for lunch and breakfast. So my diet has been going well. I've also been doing CrossFit 5 times a week on average, and I'm making great progress there. My running has not been as good, since a lot of time has been put into the first two goals. But there are some even better updates! Update 1: Yesterday we had our weigh ins. I normally either make weight or get taped in, and make it that way. I've been working really hard, and I've been lifting, so I have gained a pretty good amount of muscle. So much so that the other day my daughter said, "Daddy, you've gotten a lot skinnier, but you've got a lot more muscle. It looks good!" That was awesome. Update 2: Related to the above, I usually tape in at about 24% body fat. Yesterday I taped in at 16% body fat!!!!! Update 3: Last and certainly not least, I CRUSHED MY SECOND BOSS FIGHT TODAY! We did the PT test -- pushups, situps, and a 1.5 mile run. The last time I did this test, I did 30 pushups, 35 situps, and ran in 13:00. This time I did 42 pushups, 40 situps, and ran the mile and a half in 11:26! YEAH!!!

Back to hitting the weights. I still have two more Boss Fights this challenge -- the Coast Guard PT test and Tough Mudder. Last night I hit 5 reps of 165# on my back squat.

Just keep doing what you're doing. Honestly I felt like I overtrained for it (that was the comment of the others in my group as well). Most of the obstacles were more fun than difficult. A LOT of people walked it and/or walked around the obstacles. That kind of made me mad, because I worked hard to be ready, but it's their money I guess ... If you are consistently doing strength training and running, it's not difficult at all. If you have a year to get ready, you should dominate most of the crowd. I would get an early start time to make sure that you don't have to dodge walkers.

Oh and hey CactusWren -- I am having some sort of problem with the comments to my status. I can't see them at all. What was your comment on my status?

Just did the Warrior Dash today. Keep up the working out. It's awesome to run right by people who are struggling to finish, and to just own obstacles that other people struggle through. I trained for 3 months for this, and I annihilated it. Keep up the good work!

Sick all week? Whatever. No workouts this week? Oh well. Poor diet this week? Sucks. Boss fight this week? HELL YES. Conquered the Warrior Dash today. I didn't just finish it -- I rocked it. There wasn't a single obstacle that gave me pause. In fact, at the end of it I was somewhat disappointed at how easy it was. Pictures coming soon. BOOM!

This week has been hell. I got the flu shot last Saturday, and Monday night went to CrossFit. After I got back from CF, my body basically shut down. I have felt awful ever since. I have this reaction every year to the flu shot and every year it gets worse -- I honestly would stop getting it, but I am required by the Coast Guard to get it every year. I haven't gotten any exercise since Monday night, and my diet this week has been limited to what I can eat without wanting to vomit. I'm not going to penalize myself for this week, but it kinda sucks.

It's the start of a new school year. That was going to be the plan, but to be honest my schedule and load of papers that need grading is limiting my ability to get into a regular routine.

Thanks! Today was a burner. I am completely exhausted.