Raptron Saberhagen in the Lap of Luxury

[Asa Pond]

I realized I've spent the last several challenges just lurking here and so I'm actually going to comment and say hi this time!  

 

 

(Salem might be, but there is no judgment from me.)

 

 

[CourtnieMarie]

that mashed potato bowl sounds great. i have many potatoes and should do this.

[raptron]

20 hours ago, Raxie said:

Yeah 5e is so much better for winging it and more fun/less stickler-y gameplay.  I also love that prestige classes aren't really a thing anymore and you can set up your character from the beginning with the direction you want to go clearly laid out, it's so nice.  We're doing a custom campaign as well. Omg I love the jorts!  My group actually sounds similar to yours, every time we get together we end up causing a ruckus in some local pub and ultimately being banned from that city that our DM may or may not have had plot ready for us in - it's a good thing he's so easy going hahaha. 

Hahah. I love it.

 

19 hours ago, RogueLibrarian said:

I still want to play in your D&D game. That sounds awesome. Ours right now is set in the world of heavy metal album covers. Everything has skulls and spikes on it, and I've canonically stated that whenever my barbarian rages, Led Zep's Immigrant Song is playing on the soundtrack. My friend's playing a goth bard ("Nick Cave, but a tiefling") who plays a lute made of a ribcage.

YES. Hahaha. That's amazing. RIBCAGE LUTE. YES.

 

I'm not a big listener, but love the aesthetic. Some powerlifting swag tends to run in that direction. I turned my last meet T into a crop tank, haha. 

 

25 minutes ago, Asa Pond said:

I realized I've spent the last several challenges just lurking here and so I'm actually going to comment and say hi this time!  

Hey, no one can begrudge an assassin for being good at lurking.

 

Day 1.4

Gymnastics practice went pretty well, all things considered. I was a bit nervous about jamming my back, so I didn't work on front handspring + front pike + front tucks very much. I did 3 step-through passes and could have salto'd out of any of them, so that's good. I did lots of work on my leap series, because they've been a bit lacking lately... probably partially because of my complete lack of dedicated work on any active split flexibility these last few months.

 

Balance beam also went well. I did some full routines (except for the back walkover) and they went really well. I had a good turning day, which are rare, so I basked in that small bit of success as well. 

 

My sprained middle finger is doing a lot better, but it still hurts pushing off certain ways on balance beam (back walkovers, for example, ha) and definitely isn't ready to go back to bars. My new grips came in, but I haven't been able to try them out or use them yet. I'll just be doing beam and floor at the meet on December 8th.

 

In bed before 11p: 3/4 -> just snuck in under the wire here. I get home at like 10pm-ish from practice and have to (sometimes) make food, eat, shower, and do all the nighttime rituals all in an hour.

Square meals: 4/4 workday, 0/1 weekend

Pampering: 0/1 massage, 0/1 yoga, 0/1 self-gift

 

Friday: Back is back to like 75%. We'll see how lifting goes. I'm pulling sumo for my heavy sets, so it should be fine, but I'll continue to adjust accordingly. I still need to get some yoga in tonight. 

Saturday: I don't knoooow if I'm really going to jog the 5k. I want to do my floor routine at gymnastics practice after and I don't want to be fully dead. I might try to help my lifting gym move if they're still doing stuff in the afternoon. Then I have a hair appointment for the BLACK TIE FORMAL not wedding. Then have to eat dinner, get dressed, and goooo.

Sunday: Brunch + hopefully go lift. Hopefully don't die.

[raptron]

Day 1.5

Last day in the old gym space! 

 

Deadlifts
5 x 135#

5 x 185#

3 x 225#

2 x 260#

4 x 3 x 285#

 

Bench

5 x 75#

5 x 95#

3 x 115#

5 x 2 x 135# <-- finally benching a plate comfortably again after what feels like forever

 

Chin-ups: 3 x 3 

Front plate raise: 3 x 20 x 25#

Hypers: 3 x 25 x 50#

 

Got home and went to bed pretty early.

 

Day 1.6

Went downtown for the charity 5k. I kind of failed in my fundraising efforts, but I showed up and ran the race at least. I actually jogged the race -- which I wasn't sure I was going to do. But it was actually fine. Finished up in 28:03, which is a pretty solid 5k time for me. Apparently, the trick is not to train for it. (Har har.)  I started my runkeeper a bit late, but hey, not the worst splits

 

After that, I went to practice for 2 hours. A lot of it was stretching, but I did do dance on floor, some front tumbling, and some beam routines to round out the workout. I don't mind tumbling on tired legs/calves, but omg the leaps/jumps were a bit rough, haha. I did my floor routine dance through with partial tumbling, including my last pass. I feel a bit more confident about my floor routine for the meet this upcoming weekend as a result.

After practice, I went to the new space for our lifting gym to help unload racks, move floor mats, and play tetris with the equipment. I only helped for about 2 hours before they called it. We got everything back into the gym space. There's actually a bathroom in the same building (gasp!) and we also got 2 more squat racks, so we're up to six now. The space seems like it is going to work out great. I'm a bit apprehensive that they'll ever make space for even a strip of turf but... I don't know. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I'd really love to be able to actually condition at this gym and more space seems like it might be possible. 

 

Then I walked home (~35-40 minutes, not bad!), took a shower, took a 40 minute nap, went to a hair appointment (which was kind of underwhelming, but whatever), and got ready for the formal event at my friend's house. I don't have any good pictures of like the fully put together lqqk yet, but here's me scream singing something on top of a bench at the bar:

 

After the bar kicked us out, the afterparty went on until about 6 AM and included a wardrobe change. We got some IHOP in and I was in bed at 7... 30?  am? 

 

Day 1.7

Slept in until noon. I was going to help rearrange the gym equipment on Sunday, but I missed the bus and it was gross and raining, so instead, I went back inside and started watching a Norwegian dance movie called Battle that seems like it's basically Save the Last Dance. Soooo obviously a fan.

 

I paused it, took a short nap, and then went out and got nachos with my friend. 

 

Leaving the house means it was a productive day, right? I also did a load of laundry and finished the other Graceling book I was reading (Fire). Definitely not as good as the first one. But oh well. My calves are super sore from the run + shoulders are a bit sore I'm guessing from helping out with the move. Resting was not the worst plan for the day.

 

In bed before 11p: 5/4 -- early in bed Friday AND Sunday, even. Fancy.

Square meals: 4/4 workday, 1/1 weekend 

 Pampering: 0/1 massage, 1/1 yoga, 0/1 self-gift

 

The new gym space is apparently set up enough for us to use it tonight, so I'm going to goooo lift there! Planning to go to gymnastics Tuesday and Thursday to prepare for the meet on Saturday. I also have a Savage Games (!!! first one in a long time) workout on Sunday. Filling in with lifting during the rest of the week. I guess I may only lift twice because otherwise I won't have any rest days... hm.

[Mad Hatter]

30 minutes ago, raptron said:

started watching a Norwegian dance movie called Battle that seems like it's basically Save the Last Dance. Soooo obviously a fan.

Ha that’s what I did today  

[Raxie]

Oh my god that picture is EVERYTHING I love that so hard.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

8 hours ago, raptron said:

If that does not become an album cover the Universe needs to go sit in a corner and think about it's actions.

[raptron]

Day 2.1

YOU GUYS. I am so excited about the new gym. It's so spaaacious!  We pretty much doubled in size. There is still no turf (sigh, sigh), but we do have 7 (technically 8, but one is kind of... storage at the moment) squat racks, up from 4. And 3 deadlift platforms, up from 1. And the dumbbell area is actually... an area instead of a crate underneath a pull-up bar. AND THERE IS A BATHROOM INSIDE THE BUILDING. TWO, ACTUALLY. And a carpeted foam stretching area in the common lounge space. And it's like 3 miles closer to my house. I can walk from work (~30 minutes) and walk home (~35 minutes) if I want!  And it's very close to my favorite Indian food take-out place. 

 

Squats

5 x 135#

5 x 165#

3 x 195#

3 x  225#

1 x 245#

3 x 265# <-- yay! I had failed the last rep last time I attempted this a few months ago

3 x 255#

3 x 3 x 240#

 

OHP

5 x 45#

5 x 55#

5 x 65#

5 x 75#

2 x 3 x 88#

2 x 88#

4 x 85#

 

Single leg kb dls: 3 x 15 x 50#

Kneeling one-arm kb press: 3 x 10 x 25#

Chin-ups: 3 x 3

 

In bed before 11p: 6/9 

Square meals: 5/8 workday, 1/2 weekend 

Pampering: 3/4 weighted PT exercises, 0/1 massage, 1/2 yoga, 0/1 self-gift <-- totally forgot to track PT until now, but I have been including them in my workouts

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Congrats on a newer, bigger, closer gym next to curry!

[CourtnieMarie]

5 hours ago, raptron said:

3 x 265# <-- yay! I had failed the last rep last time I attempted this a few months ago

it was that new gym smell!! sounds awesome though, might have to come check it out!

[Mike Wazowski]

New gym sounds amazing!!! Glad y’all got such a big upgrade, especially for you with the walking distance!

 

...even if walking 30 minutes home from volume squats sounds like death.

[Asa Pond]

Ooooh new gym sounds awesome! 

[KB Girl]

Please provide pictures so we can be properly envious and/or happy for you. 

[Mad Hatter]

On 12/4/2018 at 4:46 PM, raptron said:

And it's very close to my favorite Indian food take-out place. 

WIN!

 

The new space sounds awesome, enjoy! Though I still can't believe the old place didn't have a bathroom.  

[raptron]

18 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

it was that new gym smell!! sounds awesome though, might have to come check it out!

COMEEEEE VISIT!!! First visits are always free. (I mean, unless they changed that on me, but I don't think so.)

 

9 hours ago, MikeW said:

New gym sounds amazing!!! Glad y’all got such a big upgrade, especially for you with the walking distance!

 

...even if walking 30 minutes home from volume squats sounds like death.

Haha, well I always have had a 25 minute walk or so, it was just usually after a bus ride... and like... waiting for the bus for a ??? amount of time.

 

44 minutes ago, KB Girl said:

Please provide pictures so we can be properly envious and/or happy for you. 

Here is basically what the old gym looked like (minus a deadlift platform) and the dumbbells (which are behind this person)

And this is the new space (minus a deadlift platform, two squat racks, and the communal lobby area)

 

 

 

[raptron]

Day 2.2

Gymnastics practice was nottttttttt great. The gym was super crowded and overwhelming. I almost mowed down a tricking guy (WHY CAN'T THEY DO ANYTHING IN STRAIGHT LINES? WHY ARE YOU USING A WHOLE THIRD OF THE FLOOR TO FLAIL YOUR LEGS AROUND?) and a couple of girls who ran into my corner while I was trying to tumble and lost my temper at them a little bit. I yelled at my full volume... which is like... earth-shatteringly loud, as I am already a loud person when I'm not furious about potential bodily harm to myself and others. There were just too many people on the floor to have a productive tumbling session. 

 

Balance beam after that did go a bit better. My walkovers both ways didn't hurt my back too much or my finger, so that's good. I will basically just be doing my older balance beam routine on Saturday for the meet -- cartwheel cartwheel series of doom, included, sigh. But that's okay, it's only December! I've never bothered to attempt a meet this early on in the season. Low expectations and high fun is the goal for this weekend.  

 

In bed before 11p: 7/9 

Square meals: 6/8 workday, 1/2 weekend 

Pampering: 3/4 weighted PT exercises, 0/1 massage, 1/2 yoga, 0/1 self-gift 

[KB Girl]

That's a huuge improvement! The new place looks really nice and open and much more comfy to lift in

Sounds like your gymnastics gym also needs a little more space? x) 

[raptron]

19 hours ago, KB Girl said:

That's a huuge improvement! The new place looks really nice and open and much more comfy to lift in

Sounds like your gymnastics gym also needs a little more space? x) 

ACTUALLY THOUGH! Also I've missssed you. Despite my IG creeping. <3 Love seeing your face back around this parts.

 

Day 2.3

I realized during this lifting workout that I did not fully mentally map out how much time I actually have left before the in-house powerlifting comp. In my mind, I had time for heavy dl doubles workout, heavy doubles for squat and bench, volume for squat and bench, an openers day, and a light day. All before next Saturday. 

 

ANYwAY. That's not possible. So, I did heavy double deadlifts and paused bench doubles. 

 

Deadlifts

5 x 135#

5 x 185#

3 x 225#

3 x 255#

2 x 275#

2 x 2 x 295# <-- much better than the trash 300# singles from like last week or whenever

2 x 285#

2 x 2 x 275#

 

Paused bench

2 x 5 x 75#

2 x 5 x 95#

3 x 115#

2 x 125#

3 x 2 x 130#

3 x 2 x 125#

 

3 x 2 pull-ups, 3 x 20 glute kick things and then I was starving so I left and got indian food take-out.  Walked home, watched a bit of Dynasty (I'm leaning in hard on trash, you guys), showered, and went to bed before my 11pm bedtime. Boom.

 

I'll plan on doing bench volume and maybe pause squats on Friday, openers on Monday next week, and light day on Wednesday. Gymnastics tonight and the competition on Saturday afternoon. And... fucking Savage Games on Sunday, I keep forgetting about that. HAhaHaaaa. Oh well. Sleep and good nutrition, you are my only hope. Save meeee.

 

In bed before 11p: 8/9 

Square meals: 7/8 workday, 1/2 weekend 

Pampering: 3/4 weighted PT exercises, 0/1 massage, 1/2 yoga, 0/1 self-gift  

[@mu]

23 hours ago, raptron said:

I almost mowed down a tricking guy (WHY CAN'T THEY DO ANYTHING IN STRAIGHT LINES? WHY ARE YOU USING A WHOLE THIRD OF THE FLOOR TO FLAIL YOUR LEGS AROUND?) and a couple of girls who ran into my corner while I was trying to tumble and lost my temper at them a little bit.

 

Don't people get some kind of security introduction or something? In aerial studios, you also have to look UP before crossing a mat

Speedy rhythm these days!

[Elennare]

On 12/5/2018 at 7:29 AM, raptron said:

 Low expectations and high fun is the goal for this weekend.

Never a bad plan!  Have fun!

 

I am super jealous of your new gym space.  The Y I go to just got a bunch of new cardio machines and the free weight section got smaller so now there's like nowhere to do anything if you aren't on a machine or a bench.   I swear I almost kicked a guy doing single leg Romanian deadlifts (his fault, I was mid set when he decided to stand there).

[CourtnieMarie]

indian takeout and bombass DL doubles! gogogo

[Mike Wazowski]

Whoa dude, bomb DL doubles, a fun meet coming up, AND good indian food. Everything's coming up raptron.

[Suzaqu]

Wow, that's quite a gym space upgrade! Also, I agree with everyone else that the indian food is an ideal bonus to the gym location.

[raptron]

23 hours ago, @mu said:

Don't people get some kind of security introduction or something? In aerial studios, you also have to look UP before crossing a mat

I WISH. Some people just pay 0 attention to the goings ons around them. It drives me insane.

 

22 hours ago, Elennare said:

I am super jealous of your new gym space.  The Y I go to just got a bunch of new cardio machines and the free weight section got smaller so now there's like nowhere to do anything if you aren't on a machine or a bench.   I swear I almost kicked a guy doing single leg Romanian deadlifts (his fault, I was mid set when he decided to stand there).

Noooo! So rude. Why are they trying to steal your strength gains?

 

Single leg work is still a bit tricky because our DBs area is pretty small, haha. I definitely almost karate kicked a friend on Wednesday. 

 

Day 2.4

Oh mannnn, my hips were not happy to be active on Thursday. Turns out 95% deadlift doubles take more than 24 hours to recover from. CRAZY. I wasn't sore, but just generally my hips were complaining. So much complaining. And then my right calf was weirdly tight. And my left pec was being a brat. AND, on top of those things, I forgot all of my workout clothes, so I only got by with a little help from my friends... CLOTHED BY KINDNESS. These are my friend's very tiny male gymnast competition shorts, lolol.

 

 

Anyway, tumbling was OK, but didn't feel awesome. Leaps and jumps were hard so I mostly glossed over them. I spent a lot of time lying around on a mat whining between turns, but I wasn't the only one who was, so I had complaining buddies. 

 

Balance beam routines were also a bit hard, but better than Tuesday. I stayed on for 3, even though I was having a terrible full turn day, despite having really good full turn days the last 3 practices. NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THE MYSTERIES OF WHY SOMETIMES TURNING IS IMPOSSIBLE. I did ankle PT, back/hip PT, and some stretching to wrap up.

 

In bed before 11p: 9/9 <-- OK, so this was a TINY bit over, but I'm still going to count it because I fell asleep right away so it met its intended purpose.

Square meals: 8/8 workday, 1/2 weekend 

Pampering: 3/4 weighted PT exercises, 0/1 massage, 1/2 yoga, 0/1 self-gift  

 

I'm not feeling very Christmas-y yet. I did a bit of online shopping, but I've got a lot more I need to do still and want to go to the various holiday markets and things to pick up local goods. Sunday after Savage Games will have to be very productive on that front, haha. The big book sale is going on this weekend and it's right behind the climbing gym that hosts the Games, so I'm sure I'll pick up a bunch of things there -- though those tend to be more in the self-gift form... Books don't count as self-gifts for my challenge goal though. They're just enriching.  

[CourtnieMarie]

books for gifts! heading to an independent bookstore tomorrow to get gifts for like 5 people.