Charlie Quinn Returns

[Charlie_Quinn]

 

 

 

Making up for missed time by posting all the gifs

 

Hey everyone.  It's been a long long time and I've missed you all greatly. So what have I been up to in the months since I was last on here? Short version: Lots of Crossfit, very little running!

 

Long version: Things have been ticking along nicely for the last few months. I've been going to Crossfit 4 times a week - I increased this from 3 times a week to 4 after doing the Crossfit Open. It took a few weeks to get used to, but in the last month or so I've really started to notice improvements in my strength and conditioning.
Oh yeah, I took part in The Open and it was awesome. I did every workout scaled and apart from the last workout (fuck wall balls) I really enjoyed it and surprised myself with my performance.  At the end of the last challenge I did in August I was trying to master double unders after I accidentally got one during a skills session. I bought myself a new speed rope as I wasn't getting on with the one I had and started going in to Crossfit 15 minutes early and practicing before the WOD. Finally in October I started getting the odd one or two double unders so started doing them in WODS and after months of practice, I can finally string multiples together. At the end of last month I managed to get a new PB of 17 unbroken DUs. This was one of my goals for last year so it was nice to be able to tick it off the list. 

Running on the other hand has not been happening. It's not for lack of want, more lack of time. This is something I'll address in the next few weeks. I fell out of love for running at the end of last year and even lost interest in OCR. I think I just got a little OCR fatigue. I've lost count of the amount of OCRs I've done since I started them in 2012. It got to a point where they started to feel tedious and I wasn't really enjoying them as much as I used to. I had planned on running the OCR World Champs in October but I failed to qualify and although I could have dropped down to the non-qualifying wave, I just felt very meh about the whole thing. I decided not to run and just went along to support my husband Stu and the other Rangers @Jarric @jonfirestar and @Rhovaniel. 

But then in November Spartan had their first UK Stadion race at Twickenham. Stu and I went along and absolutely loved it. I only failed one obstacle and even managed to hit the spear throw. I think my issue with OCR was that I was doing the same races over and over again and most of them were exactly the same each time. With that in mind, I've signed up to some different races next year and a Spartan Trifecta. The Stadion Race was only the second time I'd done a Spartan race so it seemed like the right time add a few more of these to my medal hanger.

 

2020 Goals and Plans

I've got big plans for 2020. The biggest thing we've got planned this year is selling our flat and buying a house. We've spent a lot of time finishing the little jobs around the flat  that we never got around to doing and last weekend we had a valuation done. I'm excited about moving but not looking forward to the stress involved. 

 

Fitness goals 
200lb Back Squat: I don't usually measure lifting goals in lbs! I can thank @Jarric for helping me come up with this one. I said I wanted to get a new back squat PB and wondered if 100kg would be too crazy or unreachable in a year. Jarric suggested 200lb (91kg) instead. Thanks buddy! This is probably going to be the toughest goal to hit this year. I have squat stands and some other weight equipment at home in my spare room, but these are probably going to have to go into storage while we have the flat on the market. That's going to severely limit the amount of squatting time I have outside of Crossfit. 

Spartan Trifecta: As I mentioned above, I've signed up for a Trifecta this year. My first race is a Beast in April and then we are doing the Super and Sprint in the same weekend in July. I want to make the Sprint fun and dress like Mexican wrestlers for it, but it's going to take some convincing to get Stu to don sparkly tights! 

 

Body-weight Clean & Jerk: If I was planning just a bodyweight clean, I'd be really confident in getting this in less than a year. Adding in the jerk makes this a real challenge! My shoulder strength is very poor, partly thanks to an injury I picked up when I first started Crossfit. My shoulders are getting stronger - seriously, you should see my traps! - but I've got a log way to go to be able to press my own body weight over my head and feel comfortable and confident to do it. During The Open, 20.4 involved a crap ton of C&J and I managed to lift the 43kg (95lb) bar for 8 reps before hitting the time cap and that was after 40 reps at lower weights. Hopefully with time and training, this will translate to a 62kg+ (I don't actually know what I weight right now because fuck the scale) when I'm fresh and trying for a PB.

 

Toes-to-bar: This is a goal I should be able to hit in first few months of 2020. I'm very very close on getting a single T2B right now so I'm going to train this the same as I did double unders - 15 mins practice before class a few times a week and once I get a few reps, I'll add them into WODS and scale the numbers. Scale the reps not the ROM seems to be the way to go with these things. 

 

So that's an update on where I am right now and my plans for this year. I'll post some challenge goals in a separate post once I've decided what they are going to be.

 

[Charlie_Quinn]

Challenge Goals

1. Daily mobility, stretching or massage gun
Sometimes I'm really good on doing my mobility and sometimes I completely ignore it for days at a time. The aim is to spend at least 15 minutes a day stretching of some other form of mobility. I invested in a percussive massage gun in December so using this also counts. 

 

2. Keep a clean house
The real estate agent came around at the weekend to value the flat and we spent most of the previous day deep cleaning the place. It was completely unnecessary as he was only here for 30 minutes and most of that was just spent talking in the living room. But now the place is looking nice, I want to keep it that way. So that means doing something each day to keep the place tidy. It might just be putting clothes in a drawer instead of leaving in a pile in a basket or vacuum the floors.

 

3. To Do List
I don't want to get overwhelmed with the process of selling so I need to keep a list of things to do and here is a good a place as any. I also have a bunch of things gong around my head that I keep meaning to do and don't. I'll add things to a list and tick them off as they are done. The list must be finished by the end of the challenge

Current List:
- Arrange to have stuff in spare room put in storage (storage being my lovely brother's garage!)
- Buy single bed and bedding for spare room

- Finish painting kitchen
- Instruct estate agent and arrange for photos of flat

- Call electricity supplier and find out why, if I'm in credit, my direct debit keeps going up 

- Put stuff for sale on eBay

[Salinger]

 

SHE IS BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

 

I have missed you SO much CQ ❤️❤️ 

[Maigs]

Yay! You're back!

 

I had the same realization with being bored doing the same OCR's last year. I'm still doing a couple of my favorite local ones but it's mostly to support them since even my absolute favorite has gotten kinda "meh" after doing it 4 or 5 times. 

 

You and others here have me super tempted to try out Crossfit but I'm not sure how well I can stick to class times since my gym is just a drop in (while still having structure and trainers). 

[Charlie_Quinn]

1 hour ago, Salinger said:

SHE IS BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

 

I have missed you SO much CQ ❤️❤️ 

 

Aw thanks. I've missed all my Ranger friends 

 

1 hour ago, Maigs said:

I had the same realization with being bored doing the same OCR's last year. I'm still doing a couple of my favorite local ones but it's mostly to support them since even my absolute favorite has gotten kinda "meh" after doing it 4 or 5 times. 

 

There are some, like Nuclear Races, that I will never get bored with because they are constantly adding new obstacles and play with the format. A lot of small UK races closed last year and it's unlikely Tough Mudder will be putting on any races this year unless Spartan buy them out. We've had to look much further afield for some races this year. We don't like having to travel far to get to a race, especially if it means leaving at 4am to get there! 

 

1 hour ago, Maigs said:

You and others here have me super tempted to try out Crossfit but I'm not sure how well I can stick to class times since my gym is just a drop in (while still having structure and trainers). 

 

I think you know what I'm going to say

 

Seriously though, this is probably the best month to give it a try as they are likely to have special offers on their On Ramp courses. My only regret is not doing it sooner. I know what you mean about class times though. Sometimes I'm having to rush home from work to make the 7:30pm class and if the trains are delayed by even 15 minutes, I won't make it there on time. I'm lucky to be able to work from home 2 days a week so I can get to classes easily on those days. Also, the weekend classes book up weeks ahead so I've got to get on them quick or I miss out. I wish it was as simple as just turning up and doing the wod!

[Maigs]

2 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

I think you know what I'm going to say

 

Seriously though, this is probably the best month to give it a try as they are likely to have special offers on their On Ramp courses. My only regret is not doing it sooner. I know what you mean about class times though. Sometimes I'm having to rush home from work to make the 7:30pm class and if the trains are delayed by even 15 minutes, I won't make it there on time. I'm lucky to be able to work from home 2 days a week so I can get to classes easily on those days. Also, the weekend classes book up weeks ahead so I've got to get on them quick or I miss out. I wish it was as simple as just turning up and doing the wod!

Unfortunately this month (until May) is a horrible time for me to try out a new gym since I'll be working crazy hours. 

I have been looking at a crossfit gym semi-close to home and may give them a try once tax season is over. But on top of the class times issue, it also seems really busy (to the point where parking looks like it would be an issue) and is even more expensive than my current already ridiculous gym

[Mad Hatter]

Welcome baaaack!! I love how focused and dedicated your goals are, it’s very cool.

[Charlie_Quinn]

3 hours ago, Maigs said:

Unfortunately this month (until May) is a horrible time for me to try out a new gym since I'll be working crazy hours. 

I have been looking at a crossfit gym semi-close to home and may give them a try once tax season is over. But on top of the class times issue, it also seems really busy (to the point where parking looks like it would be an issue) and is even more expensive than my current already ridiculous gym

 

That's a shame. It'll be awesome if you do get a chance to try it. I think there is a lot of crossover with OCR and crossfit. I know some CF gyms do obstacle training as well. 

 

People are always taken back when I tell them how much I pay for crossfit, including my SIL, even though she pays about double the amount to see a personal trainer twice a week! The price put me off for a long time, but I love it so much that I'm willing to make sacrifices elsewhere to be able to pay for it.

 

2 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

Welcome baaaack!! I love how focused and dedicated your goals are, it’s very cool.

 

Thanks! They're focused for now. Give it a few weeks 😁

[Salinger]

Have a great day Charlie ❤️ xx

[Mad Hatter]

7 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

People are always taken back when I tell them how much I pay for crossfit, including my SIL, even though she pays about double the amount to see a personal trainer twice a week! The price put me off for a long time, but I love it so much that I'm willing to make sacrifices elsewhere to be able to pay for it.

It’s your money, you do you!

[Mr_Willes]

 

 

Sad to see there is no RRDW on your list for 2020...

 

good to see you back in here!

[Charlie_Quinn]

5 hours ago, Salinger said:

Have a great day Charlie ❤️ xx

 

You too! I'm aching like a mother fucker today though!

 

4 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

It’s your money, you do you!

 

Right?! I do find it funny that people think nothing of spending £60+ on a night out, but £90 a month for Crossfit is unreasonable! 

 

3 hours ago, Mr_Willes said:

Sad to see there is no RRDW on your list for 2020...

 

good to see you back in here!

 

It's a shame that RRDW isn't happening for me this year. I was hoping to volunteer so I could still see you guys, but Rat Race have changed their volunteer rewards and what they offer 1) isn't great and 2) isn't anything I want. Are you just coming over for the weekend, or are you going to be staying a little longer?

[Charlie_Quinn]

Monday 7th Jan
 

1. Daily mobility, stretching or massage gun ✔️

Spent a good 15 minutes before Crossfit stretching my lats and working on shoulder mobility. After Crossfit I hit my quads and traps with the massage gun

 

2. Keep a clean house ✔️

Took the clean clothes out of the dryer and off the airer and put them away in cupboards and drawers. Cleaned the kitchen after dinner instead of leaving the dishes in the sink.
 

3. To Do List
Not managed to clear anything yet

Current List:
- Arrange to have stuff in spare room put in storage (storage being my lovely brother's garage!)
- Buy single bed and bedding for spare room

- Finish painting kitchen
- Instruct estate agent and arrange for photos of flat

- Call electricity supplier and find out why, if I'm in credit, my direct debit keeps going up 

- Put stuff for sale on eBay

[Charlie_Quinn]

Yesterdays Crossfit WOD was pretty brutal. Strength was 5x5 Jerks at 80-90% of 1RM. I managed to work up to 35kg with a split jerk. The last time we did a cycle involving jerks, I used 35kg for 5 sets of 3 reps, so this is a slight improvement. 

 

Whoever programmed the WOD obviously decided that we needed to burn our shoulders out even more: 
2mins on 2mins off x 6:

15 calorie row
Remaining time: Max shoulder to overhead 

 

The Rx for this was 35kg for women, so I ambitiously started with 30kg. One round in and those 2.5kg plates got removed! 25kg was much more manageable but the last round was absolute hell and I found it difficult to hang on to the bar and keep pressing it. Weirdly, my abs started cramping up and when we finished I spent a good 5 minutes on the floor waiting for them to stop! Sign that I engaged my core correctly, I guess!

[Mr_Willes]

38 minutes ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

It's a shame that RRDW isn't happening for me this year. I was hoping to volunteer so I could still see you guys, but Rat Race have changed their volunteer rewards and what they offer 1) isn't great and 2) isn't anything I want. Are you just coming over for the weekend, or are you going to be staying a little longer?

 

I'm not sure yet. I am coming over with an old friend/colleague with our own tranportation. The DMM aren't coming by coaches this year. We haven't worked out the details for crossing the pond yet. But i think doing the nightboat was an option that was mentioned, this will probably mean that we will be there from early friday till late sunday. Not sure though. Could be completely different. Adding an extra day before or after, to visit you guys is absolutely something i want to try and work into the schedule!

[Maigs]

2 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

Right?! I do find it funny that people think nothing of spending £60+ on a night out, but £90 a month for Crossfit is unreasonable! 

According to google converter your crossfit cost about what I pay for my current gym membership. The crossfit gym by me would be about £125. I may still try it, but just not until May

 

15 hours ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

That's a shame. It'll be awesome if you do get a chance to try it. I think there is a lot of crossover with OCR and crossfit. I know some CF gyms do obstacle training as well. 

I'm guessing that the competitive runners in our local OCR are from the crossfit gym which is part of my motivation to give it a try. But I also recently learned of a parkour/circus/gymnastics gym for adults near me that would probably be helpful that I also really want to try (and is also pretty expensive...)

[Charlie_Quinn]

2 hours ago, Mr_Willes said:

 

I'm not sure yet. I am coming over with an old friend/colleague with our own tranportation. The DMM aren't coming by coaches this year. We haven't worked out the details for crossing the pond yet. But i think doing the nightboat was an option that was mentioned, this will probably mean that we will be there from early friday till late sunday. Not sure though. Could be completely different. Adding an extra day before or after, to visit you guys is absolutely something i want to try and work into the schedule!

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed that something will work out where I get to see you while you're over. If time and money allows, I could get a party pass for Dirty Weekend, come cheer you lot on and then party with you in the evening and drive home when you all collapse in your tents from exhaustion! The other option is to finally arrange a trip to Belgium!

 

19 minutes ago, Maigs said:

According to google converter your crossfit cost about what I pay for my current gym membership. The crossfit gym by me would be about £125. I may still try it, but just not until May

 

If I had an unlimited membership I'd be paying £110. The closer you are to London, the more things cost! I've been looking at CF gyms near where we are looking at moving to, and because it's further north of London I'd be paying about £5 less a month for unlimited classes. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Glad to see you here again!

[EricMN]

[NeverThatBored]

On 1/7/2020 at 5:20 AM, Charlie_Quinn said:

Things have been ticking along nicely for the last few months. I've been going to Crossfit 4 times a week - I increased this from 3 times a week to 4 after doing the Crossfit Open

 

That's how they got me too!! I went in for an extra day during the open a year or so ago, and then I just...kept doing it??

 

On 1/7/2020 at 5:20 AM, Charlie_Quinn said:

Finally in October I started getting the odd one or two double unders so started doing them in WODS and after months of practice, I can finally string multiples together.

 

Badass! I still can't do any of those. 

 

On 1/7/2020 at 2:11 PM, Charlie_Quinn said:

People are always taken back when I tell them how much I pay for crossfit, including my SIL, even though she pays about double the amount to see a personal trainer twice a week! The price put me off for a long time, but I love it so much that I'm willing to make sacrifices elsewhere to be able to pay for it.

 

 

I had a similar experience - I didn't want to pay that much just to work out, but then I started going, and now I consider it an important expense! 

[Charlie_Quinn]

21 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Glad to see you here again!

 

I'm glad to be here again. 

 

20 hours ago, EricMN said:

 

 

6 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

That's how they got me too!! I went in for an extra day during the open a year or so ago, and then I just...kept doing it??

 

And people say it's not a cult! I was toying with the idea of increasing my days before the open. Then watching all the super awesome athletes smash the workouts during Friday night lights made me want to seriously up my game and that sealed it for me!

 

6 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

Badass! I still can't do any of those yet. 

 

Fixed that for you

 

6 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

I had a similar experience - I didn't want to pay that much just to work out, but then I started going, and now I consider it an important expense! 

 

It's a lot of money to commit each month. But now I see it as an investment in a long, healthy life both physically and mentally.

[Jarric]

I thought I was already following here; apparently I was not!

 

On ‎1‎/‎7‎/‎2020 at 1:20 PM, Charlie_Quinn said:

Jarric suggested 200lb (91kg) instead. Thanks buddy!

 

You're welcome! Have fun with it, I think it's a good goal for you.

 

On ‎1‎/‎7‎/‎2020 at 1:20 PM, Charlie_Quinn said:

it's going to take some convincing to get Stu to don sparkly tights! 

 

I would pay actual cash money to see that!

 

 

[Charlie_Quinn]

How have I managed to fuck up my days already? I put yesterday's update as Monday when it should have been Tuesday. Three days in and I'm already lost!

 

Wednesday 8th Jan

 

 

1. Daily mobility, stretching or massage gun ✔️

The soreness was real yesterday - we did thrusters and then the WOD had 60 hand release push ups in it. Stretching was so painful, at one point I screamed 'fuck my life' and asked Stu to just put me out of my misery. He helpfully told me to suck it up and stop complaining and then helped me by shoving the massage gun into my burning lats. So in a way, he did put me out of my misery. 

 

2. Keep a clean house ✔️

There wasn't much to do yesterday except tidy the kitchen after dinner. I'm really happy with how clean the place is looking.
 

3. To Do List
Still nothing ticked off.

[Mad Hatter]

1 minute ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

Stretching was so painful, at one point I screamed 'fuck my life' and asked Stu to just put me out of my misery. He helpfully told me to suck it up and stop complaining and then helped me by shoving the massage gun into my burning lats. So in a way, he did put me out of my misery. 

Now that's romance.

[Charlie_Quinn]

10 minutes ago, Jarric said:

You're welcome! Have fun with it, I think it's a good goal for you.

 

I just hope that putting my weights in storage isn't going to impact on this goal too much. Hopefully they won't have to be away from me for too long.

 

11 minutes ago, Jarric said:

I would pay actual cash money to see that!

 

Hmm, maybe a cash reward would convince him.......

 

7 minutes ago, Mad Hatter said:

Now that's romance.

 

Definitely my kind of romance. Much better than flowers😁 

 

Guess what? I had poached eggs for breakfast this morning and one of them came out perfect. It made me think of you