Raptron's Covert Ops

[raptron]

What's this? An Assassin cat in the Warrior Headquarters? Trying to SNEAK into Valhalla?! Shhhhh.

 

It's an Infiltration Challenge!

 

I've been working with the Assassins for a long time, but over the next couple of months I want to focus more on just moving some heavy weight. I started out with Starting Strength when I first joined NF and am just now wrapping up my 8th 5/3/1 cycle, which worked really well in coordination with my 3x/week gymnastics practice, but as that ramps down, I can really ramp up my lifting volume without caring as much about fatigue on non-lifting days.

 

I will still be heading to gymnastics practice 1-2 times per week and will likely post about it in here because I cannot resist, but it's just a secondary priority now.

 

1. Climb Up the Ranks 

The best way to get the intel I need from the Warriors is to become the Boss. I will gain my promotions by following the Cube Boss method. 

 

• Start following a 365Strength program 3x per week
• Must do 5+ minutes of mobilization pre-lifting
• Bonus Objective: Figure out what is wrong with my left shoulder's position in my back squat. Fix it. Mobilize the bejeezus out of it. 

+3 points for each lifting session

-1 point for not mobilizing

 

Ideally I will be starting right off the bat with the first week of the Challenge, but I am a little concerned about my shoulder issues. It doesn't really rear its ugly head until I get beneath 200+ lbs and heavy squat day isn't until week 3, so I'm crossing my fingers that I can get it sorted before then. 

 

2. Act Casual

I'm just... ya know, walking around here. Going about my business, doing business stuff. If I run, they'll notice something is up. Better to just keep my head down and walk fast. 

• Brisk and/or disadvantaged walking [read: rucking] for >100 minutes per week.

+5 points per week, all-or-nothing

 

I want to spend more time outside in general and miss walking around town. Plus brisk walking ain't bad cardio-wise and if I do wind up doing another GORUCK Challenge (NOT SAYING I AM), then it will be good to have time under my backpack in the plan already. This only counts going out deliberately to walk, not my regular old walking from place to place. 

 

3. The Cafeteria Food Sucks

Who is to say these people won't try to poison you? You cannot afford the luxury of a taste tester and there are so many unknown poisons that could be directed your way. Your cover could have been compromised without your knowledge and the very food you eat is at risk. The second to third weeks are the most risky as folks will be the most suspicious, so trust no one else to handle your food.

• TBD, but generally follow whatever nutrition plan I decide on each week
• Bonus Objective: Trust No One -- Two straight weeks eating only food I've prepared.

+5 points per week

+10 points for bonus objective

 

 

4. Adapt

The trickiest part of infiltration is dealing with the curve balls and the unpredictable situations. I'll create contingency plans to deal with my known unknowns should they present a problem and have to deal with the unknown unknowns on the fly, like a the circus cat that I am. 

• On days I skip gymnastics practice, feel sick, feel tired, or for some other reason take an unscheduled rest day, follow the Rainy Day flow chart to do something worthwhile when I get home.

+2 points every time I do this, -1 point every time I blow it off.

 

I realized last challenge that my unscheduled rest days turn into FUCK EVERYTHING UGH days and I want to do my best to subvert that reaction to feeling sick, tired, or dealing with injuries. I'm in the process of creating some options/activities to do when I find myself at home unexpectedly.

 

 

[raptron]

I am going to be out of town all weekend and competing at my gymnastics division's Nationals on Friday, so I won't really be updating with anything remotely relevant to this challenge until next Monday, I'd imagine. I just wanted to get this up and running first.

[starsapart]

I AM HERE FOR THIS.

[karinajean]

your challenge is both amazingly well set up and also AMAZINGLY HILARIOUS.

[blkhole24601]

*swoops in*

[mitch_dee]

Just act casual, no one will notice, engage infiltration...

[sylph]

WARRIORS: PLEASE IGNORE THE LARGE NUMBER OF ASSASSINS IN THIS THREAD!

 

k, we should all be safe now. Very stealthy.

[Nymeria]

NOOOO.... You're abandoning us.     

 

I wonder how stealthy the infiltration can be when half of the Assassin guild is going to be hanging out here.

 

I really love your goals of doing more hiking and outdoor brisk walking, and your goal of making the Rainy Day flow chart.  For the lifting, are you going to lump pull-ups into your lifting days, or are you abandoning the pull-ups?  I hope you continue with the pull ups, since I'd really love to see what kind of progress you could make with some extra time and focus.  

[Wufkar]

You? Not run? HA

[raptron]

@Assassins -- You guys are nice and sneaky. No one will suspect a thing!

 

 

NOOOO.... You're abandoning us.     

 

I wonder how stealthy the infiltration can be when half of the Assassin guild is going to be hanging out here.

 

I really love your goals of doing more hiking and outdoor brisk walking, and your goal of making the Rainy Day flow chart.  For the lifting, are you going to lump pull-ups into your lifting days, or are you abandoning the pull-ups?  I hope you continue with the pull ups, since I'd really love to see what kind of progress you could make with some extra time and focus.  

I AM NOT ABANDONING! I am just collecting some intel about how the other factions live.

 

Right now, the plan has pull-up AMRAP sets at the end of each workout, buuut I think moving pull-ups to non-lifting days and following a progression program might be a better option for pull-up gains. If I wind up going that route, I'll make sure to formalize it in a goal. Just lumping pull-ups at the end of my workouts obviously didn't lead to much progression for me last challenge, so I think I'd prefer to try working on them on non-lifting days. 

[CourtnieMarie]

yeaaaaahhh! lets take on not getting take out together!

 

also if you ever wanna come down for some brisk blue hills walks, just get at me. my dog and i are always game!

 

[maigrey]

oh hey there...

 

I love your challenge!  Here for the sporadic following!

 

[Shukar]

Being awesome at all the things I see.

[StoneMonkey]

The sheer amount of cat gifs on this challenge are making me feel warm and fuzzy inside. ^^

 

But yeah, awesome challenge! Super interesting to see a gymnast who lifts, I've been looking into picking up weightlifting myself and so it'll be great to follow your progress. Best of luck!

[raptron]

Welcome, welcome. I am just going about normal, usual business.

yeaaaaahhh! lets take on not getting take out together!

 

also if you ever wanna come down for some brisk blue hills walks, just get at me. my dog and i are always game!

Oooh, excellent. Good to know~!

[wildross]

When do people have time for all these cat videos?

[Lilith]

I'm here for the infiltration operation! Check! I'm a warrior ofc *meow*, look at my deadlift PR and my booty!  

[lucky fire dragon]

Hah! Love it and am so following 

 

[raptron]

So because of the way events have turned out, this interim week is really half an extension of last challenge. I'll provide those updates in here I guess? It will be hard to disguise the videos from Nationals as Warrior stuff, but maybe I can put like some kind of gritty filter on them...

 

Day 0.2

Finished up the last day of the 5/3/1 cycle I was working, hitting 2 reps at 120# for bench, which is a new best for me and, again, helps validate all the upper body work I was doing last challenge. I also did 2 pull-ups then 2 chin-ups without any rest other than switching grip which is definitely an improvement too. Dicked around with various other exercises and then did yoga, which was divine.

 

I want to test my 1 RMs before calculating out my Cube for the next TEN WEEKS because holy shit 10 weeks is a long time. I'll maybe arrange to do this on Tuesday next week -- maybe Monday if I skip practice because I'll be free to do that again. 

[Stronkey Kong]

When do people have time for all these cat videos?

Between sets?

[spezzy]

WHAT.

[raptron]

Between sets?

^^^ Definitely. 

 

WHAT.

Oh hello, fellow Warrior colleague, spezzy. I didn't see you there.

 

[Nightcrawler_Bamff]

Jeez! The challenge hasn't started yet and you already have two pages of posts!!! We will miss you terribly over in the assassins guild, even though it is for a good cause...gather ALL the Intel on this other guild!!

[Raxie]

Tell me more about this rainy day flowchart...

[blkhole24601]

WHAT.

 

Oh hello, fellow Warrior colleague, spezzy. I didn't see you there.