Raptron: Queen of Monsters

[Mad Hatter]

2 hours ago, raptron said:

I really, really want this in my beam routine for the season.

So you're planning on competing again soon?  

 

Also:

 

FEAR DEMONS BEGONE!

[MaylaKae]

[raptron]

<3 <3 <3 

 

On 7/14/2017 at 3:02 PM, Mad Hatter said:

So you're planning on competing again soon?  

Soon is relative, but I will be competing this season again. I actually made out a tentative priority map for the next few months to map out the relative importance between cardio, strength, and gymnastics:

 

Day 1.5

+ straight to dinner -> dancing. Woo, woo. 

 

Workouts: 5/5

Veggies: 9/14 <-- greens with lunch and side salad with dinner 

Cleaning: counters 1/2, sweeping 1/2, boxes 0/1

Beautifying: braiding 10/30, lotion 0/1

 

Day 1.6

Gymnastics practice was slow, but I still tumbled some, worked on beam basics, and actually went to bars for a little bit. My middle finger joint only hurt when I was putting grips on and off, so I just kept them on my hands the entire time. My calluses are pretty much gone so I think it'll be important to just try to get on with good frequency and try to build up a protective layer by mid-August so I can actually try to learn new bars skills at Flipfest -- our gymnastics camp/retreat in TN. 

 

After, I wandered around Cambridge + got some lunch + talked to my parents on the phone for easily an hour plus before meeting up with NF folks at an arcade bar for some drinks and merriment. We followed @ArgSki77 home for a few more drinks and some nosh. 

 

Workouts: 6/5

Veggies: 11/14 <-- mushroom platter with cauliflower salad + seaweed salad totally worth 2 points

Cleaning: counters 1/2, sweeping 1/2, boxes 0/1

Beautifying: braiding 10/30, lotion 0/1

 

Day 1.7

Rest day and beach day! 

 

Workouts: 6/5

Veggies: 12/14 <-- some snap peas at the beach

Cleaning: counters 2/2, sweeping 2/2, boxes 0/1

Beautifying: braiding 25/30, lotion 0/1

[Mad Hatter]

Ooh what a shiny game plan, colour me impressed (sorry)! Much better than my usual cycle of DO ALL THE THINGS followed by KO.  

[CourtnieMarie]

53 minutes ago, Mad Hatter said:

Ooh what a shiny game plan, colour me impressed (sorry)! Much better than my usual cycle of DO ALL THE THINGS followed by KO.  

yeah i'm definitely tempted to make a chart like this now!

[Asa Pond]

You make that beam back hand spring look so easy! 

[nightlight]

i like the pretty colors.

[Deciduous]

On 7/13/2017 at 11:14 AM, CourtnieMarie said:

the difference between 3 and 4 miles for me is like torture. although i did find a good running spotify playlist this morning that started off with Wham!

Ooooh what is the name?

 

On 7/14/2017 at 0:30 PM, raptron said:

We went out for a going away party for a gym friend and I had a couple of beers. I was starving when I got home and figured I would just eat cheese and crackers but THOSE ARE NOT VEGETABLES, so I sauteed ground turkey and ate it with a broccoli slaw and now of course I could pack my leftovers for lunch the next day so obviously a better choice over cheese and crackers.

Holy heck, I need to borrow this skill. Nice job!

Also nthing that your post race pic is super cute (how did you manage that!) and I saw your insta vid and you are so bad ass.

I am not a runner so the pace graph is basically all of my runs - slowing down every km and then picking up the pace for the finish line LOL

[CourtnieMarie]

16 minutes ago, Deciduous said:

Ooooh what is the name?

If you go to Browse > Running > Fun Run. you pick a beats per min that's serves your pace (I usually do 160 bpm which is around 5.8-6.2 mph for me!)

[Deciduous]

57 minutes ago, CourtnieMarie said:

If you go to Browse > Running > Fun Run. you pick a beats per min that's serves your pace (I usually do 160 bpm which is around 5.8-6.2 mph for me!)

Ohhhh I've seen that function and never used it! I was nervous because it runs on data; but I'm also not paying for my data (work phone) soooo

[Mike Wazowski]

5 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

Ooh what a shiny game plan, colour me impressed (sorry)! Much better than my usual cycle of DO ALL THE THINGS followed by KO.  

4 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

yeah i'm definitely tempted to make a chart like this now!

 

Thirded. Clever @raptron is clever. 

[raptron]

Glad you guys like it! Hopefully I will actually pay attention to it in the coming months because the temptation to ignore what I am supposed to be training for runs high sometimes. 

 

I neglected to mention in the previous update post that I caught a nasty summer cold on Saturday or so. Sunday + Monday I could barely speak and I took Tuesday as a sick day.

 

Day 2.1

+ shoulder shockers sets with 10# dbs (seated lat raises, seated clean + press) + 25# plate (front plate raises) 

+ this hanging grip challenge a friend told me about that is almost like a hanging macarena ( @WhiteGhost might be interested)! You hang from a bar and then reverse grip your hands one at a time and back, then release left hand grip and reach across your body to touch your right shoulder and back, release left grip to touch right shoulder and back, then release left grip to touch right hip + back, release right grip to touch left hip, then hit each foot alternating, and end it with a toes to bar. I did 3 reps at a time for 3 sets. The last rep of each set was usually hilarious flailing. It's pretty fun though! 

 

I am having some trouble with my front squats though. I hit my 180 with the 3 second pause in the hole okay, which I am kind of excited about, but the inside of my left wrist has started to hurt in a weighted front rack position. It was really bothering me in the 155# sets, so I actually did my last one with crossed arms. Anyone have some thoughts about this and what I should do? I am not going much heavier than previously and these are weights I've done without pain before. (@nightlight?) 

Workouts: 1/5

Veggies: 2/14 <-- more slaw with lunch and extra big broccoli pile with dinner

Cleaning: counters 0/2, sweeping 0/2, boxes 0/1

Beautifying: braiding 0/30, lotion 0/1

 

Day 2.2

Working from home sick day. I had thought about going for a run without actually thinking about what that would mean. Cardio + cold = misery. So I chose not to after all. I did a few sets of pull-ups during the day (usually doubles or triples which is where I am at still and have been foreva) and a little bit of grooving around my kitchen but nothing else physical. 

 

However, day at home means I did two loads of laundry including bedding, full deep clean of the litter box and fully fresh litter, cleaned up the bathroom a bit, ran two dishwasher loads, cleaned the stovetop, wiped down the counters, swept the kitchen, and brought down recycling. I wish I had a WFH day every week, haha. 

 

Workouts: 1/5

Veggies: 4/14 <-- cucumbers and baby carrots

Cleaning: counters 1/2, sweeping 1/2, boxes 1/1

Beautifying: braiding 0/30, lotion 0/1

[Mad Hatter]

FEEL BETTER SOON!

 

And yeah WFH days are so helpful in getting all the adulting done!

[WhiteGhost]

16 minutes ago, raptron said:

+ this hanging grip challenge a friend told me about that is almost like a hanging macarena ( @WhiteGhost might be interested)! You hang from a bar and then reverse grip your hands one at a time and back, then release left hand grip and reach across your body to touch your right shoulder and back, release left grip to touch right shoulder and back, then release left grip to touch right hip + back, release right grip to touch left hip, then hit each foot alternating, and end it with a toes to bar. I did 3 reps at a time for 3 sets. The last rep of each set was usually hilarious flailing. It's pretty fun though! 

 

Oooh, that sounds hard. I was reading through this and thought "I would probably end up just flailing around" and then got the end and saw it ended that way for you.

 

I currrently do something similar but much simpler - instead of touching various places, I just alternate hands to reach back and touch my lower back. I do 5 each hand as part of my workout series, so I end up doing 3 sets total but not in a row.  I think I will try this version tomorrow just for fun and see how it goes.

[sylph]

53 minutes ago, raptron said:

+ this hanging grip challenge a friend told me about that is almost like a hanging macarena ( @WhiteGhost might be interested)! You hang from a bar and then reverse grip your hands one at a time and back, then release left hand grip and reach across your body to touch your right shoulder and back, release left grip to touch right shoulder and back, then release left grip to touch right hip + back, release right grip to touch left hip, then hit each foot alternating, and end it with a toes to bar. I did 3 reps at a time for 3 sets. The last rep of each set was usually hilarious flailing. It's pretty fun though! 

 

This sounds like some great conditioning work for horizontal-apparatus (trap, lyra) circus peeps...

[Jonesy]

On 7/17/2017 at 6:57 AM, raptron said:

My calluses are pretty much gone so I think it'll be important to just try to get on with good frequency and try to build up a protective layer by mid-August so I can actually try to learn new bars skills at Flipfest -- our gymnastics camp/retreat in TN. 

 

What's your advice for building calluses up/maintaining them so they don't hurt like a mofo? 

 

58 minutes ago, raptron said:

+ this hanging grip challenge a friend told me about that is almost like a hanging macarena 

 

[WhiteGhost]

2 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

What's your advice for building calluses up/maintaining them so they don't hurt like a mofo? 

^^^Yes please

[Mad Hatter]

1. Suck it up.

2. File them down when they get too bumpy to prevent rips.

3. Moisturise with e.g. beeswax to keep them supple

4. Get stronger.

 

But mostly 1.

[Jonesy]

21 minutes ago, Mad Hatter said:

1. Suck it up.

2. File them down when they get too bumpy to prevent rips.

3. Moisturise with e.g. beeswax to keep them supple

4. Get stronger.

 

But mostly 1.

 

I had a feeling that would be the answer.  

This might be a silly question but do you file them with like, a nail file? 

[raptron]

@Mad Hatter is totally right with her list. I'd go a bit further to say you need the irritation (and sometimes the pain that goes with it) to create the calluses in the first place. Your body needs to know that it is UNDER ATTACK and protect itself by developing tougher skin. And the tougher your skin, the less you'll be bothered by the bar in the future.

 

The raised edges and ridges are what puts you at risk for ripping, so not letting them grow out of control is key there. I usually use pumice in the shower or an old shaving razor + then pumice if I have been really neglectful. It sounds scary, but the skin is really thick and a decent shaving razor allows you quite a bit of control. If you go that method (or any more aggressive method), you really have to make sure to be thorough with the pumice (or some people use sand paper) to get the ridges down and create a smoother surface that won't catch or pinch on the bar. Some rips are inevitable, but callus maintenance can help a lot to prevent them. AND maintaining your callus to be decently protective will reduce how much pain your hands will be in on the bar, though again, pain is also inevitable, you'll be able to go a lot longer before your hands feel raw or sore.

[Mad Hatter]

6 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

 

I had a feeling that would be the answer.  

This might be a silly question but do you file them with like, a nail file? 

Sorry

 

Nail file can work, I use a foot file myself #likealady

[WhiteGhost]

I think I should add based on my experience last week that when you file down your calluses you don't want to get rid of them completely, just the ridges. 

 

If you grind down everything, you end up getting wicked blisters the next time you work out because your hands expect to be able do what they have already been doing but you no longer have the protection they are used to.

 

[WhiteGhost]

36 minutes ago, Mad Hatter said:

1. Suck it up.

2. File them down when they get too bumpy to prevent rips.

3. Moisturise with e.g. beeswax to keep them supple

4. Get stronger.

 

But mostly 1.

Haha, I though you circus masters had some kind of secret method to get those fingers of steel

 

[Mike Wazowski]

2 hours ago, raptron said:

 because the temptation to ignore what I am supposed to be training for runs high sometimes. 

SAME!

 

2 hours ago, raptron said:

Veggies: 2/14 <-- more slaw with lunch and extra big broccoli pile with dinner

Hehehehe broccoli pile.

[Mad Hatter]

14 minutes ago, WhiteGhost said:

Haha, I though you circus masters had some kind of secret method to get those fingers of steel

Nope, circus people simply develop a very high tolerance for pain.