Update In The Madness

A little update for ya...

It is the 16th June 2020. Life is just starting to resume. What I mean by that is shops are starting to reopen. Restrictions are being lifted. 2m distances from one another has been reduced to 1m.

There is still little information as to when gyms will be reopening. I however have been granted access to my second home at Sweat-it. Here I'll be able to advance my strength training, as before I had been using a limited supply of kit and a heck of a lot of volume.

Do not knock it until you try it. Although I enjoy being spoiled and have access to a wide variety of gym equipment, Matt has done an almighty job at creating a programme to build a great base for the next phase of my training.

I have worked with 2 10kg dumbbells, although these became more of a aesthetic feature for my uninspiring outdoor set up. 2 15kg dumbbells, which I can say is a large jump in weight when focusing on my puny shoulders. I had a 20kg dumbbell and a 20kg kettlebell.

I'd been looking to develop strength in the legs, shoulders and core. Incorporating all movement types - mainly compound moves that ensures I am embracing the neuromuscular improvements as well as multiple muscle activation all in one session.

I'd be looking at getting the high volume of work in during a small space of time. Forcing me to have to control my breathing, register how to attack the exercise and work under fatigue. Crossfitters love to do everything under that mist.

My cardio is lots of burpees. Sometimes I would run outta steam, so I'd be doing the down-up variation... collapsing on the floor and doing my best to get back up to standing. I also have a turbo trainer. Still heavily used after my triathlon training purchase - thank gawd. I do actually still love riding my racer. I've purchased a skipping rope and if you look on my Instagram page you'll see multiple videos of me attempting double unders. Tough.. all about the rhythm apparently.

Running is still not my friend. I've had to find alternatives as I have been getting terrible symptoms of shin splints that are not very nice.

In my first ever attempt at Murph (a hero workout that is dedicated to an US soldier, Michael Murphy) I had to trade in the weighted run (backpack full of water and books to make up 6kg) for the bike. I also had a niggle in the shoulder, so by the end I was basically just rolling around doing my own thing for an hour!

If you're interested, Murph is a 1 mile run, 100 Pull ups, 200 Press ups and 300 squats, finished with a 1 mile run - all with a weighted vest. No access to a pull up bar... burpees it is.

The 'after-Murph' photo finish...