Winter Break Update

Here's my update from over Christmas break:

Monday, Dec 27th -
I hit my 12 rep squat goal the week before (175/185/185), so I continued with my program. 3 sets of 8 at 10 lbs higher: 185/195/195. This was fairly easy, obviously, since the reps decreased so much, but I hope this kind of structure will allow for rests and then peaks. I went with my younger brother and also did pull-ups and squat jumps in addition to throwing and shooting around.

Wednesday, Dec 29th -
Threw and ran around with my friend Will. I wore my new webbed toe shoes (whatever they're called) in the absence of cleats. I'm hoping these new shoes will let me do some good toe strengthening and will add another dimension to my training. We ended with a four-minute tabata.

Thursday, Dec 30th -
Woke up early and went to the gym on my own prior to a road trip down to Savannah. Did 3x8 at 195/205/205. My lower back was still a little sore from rolling a 500 lb snowball (no joke) over the previous weekend, so I was a tad apprehensive but did fine. I got through the first two sets without a break but then on the third set, I got through five reps without a break but then took three big breathes at the top of the motion before going into each successive rep. I would either have failed or would have had a very tough time finishing without taking these breaths. What do you guys think about this? Is this cheating? Or is it okay to stand and breathe before going back down and up? At any rate, I then did 3x8 squat jumps (did 10 reps on the 3rd set) at 75 lbs or so. My legs definitely felt weak. I then did pull-ups and popped onto the seated leg press for a set. I ended with some abs.

Friday, Dec 31st -
Went for a three plus mile run with a friend and his girlfriend. They picked up the pace for the last few blocks and I struggled to keep up. My legs were probably still tired from the day before, but I really need to get better endurance speed. I ended with a nice 5/10/15 AMRAP. Those squats burned...

Monday, Jan 3rd -
Went to the gym with Laura to do a fat-burning conditioning mile. We slowed the pace down a bit so our heart rates were more around 120-130...this level of efforts targets more fat than glucose. Exercises were back-lying ab/adductors (legs start vertically up in the air above the hips, then split them out to the sides into a V and then back to vertical), abs, dips, and back exercises similar to supermans but smaller and faster movements (I was not good at these).

Planning a squat session today. May do something else and move squats to Wednesday if I don't feel strong. Savage 7 tournament this weekend (and if you aren't going, you suck). Then training starts in earnest. Booyah, bitches!