Cardio&Strength Coach - W1D2

 Squat Max: *104 (in 300 sec) 

 Push-Up Max: 25 (in 100 sec) 

Oh dear muscle pain, believe it or not, I've missed you! You feel so good (OK, that sounded masochistic, which I'm not). You make me really feel -litteraly- that I'm back in the game, that I'm alive and more importantly, even if it's only by a little bit, that I'm making progress... Yes I'm uncomfortable lifting my arms or going down the stairs, but I know it's for the better!!!

As usual, after the other day's Pull-Ups the worst pain is in my pecs and my Latissimus dorsi, that lovely muscle that goes from my back, across my armpit and connecting with my pecs. It doesn't hurt as bad as the last time (no T-Rex), probably because I only did 12 reps, but pulling off my t-shirt is not a walk in the park either!

Today I had to keep busting my pecs with the Push-Up Max. Since I was already in pain I decided it was wiser not try and do it with a star and I just went for the knee-on-the-ground version. I was right because I barely got to 25 repetitions!!! Well, my upper-body weakness is no surprise to me and I'm guessing the coach will catch on that rather soon.

I felt really good during the Squat Max and I managed to go above the 100 repetitions, which was the threshold I had set for myself before I started. I was surprised to notice I only did one repetition less than my PB, so after two training sessions I'm seeing that, at least in some aspects, my two month (or more?) break did not have as bad an impact in my strength as I expected it.

Next session: Sit Up, Pull Up and Burpee Max. I'm fearing it a bit. I'm also looking forward to it.

Week #5 - HELL WEEK - Day 7 / Dione + Metis + Squat Max

 Dione: 00:   Metis: 00:  Squat Max: 

I was supposed to finish the workouts yesterday. The problem is, I had a soccer match and having done Aphrodite the day before, I ended up with a contracted quadriceps. Therefore, I didn't want to push it because I was afraid to get injured. I decided then not to do Day 7 right away. Also I had another match today so I couldn't risk it. With this, I've had two delays on Hell Week, so I don't really know if I should still call it that because the whole idea is to train everyday for 7 days straight. I'm pretty sure though that Hell Week does not consider that one would also be playing 3 soccer matches during those 7 days so... I sort of think soccer makes up for my skipped days (wishful thinking). 

Today the match was really easy (we won 10 - 0!). Before and after the game I warmed up and stretched a bit, but my quad still feels stiff. Of course, in the heat of the moment it does not hurt a bit, but it's after when the tightness kicks in. WIth all that in mind I still managed to score 3 goals =P. Since I have no more matches until Saturday, I can go for it today. I'm not expecting great results but it will still be a done workout.

Day 7 of Hell Week is actually supposed to be the  climax of Hell  with 3 workouts at once. First Dione, then Metis and finally Squat Max.

Week #5 - HELL WEEK - Day 2 / Squat Max, Push Up Max & Metis

 Squat Max: *104  Push Up Max: 24  Metis:*00:11:59 

OMG.

I really don't recommend training two days in a row having soccer matches on those same days. My legs are really shaking and I already feel like tomorrow I'll wake up all stiff and sore...

Day two of Hell Week. I went and played soccer for an hour (we won, 3-2... I scored 2 goals and assisted on the other one, so I'm stoked!). Then we celebrated the win for a little while, while I was thinking "it's Hell Week, I have to get home and do the workout".  I came home and started with the Squat Max and, to my surprise, I performed quite decently (104 squats in 300 seconds); only one repetition down from my PB. I think I've gained leg strength because after chasing the ball for a whole hour (and having played yesterday and the day before that) I thought I wouldn't have the strength to pull it off, or at least not that well.  

Of course, after the squats I felt brave enough to think I could do the Push Up Max properly and finally get a star... Luckily I over think things so I ended up deciding to take it easy and do the push ups girly style (knees on the ground). It was pitiful! I don't have a reasonable explanation to my lame 24 push ups in 100 seconds -and without a star!!!!-. All I know is that my triceps were burning and I just couldn't speed up. I'll have to work a loOoOot harder on my push ups to get to a decent place...

Finally came Metis. I have a hate/love thing going on with this workout. I like it because it's quick, but at the same time I think it is way harder than it looks. The thing is, by that time, with all the squats and the soccer, my legs were a bit shaky and loose, so it took me 11 min 59 secs to finish the workout, which is far from my PB. At least I managed to do the high jumps properly, a thing that I thought would be impossible with my floppy legs!

Overall I'm glad it's over, I'm happy that my mind won over my body again and that I pushed myself to do the workout even after being tired from all the soccer! Hell week is, so far, living up to it's name!