Geezer's Long March Toward the Elite Sneaking Up On the Finish Line

[Mark E. Hurling]

Finally! Back for some conditioning this morning. It was a real trial too. My right knee, the one that I got wrecked with a complex tear of the lateral and medial meniscus at age 19 in Judo practice one night, started aching last night at 0-dark-30. Hurt like no tomorrow too. This doesn't happen often with my knee, praise be.

Rounds of speed bag, cable rotations, medicine ball toss, elliptical, crunches, SciFit, heavy bag. I found I really missed pummeling those bags. A great way to get out the irritants that get in the back of your mind.

Average HR of 142 bpm @ 92% of MHR for 31 minutes.

[Mark E. Hurling]

90% of 1RM.

Bench Press: 200, 1-1-1-1-1. 170-5 for a backoff set.

Push Press: 110, 1-1-1-1-1. 90-5 for a backoff set.

Hammer High Row: 250, 1-1-1-1-1. 210-5 for a backoff set.

Music vis Spotify: Anvil Chorus, Fire on High, Dueling Banjos, Tush, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Hawaii 5-0, George of the Jungle, Any Way You Want It, Hot Legs, Tie Your Mother Down, Rescue Me, Washington Post March, Lady Marmalade, Cantina.

Average HR of 112 bpm @ 75% of MHR for 57 minutes.

[Mark E. Hurling]

I'm convinced I've been snake-bit with this latest round of whatever it is. The last two days have seen me in a fog with massive congestion, fatigue, and fever. I tested for covid, and not that. This is worse than either time I had it. I've been sleeping and napping 12-14 hours out of 24 a day. Rip Van Hurling, that's me. Today is a little better, and I'm hoping that I can power out of this by tomorrow.

I had a flu shot a couple months back, but those things are never a 100% guarantee of not catching it. Man this sucks.

[Mark E. Hurling]

April is the cruelest month, according to T.S. Eliot. But for my money, February this year had it beat by miles. First omicron, then back problems, a wrist injuries, and finally a really debilitating bout with the old fashioned flu. The headaches and lung congestion made the prospect of anything like an intense grind on a lift too exhausting to contemplate. I know there are folks here who have far greater physical and health challenges to overcome and continue their efforts in the gym. If I thought what I had was chronic and a condition to be lived with and managed as a routine part of life, I might have tried to suck it up and soldier on.

Sleep became my friend, long overnights, and intermittent naps during the day. Even then, the concrete that seemed to fill my sinuses had me drowsy throughout the day.

DB and I got it together enough to coach the Special Olympians last night, and it left me barely able to keep alert enough to drive home safely. I had to cancel teaching Jujitsu as well this week. As this week progressed we got incrementally better and I am going to get back to my normal routine on Monday. I tried getting into the gym this morning but my head started pounding again as I was tying my shoes.

[Mark E. Hurling]

70% 1RM for singles and 60% for backoff set.

Squat: 175 1-1-1-1-1. 145-5 for a backoff set.

High Pulls: 145 1-1-1-1-1, 110-5.

Music via Spotify: Whip It, Feels Like the First Time, We're An American Band, Thunderstruck, Living in America, Build Me Up Buttercup, Rescue Me, Haul Away Joe, Washington Post March, Give Me Three Steps, Walk This Way, Rock This Town Tonight, Lunatic Fringe, Relax.

It's good to be back in some semblance of my routine. The start of this year had Churchill's black dog stalking me quietly around during my waking and sleeping hours. I only had to hack up half a lung during lifting, and while getting up and out wasn't the easiest thing after all the sleeping I'd been doing the last while, I managed reasonably well. Sadly, the lingering congestion in my head has it pounding a little.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Back to full weights again @ 70% of 1RM and 60% for backoff set.

Bench Press: 160, 1-1-1-1-1. 135-5 for a backoff set.

Push Press: 85, 1-1-1-1-1. 70-5 for a backoff set.

Hammer High Row: 195, 1-1-1-1-1. 165-5 for a backoff set.

Music vis Spotify: Night on Bald Mountain, Up Around the Bend, We Will Rock You, Magnificent Seven, Takin' a Ride, Danger Zone, Shipping Up to Boston, Bad to the Bone, I'm So Excited, Tusk, Amazing Grace.

Average HR of 117 bpm @ 78% of MHR for 44 minutes.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Light day breaking back in @ 70% of 1RM and 60% for the backoff set.

Deadlift: 245, 1-1-1-1-1. 215-5 for a backoff set.

Hip Belt Squat: 245, 1-1-1-1-1. 215-5 for a backoff set.

Music via Spotify: Crazy Train, Fanfare for the Common Man, Purple Haze, William Tell Overture, Hot Blooded, Pines of Rome, Gloria, Folsom Prison Blues, Just Another Brick in the Wall, Discombobulate, My Sharona, I Want to Be Sedated, Think.

Average HR of 129 bpm @ 86% of MHR for 65 minutes.

[Mark E. Hurling]

70% of 1RM and 60% for the backoff set.

Seated Press: 162, 1-1-1-1-1. 135-5 for a backoff set.

Dips: 65, 1-1-1-1-1. 50-5 for a backoff set.

Hammer Low Row: 262, 1-1-1-1-1. 215-5 for a backoff set.

Music via Spotify: Immigrant Song, Highway to Hell, Mars the Bringer of War, Fame, Gimme Shelter, A Boy Named Sue, Working in a Coal Mine, Here I Go Again, Round and Round.

Average HR of 127bpm @ 85% of MHR for 65 minutes.

[Mark E. Hurling]

90% 1RM for singles and 75% for backoff set.

Squat: 220 1-1-1-1-1. 180-5 for a backoff set.

High Pulls: 165 1-1-1-1-1, 140-5.

Music via Spotify: When the Bullet Hits the Bone, Run Like Hell, Death of Siegfried, Up Around the Bend, Chain of Fools, Feels Like the First Time, Let's Get It Started, Don't Stop Believin', Runaway, Tarzan Boy.

The first GOOD lifting session I've had in a while lately.

[Mark E. Hurling]

90% of 1RM.

Bench Press: 200, 1-1-1-1-1. 170-5 for a backoff set.

Push Press: 110, 1-1-1-1-1. 90-5 for a backoff set.

Hammer High Row: 250, 1-1-1-1-1. 210-5 for a backoff set.

Music vis Spotify: White Rabbit, Copperhead Road, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Dies Irae, Barracuda, Start Me Up, Dueling Banjos, Rocky, Respect, Relax, My Granddaddy Was a Horse Marine, Hot Rod Lincoln, Here I Go Again.

Average HR of 113 bpm @ 75% of MHR for 58 minutes.