Saturday, June 12, 2010

50 Thousand Snatches: Mission Accomplished.


It took me longer than wanted it to but this morning I surpassed the goal that I set March,2008 when I heard about the 50 thousand snatch challenge. I knew right away that I wouldn't race this challenge. That is, I wouldn't change my training to accomplish it. I just wanted to keep track of how many snatches I was doing each week, as part of my online training log( which is all this blog really is to me) and see how long it would take me to get the 50 k.

I also knew that all the ' hares' that took off when the challenge was announced, would NOT be there at the end. Either theirs or mine. I knew this tortoise would. As I like to say these days, I might not be able to outlift you anymore, but I will outlast you. The only way it won't happen is if I quit and I don't have a lot of quit in me.

Tracy stopped tallying her snatches about a year ago but that's because there are literally too many to count every week,lol. She probably hit her 50 k goal 9 months ago and that's probably one third of the total number she does. Like I said, too many too count each workout.

But everybody else except for a few stalwarts gave in and either stopped snatching or stopped counting. I though I would beat Rob O'Brien to the tape but he poured it on and I tweaked my back so he won our little race; but again that was never the plan.

Today's victory is even that much sweeter when I remember that last Sunday my back was so locked up I couldn't stand at all without severe spams. I won't get dehydrated again, I promise. But I was so happy when I could do my little swing and press workout Thursday but not totally confident I would get my 50 kg goal today. I was way better the last few days but still tight in some places.

Woke up feeling great and knew it was in the bag. Tracy was going to test her five minute snatch test today first and I also knew she would kill it and provide even more inspiration to me for making my number.

It also helped to have Tracy, Meg, Mina and Nick all training together. The group dynamic was awesome although Tracy and company were all doing max vo2 based work. It didn't matter , the energy was great.

I settled on 50 sets of 7. That would give me 350 snatches and all I needed to hit 50k was 271. I wanted to hit the number but I also didn't want to be greedy and take any risk with my back.

It all went well. I hit 40 sets of 7 no problem which gave me the 280 I needed to break it and then went onto 50 sets for my next goal and then did 5 sets of 8 reps per arm to put the cherry on the sundae :)). I always want to finish strong to set up the next workout.

Last set, Best set.

Indeed.

Here's the breakdown

Snatch Vo2
15:15 protocol
16 kg

50 sets of 7
5 sets of 8

390 reps
14,040 lbs

Total snatches done since March 2008= 50,112

Nice, now onto 100,000. This time, hopefully in less time. Plus back to 36:36 protocol as well as building back to 80 sets of 8 in this protocol and introducing the 20 kg into the mix as well.

Clubbell Two Arm cast.

20 lbs x10/10 x 3 sets
25 lbs x8/8 x 5 sets

these were good. A bit worried about torque in the transverse plane so I didn't do any Shield casts or mills. Just fine today :))

Datsit.

14 comments:

Diana said...

Congrats on the 50K-that's outstanding.

Tracy Reifkind said...

My love....50,000 snatches doesn't compare to the athletic greatness I know you've already accomplished in the 35 + years you've been a competitive athlete.

Count the hours as a Olympic level gymnast you put in. Count the miles you put in as a race walker to ultra endurance runner. The miles you put in on the bike. The hours you put into training as a competive bodybuilder, and trainer/coach to one of our great professional bodybuilders, Scott Wilson (among a few others). Count the hours and lifts you did in the gym and on the platform as a competitive powerlifter.....50,000 snatches, after all of that was the least you could do!

This is just the latest challenge.

Anyone who claims to be anything....come back and walk the talk when you're 53 years old.

Mark Reifkind said...

Hon

:))

I love you.

Boris T said...

Congrats on reaching 50k!

Strength Nomad said...

Way to go. You really do walk the talk. -C.J. Brown

David R Bradley said...

Congratulations brother! Way to go. Thanks for keeping the peanut gallery inspired.

Mark Reifkind said...

c.j.

thanks man. simplicity and minimalism are components of my training that have always been there and have grown stronger each year.

Mark Reifkind said...

David

I am in that gallery myself :))

thanks.

Roland Denzel said...

Great job, Mark. Many would bail after back problems. Very inspiring.

Joe Sarti said...

Brilliant!

Mark Reifkind said...

thanks Roland

if i was in the habit of giving up because of injuries I would have quit 40 years ago,lol.never give up.

Mark Reifkind said...

thanks Joe!

Unknown said...

Was that the cork of a Turley I heard popping on Saturday night?

Mark Reifkind said...

Jami

Yes indeed it WAS a Turley, lol. This was something worthy of that bottle.Thanks for the stopping by and the support :))

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