Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Smiling through the set.


Everyone who knows me knows I'm very, very, very patient. Some say stubborn and that's true as well but I am willing to work and wait and work some more to get what I want.Nothing empowers me more than knowing I can get where I need to go by my own will and discipline and work.

Control is such a nice feeling and so hard to find. There is SO little any of us actually have control over that when we experience some semblance of it it is very gratifying indeed. I used to think I had control over my body; at least I felt so for a very long time( injuries included) but the last 8 years or so I thought that it had all been lost.

That desire and passion, patience and spirit were not enough to push back the accidents, injuries and sheer stupidity I had experienced and put my physical being through. Two years ago I thought I was seriously back on track but it took almost another 16 months before I really realized that I am back on track.

I am in less pain than I have been in eight years and can do more now physically than in the last fifteen. I finally figured out how to walk again with almost no pain, I can press overhead with no pain, I can swing and deadlift with no pain and my strength, lean muscle and work capacity are the best they have in the last 10 years as well.

I'm going to be 54 years old March 1 and I can easily say I feel better and could do more than I did at 44. That's cool. But it's been a slog, that's for sure. But I don't have much quit in me and as I've said forever, you may outlift me now but I will outlast you. No brag, just fact.

I have always had faith that my methods(based on Chek and Janda), that I outlined in my dvd "Restoring lost physical function" were correct and would work, I just honestly didn't think it would take this long, lol. Especially with the onslaught of Z Health and FMS my techniques were ( are) looked at as passe' and oversimple. Oh well, they work. At least for me and to me that's the most important.

For, as they say on the plane, "put your mask on before you put on your childs". If I can't fix myself I can't help anyone else.

This came all crashing onto me( in the best way possible) today when I was getting ready for my last set of long cycle clean and presses and I heard Disturbed's " down with the sickness" come over the speakers. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up like they used to before a big set and I KNEW, just knew without a doubt, that not only would I make this set but that it would be easy, strong, effortless.

A Pr and it would be the easiest set of the day.As it should be when the Gods are smiling.

As I was as I set up and then , throughout the whole set, as each rep was easier than the last and I could feel it. I was just where I wanted to be, where I live to be; in the zone; where it's not about just surviving the set, it's about playing with it.

When it's not about " ok, I hope I don't get hurt" , but, OK, lets play, lets rock.
And it's happening more often all the time now. And I love it. I don't want it, I just need it :)

Workouts are building on workouts, as they should. Rest is restoring, as it should. Abilities are accumulating, food is healing. My mind is strengthening and the vision is becoming clear again. Never too late.Not too late. Just in time.

here's the workout

6-7 am stretchout
the usual suspects with emphasis on overhead stretches and t spine mobility

8:30 am
one arm swing 16 kg x5/5/5/5x3

Long Cycle Clean and Press
16 kg x5/5

24kg x5/5
x6/6
x7/7
x8/8
x9/9
x10/10
90 presses total/ Pr.

I've done 3 sets of 10/10 with the long cycle clean and press but never close to this.I knew things were right when I made the jump from 16 kg right to 24 kg, always a good sign. If you want to lift heavy top weights at some point you have to make big jumps and this one was no problem.


Two Hand Swipes

20 lbs x5/5
25 lbs x 8/8
x9/9
x10/10

these rocked and I can't wait to get my Cruiser 35 lb club.

Bodyblade laterals

5 minutes straight alternating arms every 10 reps. These kill! and such a perfect finisher for my delts.

this was about the best workout I've had in eons.I so love this long cycle combo. I was scheduled to do short cycle today but craved the long cycle. Not getting enough swings in this weekend didn't help.

Next week sets of 5 with the 28 kg!

datsit:))


5 comments:

Boris T said...

Good to hear that the combo and the workouts are treating you well. Hope all the future workouts get even better.

Mark Reifkind said...

thanks Boris, it was a great day.

Diana said...

It's very rewarding to one's self, at least IMO, when we accomplish something we've been working for. I remember that feeling as I hung for 15 seconds at the HKC!!!! LOL

Congrats on your goals and "Thanks" for putting my blog on your blog-roll, just noticed it! And I thought I just got super popular all of a sudden!!!

Yeeeehawww for March b-days! We're the best!

Anonymous said...

Hi Mark,

after reading your post i had the feeling:Yeah,that's the spirit of kettlebell training ;-)

Great workout and enjoy this time....
Take care ,-)

Mark Reifkind said...

Bruce

for me, training spirit more important than anything. thanks and take care

Rif

195 x 1 x 11 , 20 kg swings 5 x 8/8, floor pushups 35, 25

  Not great sleep and a bit sore ( no aspirin for last three days) so all in all it was a strong day . Just definitely not 'fresh'  ...