Brutal Workout, yet fun

[Veronica]

I've done some running with a weight vest and some pulling of a sled with weights. That's a lotta fun! You think you're running, but you're barely moving.

I've also done some walking on the treadmill set to an incline holding kettlebells. Not something you do by yourself.

Veronica

[Wahine]

I've done some running with a weight vest and some pulling of a sled with weights. That's a lotta fun! You think you're running, but you're barely moving.

Done this way is really cool, especially pulling a sled. We do sets where we partner up and run with those really burly giant elastic bands around the pelvis where one partner resists but both are headed in the same direction or even with both partners running "forwards" but in opposite directions so really they end up running on the spot. It's great for when we're stuck inside.

[Catrin]

Interesting you mention the sled. I know the group training class I just joined uses those, sort of dreading/looking forward to when I first do that He doesn't start off with people running with the sleds of course - first you get to pull empty, then loaded sleds down the sprint lane using this harness thing that drags the sled behind you.

I am really challenged in the pull-up department, but he had me doing, basically, a pull up from a prone position on the TRX (a really flat row) where my head was under the anchor point and I started with my head just about a foot or so off the ground - if that far. I really didn't think I could do it - but I did it more easily than I thought possible

Wahine, that sounds fun!

[Wahine]

I am really challenged in the pull-up department, but he had me doing, basically, a pull up from a prone position on the TRX (a really flat row) where my head was under the anchor point and I started with my head just about a foot or so off the ground - if that far. I really didn't think I could do it - but I did it more easily than I thought possible

Wahine, that sounds fun!

You can practice this type of pull-up at home using a table.

I also like doing a self assisted pull up using a therapy ball underneath me. You still have to do most of the work yourself because the therapy ball is wiggly. You have to be really careful that you don't rely on the therapy ball to stay up or you'll hurt yourself. You have to use it just for a little support. It's easier and safer if you have a way to hold the therapy ball in place.

[Catrin]

Thanks, I will try it! This takes practice, for sure. I think I will try it without the therapy ball for now. At my gym they have things you can put the ball in that stabilizes it - but if I am practicing there I will just use the TRX and if I happen to lose my grip I am only a foot or so from a rubber mat.

They also have these really big robust band thingies that they use for assisted pull-ups. I've been told it would probably work for me but with my ankle flexibility problem I am afraid to trust myself to what is basically a really large rubber band...sort of kind of.

[Irulan]

For the longest time, I had the goal of a no-assist pull up. I got very close, but the reality is I have a torn labrum in my right shoulder and a no-assist pull up is just not something I should do. I do a ton of other shoulder work. In fact, I think it's my work out that has kept my shoulder stable for several years now. I've come close to re injuring ( subluxation on the Grand Canyon) but because the entire shoulder girdle is so strong now, it's prevented potentially bad things from happening so far.

There's lots of other things I can do instead... horizontal pulls, full pushups, a very wide array of other things, so I just accept it.

[Catrin]

Shoulder/biceps are my weak point. I've been working out pretty heavily for 3 full years now and that part of my body hasn't come along near as far as my core and lower body. There has been progress, but not what I would like to see. However I will take what I can get, and the new approach at my current gym appears to be getting my body's attention.

I still can't do more than 5 full pushups though, and those are pretty bad. This is becoming embarrassing since I can do 100 modified pushups in sets of 20-30 (just last night as part of a challenge that included 50 pull-ups, 100 pushups and 150 squats - started and ended with a .5 mile run). I did TRX rows in place of the pull-ups since I can't do unassisted pull-ups just yet.