Monday, November 30, 2009

New Direction of Training

I have been thinking a lot lately about the direction I want to take my training and what my training goals are. I am long over my METCON infatuation and really do not care at all about getting a faster Fran or doing some other named workout faster. I also do not anticipate facing the unknown and unknowable anytime soon. At this point, I care about the following:
1. Having fun, doing what I like and enjoying training.
2. Getting better at things I value: Olifting, kettlebells, pull-ups (in that order)
3. Not overtraining, not hitting plateaus and not feeling enslaved to a training program.

I am realizing that if I want to progress in the olifts, I have to have some plan. I planned about trying to do some version of the CA WODs, but even with sets scaled down, that volume quickly wears me out. I have made good progress over the past few months with the template of snatch for a heavy single, do a metcon, squat, do a metcon, clean and jerk for a heavy single, do a metcon, snatch a load for 4x without a miss, do a metcon, etc. That worked and maybe it still will.

I question how much strength training I need to do outside of just olifting and squatting. I had a recent talk with a seasoned WL and he told me, first to focus on olifting, next that I am much stronger then I am olifting. I do think my OL total is limited by technique, not strength.

So, where I am going? Here is what has been working: a mix of 1 lift a day (ala Dan John) and some short, fun METCONs. So, why change what is working for me. But, should I follow an actual plan? I think I will be embarking on a mix of the two. The template is lift/metcon/lift, etc. The lifts: Snatch, Clean and Jerk, and Squat. The lifting template will be based on Matt Foreman's article in the Dec 2009 PM. Here is the plan:

Wk:
Sn (SetsxReps)
C&J
FSqt
1
160 3x2
195x1
245 3x5
2
165 3x2
200 5x1
250 2x5
3
170 2x2
205 3x1
255 3x3
4
175 x2
210 3x1
260 3x3
5
180 x2
215 3x1 265
3x3
6
155 3x1
220 3x1
270 x3
7
185 x2
225 3x1
275 x3
8
190x2
230 2x1
280 x2
9
195x1
235 x1
285 x2
10
200x1
240 x1
290x2
11
205x1
245x1
270 2x1
12 Meet @ Windy City WL Club

The goal of this program is to hit a snatch of 210lbs and clean and jerk of 250lbs in 12 weeks. I will keep you guys posted.

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