Monday June 24

Getting close to the end of the school year ... and I'm really enjoying the AC at work.

Before work, I got this done for four rounds:

20 kb two handed swings
10 kb clean and press each side
10 kb snatch
20 body weight squats
25 feet up push ups
20 seated knee tucks

Lots of rolling out after I was done training, too.

I'm adding one or two things into my training per week. I'm also making progress on the actual physical layout and set up of my training space this week, too. The gym floor itself needs a pressure wash and a coat of paint before too long. That, and I need to get on setting up a chin up bar of some kind.

Moving forward, I'm going to try dead lifts Wednesday, but I wasn't too impressed with the ache I was left with in my groin last week, so ... body weight squats might be what I'm doing for this phase of training. If that's not cool enough, I'm planning on a couple of builds this summer, too:

the first one's an Atlas stone. I don't have one, and I didn't want to move it, so ... I'll make one this summer:

The other one is a remake ... If body weight squats are too easy, and full on dead lifts are too much, then I should try a happy wedium with a Bulgarian training bag.

I had one a while ago, but gave it away to a rugby buddy. Quite frankly, I didn't want to move it, so ... I need to hit up Matt Wichlinski's genius video and do a better job this time 'round:

Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 23

Friday was a rest and prep day. Some stretching and napping with lots and lots of water throughout the day.

Saturday was a day of mixed blessings. It was nice to have a lot of my club mates surprised that I was playing seconds. Almost to a person they expressed that they thought I would be playing first team rugby, but were happy to have me playing with them. Some even mentioned that I was fun to watch play. I got almost a full game in on Saturday.

I say almost because just as I was getting into the 65th minute of the game ... I was yellow carded. Yup, the Discipline Director of the Niagara Rugby Union, member of an Ontario Discipline Panel was carded for .... unprofessional play. Seems you can't tackle someone from behind if they have tapped and gone on a penalty. Well, I'm pretty sure I knew, I just wanted to prevent him form scoring.

As I sat near the dead ball line, my team scored twice from cross kicks. Really really pretty plays. I can't help but make the observation that I saw these tries scored first hand in League Rugby  this spring. A pretty play is a pretty play, regardless of Code.

In any case, I got a nice ten minute break and came back on as a flanker. Another part of the mixed blessing I spoke of earlier.

After that, I was on the bench for the firsts. Got on in the last ten minutes of that game, too - at tight head. I managed to stomp on my hooker's toes and forget how to bind on the right hand side of the scrum at least once.

On the positive side, in a nice display of fitness, I supported a kick back to a ruck. I managed to steal the ball from the opposing 9, and feed my charging winger who exploded down the field to a try. In hockey parlance, "I got a sweet assist, man."

I didn't do much stretching after the games, but did a lot between them. I was pretty de-hydrated at the end and collapsed in my nicely cooled basement.

Sunday was a family day - I had to host a few relatives and watch two of my children swim in a show. That was awesome. At the end, I was in the basement again, making sure to stretch and recover.

Wednesday and Thursday June 20

Wednesday was a training day - and so was Thursday.

Wednesday, I was really sore from training so at the end of this session, spent 15 or so minutes rolling out my legs. Really need to get them to be less sore. This was done with the 30 lb bell

20 kb two handed swings
10 kb clean and press each side
10 kb snatch
25 feet up push ups
20 seated knee tucks

I need to get a free standing chin up bar, man... something to get my hanging knee tucks back.

Thursday was crazy busy. With the end of a swimming season for two of my kids, they had a training session on Thursday night, so I knew I was going to miss rugby. I emailed ahead of time, but was selected for the second (and third)XV for this weekend. I'll admit, I'm to blame.

I got this done in the sunny sunny backyard. My little one was running around and looking for bugs and I got a chance to do this for three rounds with the 40 lb bell:

My toys are smaller

Warm up
20 kb two handed swings
10 kb clean and press each side
10 kb snatch
25 feet up push ups

for the first set of push ups, my little one was on my back, but got bored of it, as I was not moving around like a horse. Man, what a lousy training partner .... ;)

Monday June 17 and Tuesday June 18

Who trains on a Monday? I do, that's who.

I got this done for three rounds before getting off to work:

20 two handed KB swings
20 KB cleans
10 kb Snatches

I also had to roll my legs out for about 20 minutes before I could do anything else.

On Tuesday, I got through a warm up and a 90 minute session on scrummaging. I understand that it is a very important part of the game, but really .... I'm not that bad at it. Some on my team are, and so ... I tried to help them. Kind of hard at times, but teaching is what I do.

After the training session, got this done three sets:

5 x 50m sprint
25 feet up push ups
20 seated knee tucks

I borrowed a roller and rolled my legs and shoulders out for about 15 minutes before icing my knees and watching some of the previous Wednesday game on the big screen. I should have played, man. I should have played.

June 15, 16 and 17

Friday I was sore ... so I rolled and stretched for my training for the day.

After work, I drove north to fix a dock on Saturday. After fixing the dock, I drive back the three hours and went to play a friendly game of rugby.

I thought I played well, but just didn't have the ooopmh to get the entire team going. Of course, having some bitter angry people trying to start a brawl didn't help. I know I beat my guys, as I had two of them dangling, off their feet, in the scrum. The third guy I had against me was about 350 and just couldn't get around the pitch.

We're still having some difficulties around set piece, but at least I'm able to squish people when we get the chance.

 Sunday I did more moving and rolling. I also hosted my parents for Father's Day.

June 13

I just didn't fee like putting it away.

Well, all I can say is a little work each day ... one step up the mountain each day ... will add up.

I moved two helves in the garage Thursday. A bit more room for my training stuff and I don't lose any shelving for the normal stuff in there, either.

A nice little addition is that since it is my own gym, I don't have to deal with really pesky idiots AND if I don't feel like putting something back, I don't have to.

In any case, here's what I did for four rounds:

deadlifts 4x 180lbs - focused on form and not hurting myself.
20 double arm kb swings
10 kb cleans
20 feet up push ups


I ate ok, but then I went to rugby training and I did my usual running around and hitting people

then did this for three rounds

50 m sprint x 5
20 feet up push ups
20 seated knee tucks

Felt good after, but know that tomorrow I'm going to be sore as all get out. 

June 1-12

Well, the stress level for me is going down, at least a little - but it's taking a toll on the rest of my family.

And, I'm sorry to say, this blog.

I will try and keep this updated, but between two children being "off" their routines and the third coming into the end of a sports season, it's tough to maintain focus. At least I'm getting to rugby and doing the "sprint 50's" after each session.

This morning, I got into the new garage and got this done for four rounds:

20 two handed swings
10 KB cleans
10 kb snatches
20 feet up push ups
10 bench flies
20 seated knee tucks

Nothing fancy, but I got it done. If it's any consolation, I'm missing a lot of work due to taking care of myself and my family, but I'm also missing a chunk of rugby, too.