Beyond the Limits

[RacerBill]

Originally Posted by SpacecityPaula

What is a travelling pushup????

This is Danny's response when I asked him the same thing:

Traveling pushup - this is bad name for this exercise. Start in a pushup position with a close grip. Move the left hand out about 18 inches and do a pushup. When you get to the top move the left hand back next to the right in the close grip position and then move the right hand out like you did the left and do another pushup. Thats two reps. To make it harder start with your hands elevated on a aerobic step or med ball.

I haven't got to the point where I'm elevating a hand yet.

[lance02]

Hey, even though you energy level was low, you DID something -- more than most would do.

Hanging ab raise -- if that's what I think it is, those are mighty impressive numbers!

[UConnJulie]

Nice workouts Bill! Glad that you are working with Danny ... his program looks great!

I used to live right near an old abandoned railway, which had been turned into a rail-trail. I walked it nearly every day with my dog when he was a puppy, and used to find insulators all the time. But when I asked a local expert about them, he said that they weren't worth anything ... too common. But I learned a little (a very little) about them ... interesting.

[RacerBill]

Cool story, Julie. Maybe we'll turn you into a collector yet! Do you remember your local expert's name? I may well know him... the hobby's not that large and I know a lot of the NE area collectors.

[RacerBill]

November 10, 2007

The routine's been all mixed up this week... hence the Saturday afternoon workout.

Mobilization and activation as usual.

A1) Body row: 3 x BW x 15
Moved my feet out about 8" or so, which made it tougher. Not quite to straight legs yet.

A2) Goblet box squat: 3 x 60 x 12
I could DEFINITELY feel it with the heavier weight this time!

B1) Cable wood chops: 1 x 45 x 12, 2 x 50 x 12

B2) Pushups: 3 x BW x 15

C1) Single leg DL: 3 x BW x 12 (each leg)
More of a balance challenge than anything. I think I'll try weight next time.

C2) Underhand lat pull: 3 x 190 x 12

D1) Cable press: 3 x 45 x 12 (each arm)

D2) High step up: 3 x 15 x 12

This wasn't quite the order I did things today, since the gym was quiet but it seemed EVERYONE wanted to use the Smith machine. First one guy was on it doing his demi-squats, then his girlfriend had to use it for bench presses. She said, "This bar is 45 pounds like a regular barbell, isn't it?" He unhooked it, lifted it a few times, and said, "Yeah, it feels like 45 to me." Yeesh. Then after I got done with one set of rows, another guy set it up for squats. He had good form and ROM so I don't know why he didn't just do regular squats. But he was nice enough to work in with me.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by RacerBill

Haha! True. Not a lot of women involved in the hobby. Maybe I'd better try eHarmony.

So, funny story. A few years ago, I go to a trade show (mass mailing and other boring postal crap (no offense to postal workers, Michele, should you read this)).

Afterward, I show my wife some pictures of the "event." She jokes about being relieved, since there were no women in the photos. I pointed out that, appearances to the contrary, about 75% of the people in the pics were women. I'm sure she was even more relieved...

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by RacerBill

Cool story, Julie. Maybe we'll turn you into a collector yet! Do you remember your local expert's name? I may well know him... the hobby's not that large and I know a lot of the NE area collectors.

Nope ... it was some guy my ex found ... I think he was in East Windsor, but this was 10 or so years ago.

Roland, you crack me up!!!

[Victoria]

I grew up on the shore here in CT, and I used to find tons of sea glass from insulators. I could always tell by the color and the thickness. Those were some of my favorite pieces.

But, how on earth does someone WANT to collect insulators? Not that there's anything wrong with them...!

[RacerBill]

Originally Posted by Victoria

I grew up on the shore here in CT, and I used to find tons of sea glass from insulators. I could always tell by the color and the thickness. Those were some of my favorite pieces.

But, how on earth does someone WANT to collect insulators? Not that there's anything wrong with them...!

Okay, you asked for it. Here you go, all the gory details.

Back in 1980 my best friend began collecting. His dad is a railroad nut so he found a bunch while walking the tracks one day, and researched them to find out more. Personally, I thought he was nuts to collect these things.

I found a couple at a garage sale, and showed them to him. He pointed out how you can tell the age by the characteristics, and showed me some of the different shapes and patents and the way they developed over the years. I had thought they just made a couple styles, but in actuality they're nearly endless. And every few years someone would come up with a strange idea, patent it and convince a glass manufacturer to make it, but the idea didn't catch on. Those are the rare ones today.

That got me hooked -- I've always liked old things and odd tidbits of history, so these things just appealed to that.

You're sorry you asked now, aren't you.

[RacerBill]

November 12, 2007

I like having the day off!

Mobility and activation.

A1) Cable deadlift: 3 x 140 x 12
Ended up doing this and the body rows as straight sets since the Smith was occupied.

A2) Body row: 3 x BW x 15

B1) Traveling pushups: 3 x BW x 16

B2) Hanging ab raise: 2 x BW x 15, 1 x BW x 12

C1) Reverse Lunge: 3 x 12+12 x 12 (+4)

C2) Incline bench row: 3 x 20+20 x 12 (+10)

D1) Crossover step up: 1 x BW x 12, 2 x +10 x 12 (+10)

D2) Cable chop: 3 x 50 x 12 (each side)

Experienced a little "aha!" moment during the lunges. I finally figured out that when my right knee wobbled, that was when my right glute wasn't firing. Yeah, it should be obvious, but I'm a slow learner. Now that I've spent time on glute activation, I know what it's supposed to feel like when it works.

[lance02]

Gotta like "aha" moments, even though you sometimes wish they'd happen sooner! Nice workout too.

[Lost Dog]

Did someone say "a-ha?"



EDIT: Uh. How can it not be available? Here it is?

[RobLL]

Bill - you would commiserate, my nephew had a large share of his 20+ year bottle collection on the island of Hawaii shatter in his sight at the last largish earthquake. He had taken a number of precautions, but obviously not enough.

[RacerBill]

Wow, that's a sad tale, Rob. Your nephew has my sympathy. I know quite a few insulator collectors in California who go to some lengths to keep their collections safe from tremors. But I suppose we never really know exactly what might happen.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by RacerBill

You're sorry you asked now, aren't you.

Nope! Insulators are cool!

[RacerBill]

November 14, 2007

Mobilization and Activation routines.

A1) Body row: BW x 14, 2 x BW x 15
First set I missed getting the bar to my chest on the last two reps, so I couldn't count them. I've moved my feet out a bit more.

A2) Goblet box squat: 3 x 65 x 12 (+5)

B1) Cable wood chop: 1 x 50 x 12, 2 x 55 x 12 (+5)

B2) Pushups: 3 x BW x 15

C1) Single leg DL: 3 x +10 x 12
Still had some balance problems and had to put the opposite foot down a couple times between reps, but getting better. The weight helps a bit.

C2) Underhand lat pull: 3 x 190 x 12

D1) Cable press: 3 x 50 x 12 (+5)

D2) High step up: 3 x +20 x 12 (+5)

[Lost Dog]

Those goblet squats where a blessing to me. I give those things credit for getting me to squat A LOT deeper.