Hello, Copper

[Matthew]

This is a big step for me. I've been with the other log since November, nine months it's been. It was kind of a serious relationship, we were planning on staying together forever and eventually taking over the Training Log forum. I guess sometimes you have to say goodbye to some things..


And say hello to others!

Welcome to my "Becoming a Cop" log. Today marks the first day of my five week training in preparation for the fitness test. This log will follow me through the test, any interviews and other processes, and, if I'm hired, carry me right through my career.
Of course if I'm not hired I can always go back to becoming bigger, faster, and stronger



My plan is this.
Sunday
distance run

Monday
sprints and misc. drills

Tuesday
hang snatch
front squats
bench
push up
chin up
prone shrug or reverse fly

Wednesday
sprints and misc. drills

Thursday
OH press
push up
pulldown x12-20
reverse grip row

Friday
sprints
no drills

Saturday
high pull
RDL
bench
push up
chin up
prone shrug or reverse fly


One day of chin ups will be sets of 1RM. One day will be bodyweight for reps. Same grip for both.
I'll probably do a different variation of push ups each day. Or maybe just two variations, and I'll go back and forth between them. Or maybe I'll do a bunch of different ones each day. Who knows.
By Misc drills I mean tire drags, high jumps, agility ladder stuff. Things like that.

I'll stick with this for the five weeks. I'll have a nice two day rest between the last workout (Saturday) and the test (Tuesday).

Disclaimer: things might change during the five weeks, I make no promises. Everything depends on how well it's working.

Wish me luck

[ParanoidAndroid]

good luck man.

[Matthew]

Thanks PA

[MindPower]

Good luck Matt

[Matthew]

Thanks MindPower


Yesterday, did tons of sprints across the backyard. Worked mostly on starting speed, finding a good start position. I was running 20 yards in just under four seconds, which puts me at "slowest person in the world". I think I need to work on stride length. And hip flexion, meaning I need to work on how quickly I throw my leg forward. So I'll do that..
Also did some vertical jumps. I took some scrap wood from the garage and set up a thing to jump over. I did forward jumps, adding height to the wood.. tower.. thing. Then I did some side jumps over a smaller height.
Also did some agility work. I took the garden hose and laid it out to form a wacky plus sign (+). Then just jumped corner to corner, in random order.
Then I did some high jump knee tucks, meaning I jumped as high as I could (straight up, not over anything) and tucked my knees into my chest. That was kind of redundant after doing the other jumps though.
Then I did some single leg jumps onto the steps of my porch. Started with the first step, then went to the second step.


Today I missed the bus to the gym and had to lift in my garage. I started with a few sets of hang snatches and then moved onto high pulls.
After that I got an idea. I got my bands and hooked one end to the bar on the ground, then stood over the bar and hooked the other end of the band around the back of my neck, resting on my traps. Then I just jumped as high as I could. I did that in between sets of the high pulls. I really like the band jumps, I think I'll keep doing those.
Then I walked to the park and did some chin ups/push ups.
chin ups
8,6
push ups
20, 15, 15


And that's it. I'll shower/nap before work, then tomorrow I'll do some more sprints and high jumps, get my hair cut, shower/nap again, then back to work.
This will be my life for the next month. Train, shower, nap, work, sleep.

[Mahler]

Best of luck for the new journey.

[missjane]

Good luck! I'm betting you will nail that test!

[Victoria]

Good luck, Matthew.....you'll do great!

[Matthew]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.

[Matthew]

August 9

jump squats
worked up to 135x3x3

box jumps

bench
155x5x2

chin ups
8,6,6

RDL
285x4x2



I've decided that I want to join the Tactical and Rescue Unit (think SWAT). I'm thinking 5-10 years, I could make the team. Probably closer to ten just because I'll have more experience on the force, more time to train, and I'll have matured a bit. And don't forget I have to be a cadet for 2.5 years before I can even apply for the position of Constable. In ten years I'll be 29 going on 30 (birthday's in November). Ya, that's what I want to do. Good.

[Frank.S]

Nice work. Swat stuff would be pretty cool in a way for sure.

I think its great your using your training for not only personal gain, but also you will be helping people in the future by training hard. Ive seriously considered quitting what im in now and becoming a firefighter for the sole reason. The money would be less, but I think it would be far more rewarding.

[missjane]

Originally Posted by Matthew

I've decided that I want to join the Tactical and Rescue Unit (think SWAT). I'm thinking 5-10 years, I could make the team. Probably closer to ten just because I'll have more experience on the force, more time to train, and I'll have matured a bit. And don't forget I have to be a cadet for 2.5 years before I can even apply for the position of Constable. In ten years I'll be 29 going on 30 (birthday's in November). Ya, that's what I want to do. Good.

It's really nice to see someone so young be so focused and mature.

[gobbla]

good luck

This is a fun little book. It's not fantastic by any stretch but might be worth flipping through if you get bored at the book store.

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by Frank.S

Nice work. Swat stuff would be pretty cool in a way for sure.

I think its great your using your training for not only personal gain, but also you will be helping people in the future by training hard. Ive seriously considered quitting what im in now and becoming a firefighter for the sole reason. The money would be less, but I think it would be far more rewarding.

Thanks Frank.
Honestly, you spend a good portion of your life working, spend that time doing something you want to be doing.
You need to look ahead. Think 5 years from now - by that time you'll have had time to get settled in your job, whatever that may be. In one hand, you have the field of work you're currently in, and all the benefits and drawbacks of it. In the other hand you have firefighting, and all the benefits and drawbacks of that. Now, I don't give a shit about the pros and cons. I care about this: how do you feel about yourself in each line of work? Are you happy with your life? Are you proud of what you're doing, and are the people you're closest to proud of you? Do you dread your next day at work (like I currently do with my warehouse job), or do you still have that 'get-up-and-go' quality? And, can you build the life you want around your career, or will it get in the way?

One thing I'd like to say about firefighting and police work, is that they're both BAD jobs in the sense that you'll see things that people pray never to have to see, and you'll be right up there dealing with them.

I've thought about all these things, and it helped me see things a little more clearly. If I were hired as a police officer tomorrow I would be TERRIBLE at it. I would suck ass. I would probably run from any kind of confrontation, because today I'm a weak little coward.
But I know I have it in me to be better than that, and I will be, because this is what I want to do. There are no reasons to NOT do something that you want to do. Just figure out what the hell that is and DO IT dammit.

Sorry for rambling.
And sorry if you've already made up your mind

Originally Posted by missjane

It's really nice to see someone so young be so focused and mature.

Thanks. I was lost for a long while, having absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. It's good to finally have some direction in my life. I guess I can start growing up now..

Originally Posted by gobbla

good luck

This is a fun little book. It's not fantastic by any stretch but might be worth flipping through if you get bored at the book store.

Thanks gobbla. I think I'll have a look-see.

[Matthew]

August 10

40 yard sprints
three sets, two reps each (one rep = one 40 yard sprint)

hanging leg raises

band resisted forward leg thrusts



after only the first 40 yards the front of my left thigh started hurting. It got worse as the session went on. This always happens, and it's usually on my left side. I NEED to figure out what's going on, this could drag me down for sure.

[gobbla]

I forgot to mention it earlier, but don't try to change your strides. You're not a strong enough runner yet. You're body is moving the best way it can even if it sucks and *should* be something else. If you try to make it look pretty but you're not physically capable of moving like that, you'll drop a nut.

You're soreness might have something to do with 6 high intensity days in the week.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Thanks. I was lost for a long while, having absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. It's good to finally have some direction in my life. I guess I can start growing up now..

It took me until my 30s to figure out which way to go. You are in a great position, do not lose focus!!

I find your current journey very interesting, Matthew. Keep it up, you are doing great!

BTW, I miss your old sign-in name with the caps....what happened to it?