Well, there's great training days, good training days and then those days when you just gotta dig in a little deeper and find what you're made of to get through it.
Today was one of those days for me.
It was off to a slow start as I wanted to hit legs hard but my hamstrings were still feeling it from the Dead-lifts yesterday but after a good warm up I was able to get under the Bar for my first set of Front Squats.
That set went perfect, nice and strong, perfect execution for the reps I wanted and every muscle responded in sync. My plan was to hit 3 sets total Heavy Front Squats for 3-5 Reps and couple that with some Box Jumps 1-3 Reps.
That plan changed quickly as I hit my second set of squats, again with perfect execution, only this time with heavier weight wanting to challenge myself a bit more. It must of took all my focus because as I went to rack the weight back, I missed the left side and I suddenly felt the sharp pain shoot through my left wrist as it took the entire load of the bar on that side.
Luckily Josh was able to rush over and grab the bar and rack it before anything too serious happened but the damage was done. The back of my hand had literally bent all the way back to the point of touching my upper forearm with the weight on top of it.
I do struggle with this type of flexibility but this was not the way I wanted to stretch it out.
After assessing the damage, wrist a bit swollen but nothing broken, I quickly applied an ice package to the hurt area. After a couple of minutes I checked my grip under the bar - NOPE, just the slightest pressure sent way too much pain through my wrist and forearm - Squats were done for the day.
Now, you might say that I could of changed up to Crossed-Arm front Squats, Back Squats or Zercher Squats and I'll be honest, now that I'm writing this post - Zercher would of probably been my best option. Not sure why I didn't think of that during my training today but now I have 4 points to make in this blog instead of 3.
Point #4 and totally unintentional but adding it now anyway - Always Keep great training notes and always know your progression and regression exercises to perform as needed.
Ok, so with that said, I know better than to overload my lower back with Squats and Dead-lifts in training days too close together. My back simply cannot handle it which is why I opted for Front Squats today. As I mentioned above, I have some flexibility issues in my wrists and shoulders so I use the Olympic grip during Front Squats to help with this as well as help with more thoracic extension - crossing my arms only promotes these weaknesses more so I refuse to do my front squats holding the bar in this manner - and we've already covered Zercher's... can't believe I didn't think to do em...UGH!
As I'm holding the ice pack on my wrist, I look at Josh and Marvin and give them my #1 Point for the day - Always use a spotter!
You know, I'm that guy... the one who will train no matter if I have others to train with or not but there is something to be said about training smart and that means utilizing a spotter. Dumb things happen that can be avoided when you have someone there to insure they don't.
I know a lot of ya'll are out there that will argue the point that you don't like training partners and you're better off alone. To that I say, to each their own.
I just feel that you can get a better workout when you have someone else looking out for you, pushing you and even helping you through advanced training methods like drop sets, negatives, forced reps, etc - AH HA - can't do some of those things without a training partner can ya ;)
So what did I do after the injury - stop my workout? Can't do anything with the Barbell (we ain't bringing up the Zercher again here) so it's time to call it a day right... WRONG!
Point #2 - There is always an alternative and when you live by the No Excuses Code you adapt and overcome!
I'll be honest, I was upset with myself but I still had more work to do - the heavy bag was already set up from our MXT classes this morning - so I put a few dents in the sides with some high knee kicks. That felt great - time for some walking lunges but can't grasp Dumbbells in my left hand. Ah, but we have old military duffle bags that are filled with sand - strap it on the back and lets go! I could even do this drill while keeping the ice pack wrapped around my wrist, now we're talking! A mix of box jumps, heavy bag high knees and weighted walking lunges - that's how we're going to get it done today.
And as I put on the old used Army green duffle-bag I was reminded of the Surplus store we went to get these from and what I felt the day Lori and I picked them up and I hope all my clients think about this every single time they use one of these old bags.
(By the way, we have 3 in the gym, one is my old personal bag, the other 2 we picked up used, and used on purpose).
Point #3 - Someone once used that bag to serve our country. Maybe they packed it with their belongings and went overseas. Maybe they never came back. I don't know the story of the men and women who owned those bags except my personal one. But every time I use them I am grateful to our military, our veterans and those that are currently serving. I am grateful that they provide the freedom and safety we enjoy to live our lives doing what we want when we want and that includes training in a gym.
I'm going to say something here that I want every reader of this post, especially my members of MXT, to take to heart...
Training in a gym such as MXT or anywhere else you may in this country is not a right that you have, its a luxury. And its a luxury provided by the men and women who provide that luxury every single day.
I, for one will continue to honor those that have gone on before me, those that serve today and those that will volunteer themselves tomorrow.
Maybe next time, before you gripe and complain about the brutality of the sandbag as part of the training, you'll pick it up and shoulder it with pride - do it in honor of someone who you will never know or know the story of - but do it because they lived their life for YOU!
Get Work DONE!
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