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I failed on three separate occasions in my little birthday goal of hitting 32 reps (16 per hand) of push press with Erica, my 44kg kettlebell. I wanted to do it before my 33rd birthday, as I have a horror of asymmetric workouts.
The first attempt on Saturday, failed at 31. Thirty fucking one. Just could not get that last rep out.
Ok, Tuesday is the last day. Take my time, warm up, pump up Judas Priest. One rep shy, no problem. Miss it by five this time.
Gotta take another attempt. I know I can do it. Think about the problem: compared to prior kettlebell workouts, the weight means missed reps just kill me. Where with the 28kg a missed rep is just a missed rep, with Erica I'm instantly struggling to regain control, it takes a lot of energy to get her recentered before I can get back to the workout. There's a certain element of panic that sets in when almost dropping 97lbs from overhead, and I'd imagine that wasted energy too.
So maybe if I rejigger the rep scheme? Up until now I've been trying to do 10R10L6R6L. On all unilateral exercises my right arm is stronger, but my left arm is smoother, so I was thinking finish left because bad technique as I fatigue would kill the set. But maybe the three hand switches were too much. I had divided them because ten reps with Erica were tough enough that my tris get pumped. But what if we do it straight, 16R16L?
I try it. The right hand set goes up like butter, catching it at the bottom of each rep smooth, core is tight, legs are loose through the motion strong going up and tight at the top. Then the left hand is a disaster. I'm just not getting enough push with my legs, and the catches are sloppy. I pushed it hard, but I finished two fucking reps shy. R16L14 for a total of 30.
Now I'm stuck. Do I go straight to 34, or do an uneven workout for 33(bleh)? Do I push a harder training block and try for 40? Do I just let this one go and try something else?
Fuck, man, so close.
Do people routinely give weight room equipment names or is this a brand? Or, as I suspect, is this an obsessive thing like naming a volleyball Winston?
Let this one go. By uneven workout you mean uneven number? That doesn't matter. Also consider: Injury from injudicious increases in reps is not something you want.
It's odd and maybe I need coffee, but if your username weren't written right there I'd have not imagined you as the author of this. Striking how little I actually know of Mottizens despite my occasional suspicions otherwise.
I've always named, in my head, the lighter warmup weights (95-135) on a barbell for girls I dated who weighed that much, it amuses me to imagine the weight I'm lifting as a person. After ex girlfriends come the classic UFC weightclasses (155-170-185-205).
Erica was, when I dated her, about 97lbs, so when I got a person-sized KB it naturally took her name.
Brilliant. I'm putting this in a story.
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