Highway to Hell

Monday 240513

Monday 240513

Freestanding handstand push-up practice

Spend 15-20 minutes practicing the following progression:

Headstand

Headstand with knees to chest

From the headstand position, kick upward to a handstand and hold

Kick to a handstand, hold, and lower back to a headstand

Multiple freestanding handstand push-ups

Rest at least 10 minutes, then perform:

As many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
35 double-unders
5 freestanding handstand push-ups

Post rounds and reps to comments.

Scaling:
The goal today is to build confidence in a gymnastics movement and develop a better understanding of your body in space. This is an opportunity to practice complex skills in a low-intensity environment.

Setup and execution:

*Perform all stages of the progression about 1 foot off a wall. Consider using an AbMat for your head. Even though the wall is there, the goal is to use it only if you lose balance or control. Remember, we are working on a freestanding handstand and handstand push-up.

Headstand | Start in a frog stand and extend both legs above your body. Your head and hands will still be on the ground in the tripod position.

Headstand with knees to chest | While in a headstand, slowly bring your knees to your chest and then extend them back above your body.

Kick to a handstand | While in a headstand, bring your knees toward your chest in a controlled fashion. While extending your legs, think about driving your heels to the sky — this will build momentum. Then press with your arms to complete the freestanding handstand.

Kick to a handstand, hold, and lower back to headstand | If you cannot yet hold a freestanding handstand, use the wall for assistance. Once you kick up, hold for a second or two, then slowly bring your head back down to a headstand. Achieve this by bringing your head in front of your hands, and allow the feet/legs to have a slight backward lean to counterbalance. This can be completed with one or both legs on the wall for assistance.

Multiple freestanding handstand push-ups | Once you have successfully made it back to the headstand, attempt another rep.

Modifications:

Go as far as you can in the progression and stop when it becomes challenging. Over time, progress to the full movement as you develop the skills.

Intermediate option:
Spend 15-20 minutes practicing the following progression:

Headstand

Headstand with knees to chest

From the headstand position, kick upward to a handstand and hold

Kick to a handstand, hold, and lower back to a headstand

Multiple handstand push-ups

Rest at least 10 minutes, then perform:

As many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
35 double-unders
5 handstand push-ups

*Perform all stages of the progression a few inches off a wall. Consider using an AbMat for your head. The goal is to kick up and back to a headstand against the wall. If you are confident with this, try the freestanding variation.

Beginner option:
Spend 15-20 minutes practicing the following progression:

Inchworm

Pike headstand

Pike handstand hold

Pike push-up negative

Multiple pike push-ups

Rest at least 10 minutes, then perform:

As many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
35 single-unders
5 pike push-ups

*Perform all stages of the progression in the middle of an open floor. Consider using an AbMat for your head. To make the pike position easier, keep your feet away from your hands. The closer the feet are to the hands, the more difficult the movement will be. The goal is to practice loading as much bodyweight as possible onto the hands, and to build confidence getting upside down. If you are confident with this progression, try the intermediate variation.

Resources:
The Freestanding Handstand Push-up
The Handstand
The Kipping Handstand Push-up
Handstand Push-up Variations
The Double-under

Find a gym near you:
View the CrossFit map

Featured photo:
Taken by Charlotte Foerschler at Destination Defender in Somerville, Texas.

Saturday 231104

Saturday 231104

Shawn
5-mile run

Run in 5-minute intervals, stopping after each to perform 50 squats and 50 push-ups before beginning the next 5-minute run interval.

Post time and number of intervals to complete the 5 miles to comments.

Compare to 150208.

U.S. Army Captain Shawn G. Hogan, of Salem, New Hampshire, died Oct. 17, 2012. The 28-year-old was fatally injured in a training exercise at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Golden Pond, Kentucky. He was assigned to Company B, 4th Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Fort Campbell. Hogan is survived by his parents, Richard and Jean; and sister, Nicole.

Scaling:
Reduce run distance to complete this workout in 6 sets or less and under 45 minutes in total. Reduce squat and push-up reps as needed to keep the total volume of this workout within your current physiological tolerance.

Intermediate option:
4-mile run

Run in 5-minute intervals, stopping after each to perform 25 squats and 25 push-ups before beginning the next 5-minute run interval.

Beginner option:
2.5-mile walk or jog

Walk or jog in 5-minute intervals, stopping after each to perform 10 squats and 10 knee push-ups before beginning the next 5-minute run interval.

Saturday 211120

Saturday 211120

3 rounds for max reps of:

1 minute of GHD sit-ups
1 minute of walking lunges
1 minute of bar muscle-ups

Post reps of each to comments.

Scaling:
This combo will tax your midline. If you are new to the GHD, practice the skill during warm-up and modify to an abmat sit-up during the workout. Choose a muscle-up modification that will allow you to complete at least 5 reps in the interval.

Intermediate Option:
2 rounds for max reps of:
1 minute of GHD sit-ups
1 minute of walking lunges
1 minute of assisted bar muscle-ups

1 round for max reps of:
1 minute of abmat sit-ups
1 minute of walking lunges
1 minute of assisted bar muscle-ups

Beginner Option:
2 rounds for max reps of:
1 minute of abmat sit-ups
1 minute of walking lunges
1 minute of 3 jumping pull-ups + 3 assisted push-ups

Friday 231208

Friday 231208

Meet Guest Programmer – Michele Letendre: Dec. 4-17, 2023.

Every 6 minutes for 3 sets complete: 21-15-9 reps Echo-bike calories
Kettlebell goblet squats

♀ 24 kg
♂ 32 kg

Post your total time of all 3 sets combined to comments.

Goal: Get comfortable with the burn and increase your threshold as a result. Aim for 4-5 minutes to complete each set.

To be successful in this workout, aim for high intensity with some level of consistency in all three intervals. This will be difficult but a little bit of discipline goes a long way. High intensity is the goal but not maximal intensity. Keep some in the tank and give it everything you’ve got on the last one.

Equipment matters — the effort on the Assault or Echo bike will change the stimulus of this workout when compared to a bike erg.

More experienced athletes can work closer to their thresholds with less rest than beginner athletes. Beginner athletes should finish BEFORE advanced athletes without exceeding their capacities. This means a beginner athlete should have a LOWER RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) than an advanced athlete in the first intervals since beginners will not have their recovery capacities as high and trained as the more advanced athlete.

I tested this workout and found that it was possible to keep the pace up so long as I didn’t push the squats. I was using a bike erg and was faced with the realization that the 21 and 21 took almost half the time, but staying composed allowed me to hit the goal and finish as hard as I could on the last interval.

Scaling:

Intermediate option:
Every 6 minutes for 3 sets complete:
18-15-9 reps
Echo-bike calories
Kettlebell goblet squats

♀ 16 kg
♂ 24 kg

Aim to complete the work around the 4-minute mark to allow for enough rest to repeat the next interval at high intensity.

Beginner option:
Every 6 minutes for 3 sets complete:
12-9-6 reps
Echo-bike calories
Air squats

Beginners will be pushed out of their comfort zone with the level of intensity we want to achieve. Aim to complete the work in 4 minutes to get 2 minutes of rest.

Resources:
The Air Squat

Find a gym near you:
View the CrossFit map