The jig is up , trip SNAFU and update on diet.

October 10, 2011

A. Front Squat 3-Rep Max

125# - PR!

B. For Time: 10-8-6-4-2 Reps 20-16-12-8-4 Reps Clean & Jerk @155#/105# Knees-To-Elbows

15 minute time limit on Part B. Alternate between the C&J and KTE.

I subbed 95# and did up to 4 reps of C&J and 7 reps of KTE. Afterwards, I practiced dead-hang pull-ups with skinny band. I did 2 sets of 5 and then the coach told me I should be doing all hanging exercises palms out, e.g. pull-ups, KTEs, toes to bar, etc. I agreed and went back to do 2 sets of 3 with palms out. I have known for a while that the palms in is a bit of a cheat and even though this will cost me a lot of reps in the short run, I'll improve. I've been through this before with the palms in versus palms out thing and was wondering if anybody would bring it up. The jig is up.

Recall I was going backpacking with my sister and our respective beaus. On the morning of our departure, I called the Big Sur Ranger Station and realized that campfires were banned in the area. In retrospect, we should have stuck with our plan and gone there anyway. Instead, I scrambled to find a location that was relatively nearby, allowed dogs and didn't have a fire ban and came up with a 10-11 mile loop in the Snow Mountain Wilderness. Due to lack of information on the area (we pieced together what was available, which was not much) we ended up at the trail head very late, far too late to start hiking, and camped there. The evening was much colder than we'd anticipated and the second car was dangerously low on gas. In the morning we decided to abort our plan. The trail we had planned to hike would take us to a higher elevation with no tree cover on night two, which meant it would only get colder. Plus, everyone felt more comfortable sorting out the gas situation sooner than later. The nearest gas station was 23 miles on roads maintained only for all-terrain vehicles. The alternate route was heading back the way we came and there was a good chance that the second car would run out of gas. It was bumpy but we made it. Phew. We spent the remainder of the day wine-tasting and then headed for the ranch in Pope Valley (of prior grape harvest and concrete mixing activities). We spent the night and on Sunday we did a little hiking (sans packs)and casting in the frog pond, before heading out for some more wine tasting and eating. As backpacking trips go, this was impressively poorly planned and a resounding non-starter. We had fun anyway.

Planning food for the trip was tough. Without enough time to dehydrate food, I had to go with heavy food and nuts. I also packed a few precious treats, which are healthy "junk food" (these kale chips and these paleo macaroons and enough nuts to choke a horse). Between eating out and eating the treats first (what a surprise - not), I ended up eating a less than optimal diet for the past few days. I didn't totally blow it but I don't do well with boat loads of nuts and let's face it, cookies are cookies. They are yummy and they're no substitute for a balanced meal.