14th California Open Final Results all changed and finalised. Plus a 15-minutes indoor suitcase carry walk with a 20 kg bell (and gloves: no risk of dropping the bell through sweaty fingers today; just grip weakness towards the end. So I think gloves is the safest option). Lunch was 4 rashers of bacon, a small onion, and enough cabbage to sink Atlantis. (Plus salt, pepper, caroway seeds, and about 1 tbsp of butter.)

This topic is to discuss the row variations: 1. Split-stance bent-over row

Was trying to be a superhero and go for a full 10 minutes with a 12kg after injuring my back again last week, but my technique was shot, the squirrels reappeared*, and away went my focus and concentration! I think it was 73 reps on the left and that's when the little furry buggers started swirling in my head and I lost it. I took a minute or so to try and regain my thoughts and concentration, and then attempted more with the right. But, today's not the day so I decided to sit down and apply for a new contract. Refocused and back on it, I decided to do 50 snatches right, and then (I think) it was 50 left with a 14kg but the bell was really slippery towards the end and the squirrels put in their second appearance about 30 reps in, and this caused me to lose momentary focus again, and I either went through the remaining reps on automatic or I might've skipped 10. I know not. 😄 12kg - https://youtu.be/PTZ3jd5ngbU 14 kg - https://youtu.be/FJpN8VTCby8 - *The squirrels only ever appear when I'm counting reps, and are excellent at 1) distracting me, and 2) causing me to lose count. Of course, once the count is lost and my mind refocuses, I've no idea how many reps I've lost. Mind-games galore! 😁

80 snatches left, then 80 right (1 hand switch). I used cast iron today, and as it's only 30 degrees out there decided to it in the fresh air. I'm pleased to say the session didn't feel too bad. I didn't like the glove slithering about but I'd prefer that (at this stage) than not having them and then accidentally doing some palm damage. The bloody camera shut off after 11 seconds though (and I have no idea why). https://youtu.be/r5XTH01ntcg?si=9MIHg_QTpRLrMCbR

It's the first time I've picked up a 16kg for snatches for some time, and it felt at least twice as heavy as before. (There's a lesson there, I'm sure!) Given my goal is the CMS this year, I've got to pull my finger out. For this, I wanted to try leaning back more for dropping from the top fixation, and to see how it felt. My back's notoriously inflexible but, thankfully, it didn't feel too bad; but it does impacts the rep speed, of course. Given the CMS with a 16 for my age group is 235 reps in 10 minutes, an average of 23.5 reps per minute is an impossible goal at the moment; but it's something to strive for. The first set was 20 reps each side, but I couldn't maintain that pace for the second set. I think it was 17 or 18 on each side. Onwards and upwards! https://youtu.be/0Qmu4ibj_6Y