Found ma FLOW!

So today was an unexpected break through day. I dragged my feet through the gym door at about noon and "lets just get this over with" was my initial mentality going into my workout. On paper, I had planned:

Snatch warm up

Snatch power pos (x3) hang above knee (x3) below knee (x3) with 35 kilos

Snatch 3x1 @ 60 kilos

C & J 3x1 @ 75 kilos

Front Squat 3x3 @ 75 kilos

Push Press 3x3 @ 60 kilos

I have been really trying hard lately to nail my second pull (in the snatch particularly) however my efforts have resulted in over thinking and messing up what I already had going on. It's encouraging to me that I really understand what I am working towards. The more one understands and breaks down their technique (without going crazy!) the more quickly your nervous system learns. I believe that subconsciously our brains are often what stand in our way of improving a difficult skill and analyzing, watching video, and thinking about the movement helps speed up the mind to body process. Some folks say "just do it over and over and it will eventually come together." This is absolutely how it works, but its really only addressing half of the process.

So today, I unintentionally discovered what it means to "find a groove" or "flow" to a lift. It's not a success/failure thing, similar to a big hitter on a hot streak, but more so a state of mind. I listened to music for the first time ever during a lift. Im obsessed with Nine Inch Nails and found that even angry songs helped me find this perfect balance between being aggressive in my lifts but easy going in between. I don't think it's something I will do often but it was a nice change of pace. Driving home I felt a weird high from what I had discovered. Something I always tell the rowers is "analyze during off strokes, warm up, and cool down, and when you are on, it will eventually come together." What I have been missing is that balance. I can't analyze what I'm doing all the time. Simple self corrections are different, and I did quite a bit of that today. What was different was my frame of mind from start to finish... with a little help from Trent Reznor.

OLYMPIC LIFTING... and such

So, it dawned on me today that it would be a great idea to start blogging again since so much has changed. First of all, I have officially found my sport. I am an Olympic Lifter. The way it all has evolved makes so much sense to and I could not have found this at a better time in my life. Bottom line is that every sport I have been "good" at has been a result of being strong and fast, and Olympic lifting is just that. Being a rower and a coach has taught me how to really break down and analyze technical skills. Right now I am still in the beginning phases of really understanding the lifts and developing proper form. I have recently become much more consistent but know that I am only at the ice berg tip of this process.

I made the decision about a month ago, to be a 75 kilo lifter instead of a 69 kg. I am naturally right around 72-73 kilos (160 lbs) if eating well and training hard. I cut weight for my first meet back in November and lost about 10 pounds in order to make weight. I did just fine and had a very strong sense of accomplishment simply because I made weight. I learned the importance of nutrient timing and realized that I have total control over what foods I choose to fuel my body with. However, I am confident that being a 75 kilo lifter will be a more natural weight class for me, not because I don't want to cut weight, but because it gives me a small window to allow strength gains without having to eat like a gerbil.

This week has been a recovery week. I have gone full tilt the past 5/6 weeks, training 5 days per week and realize that all of the different locations and traveling has really taken it's toll on my body. I'm learning how to recognize when it's time to back off and when it's okay to push the numbers when I'm feeling good. It's all a balance. Here's a link to a video of my current snatch PR. It's not a super impressive rep- shaky in the bottom, not extending fully, and slightly jumping/rushing under the bar but it's getting better. My hope is to be in the 70's in the very near future. Tomorrow is a rest day and Saturday I'll be up in Chicago for two days and hopefully get some good training in.