07 Nov 2019 - Training

A number of people have asked me what my weekly training regime typically looks like, so I thought I'd shed some light in a slightly out of sequence homage to Craig David...

Even after a year I still consider myself to be a CrossFit newbie, so for me this workout entailed:

• 15 minute time cap, as many rounds for time of:
  • 1 x chest to bar pull up
  • 8 x alternating dumbbell snatches (17.5kg)
  • 20 double unders (skipping) or penguin claps

After each round, add 1 x chest to bar, 4 x dumbell snatches and 10 x double unders to each of the reps

Back at CrossFit, this time for a cardio day:

• In 24 mins:
  • 800m run
  • 60 cal ski erg
  • 800m run
  • 60 cal rowing machine
  • 800m run
  • 60 cal assault bike

• Time for a rest

The final workout of the CrossFit Open (20.5). Usually Wednesday would be my rest day and I would do a Strength and Power session on Thursday and whatever the CrossFit class is on Friday. However, I decided to give the CrossFit Open a bash (scaled of course as I'm far from a 6ft Adonis) and prefer to be fresh going into it, hence the Thursday rest day. At the moment, I'm sat just outside the top 100 scaled athletes in the UK (of about 1,000) which I will happily take for a first crack.

Usually I will see what the weather is doing and choose between going for a long run, a weighted run, a weighted hike, climbing or a long cycle.

If I'm talking about training then I should say a little about CrossFit. As touched on above, I consider myself to be a CrossFit newbie still and turned to it having heard good things, particularly around CrossFit improving overall fitness. Post Colitis I was also finding it mentally challenging to keep motivating myself to train alone (having always trained alone), especially when battling chronic fatigue.

I went into it thinking that the gym would be very cliquey and exclusive, but I can genuinely say that it hasn't been the case at all and that Reebok CrossFit Reading, (where I train), has a really nice community to it, the coaches are great and I'm really pleased that I made myself go 12 months ago. I appreciate this sounds like a plug, but this is simply my opinion.