300 challenge

So I am about to try and do the 300 challenge. For those of you who do not know what that is it is just a physical workout:

“300”
25x Pull-up +
50x Deadlift @ 135# +
50x Push-up +
50x Box Jump @ 24” box +
50x Floor Wiper @ 135# (one-count) +
50x KB Clean & Press @ 36# each arm (KB’s must touch floor between reps) +
25x Pull-up
(300 reps total)

The Rules

Here are the rules for this challenge:

1. Under 20 minutes, start to finish. That means you start the timer right before the first pullup, and end it after the last pull-up.

* Breaks are allowed within sets; e.g., you may do 15 straight pullups, take a breather, and then do another set of 10 pullups to reach 25 total. Just as long as you don’t go over 20 minutes for the entire workout.

2. Only reps with correct form count:

* Pullups: Some leg swinging is allowed for the pullups (as seen in the video above). Entire head must rise above the bar; active shoulder position at bottom (as opposed to full dead hang) (*no half-pullups).

* Deadlift: must be done with a barbell loaded to 135 lbs., weights must touch the floor at the bottom of every rep.

* Pushups: on your toes (not knees); chest touches the floor first, active shoulder and full extension at the top, body held as a solid plank, the hips do not move.

* Box Jumps: Box must be 24-inches (that’s 2 feet tall - be sure to measure it); must jump with both legs (no running start) and land on box with both feet simultaneously. Once established on the box the athlete must stand up completely.

* Floor wipers: see video link above;

* KB Clean and Press: kettleballs can be substituted with 35-lb dumbbells, as long as both dumbbells touch the floor at the bottom of each rep. Subject should be using two KB’s or DB’s simultaneously (not one-armed), totaling 50 reps. A good repetition is defined as—clean the KBs to the chest, and then with legs locked out, press the KBs overhead into the locked-out (elbows straight) position; bring the KB back down to the chest and then lower the KB down between the legs.

I have been working out very hard the last few months and think i can probably pull it off. I am going to do a trial run maybe at the end of next week. Wish me luck.

NY

Just got back from my vacation in NY.

Went to The ED Sullivan Theater :) Very cool.
Went to Angelo's Pizzeria - David Letterman mentions it sometimes on his show.
Saw Times Square, Central Park - walked up and down broadway and had dinner in China Town and Little Italy.

All in all it was a great time.

I flew an airline that I never tried before - Jet Blue. If you haven't used them before - you should - excellent. your pick of 7 snacks - including animal cracks :) water, juices, sodas included. Direct TV on everyone's chair, XM radio and the seats are leather and lots of room to relax. Free wifi in the terminals - Loved it.

Now that I am back in Chicago - will update my lava site and obviously catch up with all my Ubuntu brethren :)

Rock Band - Guitar Hero

So everyone in my family is addicted to Guitar hero and rock band.

I have lost my xbox360 because of it. It seems I can no longer get any time with my console. All weekend it has been occupied by others playing rockband or guitar hero in tandem. It's fun watching everyone play but to be honest, I enjoy a good rpg or shooter myself. Besides I can only listen to the same 25 songs or so before I find I have to leave the room. Most people just stick to the 5 songs they know anyways so I find that I am starting to hum CREEP now :)

Anyways Rockband 2 is coming out sometime in November. I hope they have alot more songs embeded in the game that more people like.

Workouts

So I had a BMI test run today.

For those who do not know the BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is a measure for how much body fat an individual has based on their height and weight. The specific device which they used to measure this sent a small jolt of electricity thru my body and then once it has passed thru all my fat, is sent back into the device. Based on this, it is able to determine your BMI.

Well although I run, bike and have been seriously weight lifting for the last several months my BMi was 24.9 which went placed in a chart of my peers places me at very poor not to say I am unhealthy just that 24.9% of my body mass is fat. Jeez!

Talk about reality check. People that see me tend to see my muscles and broad shoulders and in the past that has always been good enough but I am 33 and nowadays I want more. I want a ripped stomach and chest and this test proves I have a looooooong way to go.

Lately I have been doing massive cardio and strength training every other day. Running on an average 3 miles a day. Next week I am going to bump up that average to 4 miles a day. I have a reprieve for the next day until Thursday as I am sore and need to recoup but come thursday I'll be running at Ballys and doing some stomach exercises.

On a positive note I went from a 38 to roughly a 36 in pants and I do see a definite improvement in my endurance as well as definition. I think I am also going to start adding swimming into my routine - I love it but every time I go in Ballys - it is packed. I mean you can't do laps. There are way too many people - even at 6am. Mostly older people who live for the swim.

Bike Ride

So I survived the MacDonalds Late Ride 2008 - took about 3 hours to complete the 25 mile bike run. I took it slow and was pleased that at the end I could have gone more. I was able to see the lake at sunrise as I was passing by that point around 4:50 am.
It was very very beautiful. Highlights of red, orange danced on the water and navy pier never looked better.

Mcdonalds had a rather disappointing breakfast waiting for us at the finish line. No sausage, no eggs, no pancakes :) just a bagel, cream cheese, rotten apple slices, chocolate milk and a stale cookie. I kid you not, my apple slices were rotten.

Vitamin water was there - thank god - I needed some sugar in me cause the race actually started at 2:25am - at least that is when my color group was called to race. Unbelievable.

Bike Ride

So I biked about 40 miles yesterday - I feel good - thought I would be really sore today but am actually not too bad. It was a nice day out too.

I biked to pick up my packets for the Late Ride this sat and then decided to bike from there to the Lake. and then down to Loyola and then took Devon all the way to the forest preserve at Devon and Milwaukee and biked the trail a bit before heading home. All in all, a 4 - 4 1/2 hour bike ride. I was a bit unsure of this bike ride on sat, but having done yesterday's ride, 25 miles doesn't seem that bad.

Late Ride 2008

So I am off tomorrow to pick up the tickets for my McDonald's L.A.T.E. Ride 2008. In case you are not familiar with the Bike Ride, it's a 25 Mile ride that is bring held this Saturday. It features 10,000 bicyclists and benefits Friends of the Parks. It's a 33-year-old not-for-profit parks advocacy group whose mission is to protect and improve Chicago's parks and forest preserves in Cook County. If you are not doing anything or want to come cheer me on, you can get more info here: http://www.lateride.org/

I'll be the one with the Linux penguin T-shirt reading - "I'm cheap and Fun!"