Helen in the rain...

Just read John's post about how much you push yourself if no one is watching.  It's a good question and one that I'd like to say I push myself just as hard but I'm honest enough to say I don't.  It's not that I'm trying to skate by or get away with anything but I find that when I work out and count reps or do a movement I will either forget my count entirely because I'm not paying attention or that my form goes to complete crap.  I think that is also why I prefer the smaller class sizes so that I know the coach is looking at me more often.  Perfect example was tonight's WOD.

Helen was on the menu tonight:

3 rounds for time
400m run
21 1.5 pood KB swings
12 pullups

To start with the weather in Denver is starting to turn a little bit giving us a taste of fall.  Weather for tonight's WOD was rainy and cold (~55 degrees).  I was geared up for the cold (long sleeve under armours are great) but not for the rain (I had expected it to slack up). 

3-2-1 go. 

Round 1
First 400 was great.  Happy with my time of 2:35 which for our course is great (not flat at all).  Moved right into the box for the KB swings and made a huge mistake by not wiping my hands dry.  It was a slow steady drizzle outside and I was drenched.  Knocked through 5 fairly aggressively (I was a bit concerned that I would not have the gas to do 1.5 pood but stuck it out) when Eric (guy from box who stayed around for fun) suggested I stop and wipe hands dry.  It was great advice.  Knocked out the remaining 16 without issue (set of 10 then 6.  Jumped up to the bar pullups using just the black band.  I need to put some serious thought into moving down the color of the band.  I'm kipping pretty hard now and I'm almost hitting my chest on the bar each time.  Knocked my pullups out in 3 sets of 4.

Round 2
Rain picked up a bit but was not that concerned by it.  Started out my 400 (which starts with a steep 50m or so.  Made it to the top and had zero breath so walked for a little bit to catch breath but kept moving.  Walked in total on the 400m about 100m.  Not good but I could not catch my breath.  Time on this run was right at 3 minutes.  Straight to KB swings but this time had a stop to dry my hands and chalk up (helped also).  Knocked KBs out in a set of 10 then 5 then 6.  Pullups were next and knocked them out in sets of 4.

Round 3
No change in rain.  Still falling pretty heavy.  Same issue on the run.  As I made the first climb my back started to twinge a little bit.  Pretty much the same amount of walking.  Time on the last 400 was just north of 3 minutes.  Straight to KBs.  Knocked them out in a set of 10 and a set of 11.  On to pullups which I knocked out pretty quick in sets of 4 with minimal rest.

Total time - 17:56

As I reflect on the time I can say that I am pretty happy with it.  First time doing Helen so it's a good benchmark (I can't find my WOD book which is not cool but haven't checked in my Dreamforce stuff which is where I think it is).  If I had my game face on more I think I could have done sub 17 at a minimum.  I do think I did as good as I did because the coach and Eric (who stuck around) kept pushing me.  Any time I put the KB down they would say "take a deep breath and jump back on" or "let's pick it up, 3 2 1."  That's the kind of thing that I would not get if I were doing it all on my own.

I'll get day 4 in tomorrow which I'm pretty lucky to do given that I'm at home this week because the recovery is much faster.  Travel does make working out more difficult for me at least.  I'm gearing up for a good FGB score (goal is 200) so may plan to skip Friday's WOD.  I'll look and see what it is.