Just admit that you are scared!

Yesterdays heroic effort, and some thoughts!

5x3 Split jerk - approx 80-85%

- I worked my way up to 85kg.  I am finally beginning to get the landing, and a good turn-around, but I need to get more aggressive in the extension of my left arm! 


B..OTM i 15 min
Min.1 5 strict pull up
Min. 2 5 Chest to bar pull ups
Min. 3 10 kipping pull ups
Min. 4 5 strict
Min. 5 5 CTB Pull ups.
Min. 6 10 kipping etc..

- No problem here - I really liked how this worked out and had finished all my sets in somewhere arounf 10-15 sec.  Lots of rest, just the way I like it!


C. Amrap 5 min8 Push press, 50kg8 Toes to bar

- 4 rounds and 3 push press!  
- This was all about the grip!  It was torn up pretty fast and forced me to wait before i got back on the bar!  Focused on good mechanics on the push press and I think I got it!


D.4x30sek amrap strict dips i an rack30 sek rest

-15 reps / 12 reps / 9 reps / 8 reps
-  This was a joke, I seriously had nothing to give at all!  (however - the pumped upp feeling I had afterwards was awesone:-))



So much for my own efforts!  The caption is "Just admit that you are afraid!"  What does that mean?

I am seeing a lot of people who are getting back to training after the open series, regionals, Games etc.  and most of them are proudly presenting elaborate plans to get stronger, and adding weight to their Olympic lifts!
Now in some cases I do believe that they do need to get stronger, but in most cases I think what they really need to do is increase their general work capacity, and increase their work capacity at 80% of their max efforts!  So why dont they do that?
I think there are a bunch of reasons for this, but two reasons stand out!

1:
It is the general consensus that we all need to get stronger!  No-one wants to be the awkward kid in the corner with a plan of their own.  Because that means that you have to battle it out with all the know-betters who will hunt you down and question everything you do. Mainly because they are so unsure of themselves that they need reconfirmation form others, and have arrived at the strange decision that the way to do that is to question everyone else?

2:
It hurts!  Pushing yourself into the paincave hurts!  You need to take yourself to a very uncomfortable place in order to increase your work capacity!  I know this because I have had the pleasure of programming and coaching some very gifted athletes - and even they are reluctant to go to this place!
On a personal note this applies to myself as well!  I am an absolute magician when it comes to finding reasons not to go into the valley of suck!  I am simply comfortable with being comfortable!


Truth be told I could not care less if an athlete increases their snatch from 100-105kg if they can still not get through ie "jackie" without breaking up the thrusters and the ups!


But then again - thats just me!