Some CrossFit stats

We got to CrossFit 5 days last week.  Weekends are a rarity, because the gym is close to our offices, but far from our home.  After commuting all week, we rarely feel like making the drive on a Saturday or Sunday.

So, a 5-workout week is very good, if it doesn't wipe us out so much that we are at risk of injury.  This was my 3rd week this year going 5 days.  In 2013, this only happened once.  In 2012, only once.  In 2011, twice.

If I exclude the time I missed during this past winter due to surgery, my training has been very consistent this year.  Here is a graph of my CrossFit workouts by month since I first started:

Month	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	Total
Jan	0	7	12	10	3	32
Feb	0	1	11	13	8	33
Mar	0	8	6	11	8	33
Apr	0	12	8	16	15	51
May	0	13	13	15	15	56
Jun	0	12	15	11	17	55
Jul	0	9	16	18	17	60
Aug	0	15	14	14	2	45
Sep	0	13	12	10	0	35
Oct	5	9	14	13	0	41
Nov	7	7	14	11	0	39
Dec	6	2	15	12	0	35
	18	108	150	154	85	515

It's clear that I get to the gym more often outside of ski season.  And, January through February were low this year due to surgery in early January.  I returned to teaching skiing in early February, and my body wasn't ready for more than a couple CrossFit workouts per week in addition to the skiing for a while.

I am happy about my last 4 months.  With 64 workouts, this was my best 4-month total ever.

I'm still recovering some strength I lost due to the surgery.

Last summer, I did a single rep deadlift at 440 pounds.  Last Friday, I did 3 reps at 375.  I can probably do a single rep at 405 or so right now, but definitely not 440.

My legitimate back squat best is 350 pounds.  I once did 375 pounds, but my depth wasn't legal.  Last night, I did one rep at 315, my best since my surgery.

My bench press has always been terrible.  Years of participating in leg-dominant sports has left my upper body playing catch-up since I started lifting regularly in 2007.  Two years ago, I hit 195 for a bench press.  Last year, I tied that number in June.  Tonight, I will take my first crack at 200 ever.

So, my strength is improving, although I'm still playing catch-up to last year.  Regretfully, my bodyweight work still leaves a lot to be desired.  Last night, we had 8 minutes to do as many reps as possible, cycling 8 pull-ups, 8 box jumps and 8 burpees.  These might be my three weakest bodyweight movements (that I can actually do), and my score was terrible.

So, while I enjoy pushing in the gym, perhaps more of my efforts should be spent controlling what I'm eating when I'm not in the gym.

For now, I'm healthy and I'm improving again.  That's good enough.  And, if I can average about 15 CF workouts per month for the rest of the year, I'll exceed last year's total despite the tough start I had this year.