Lactic Acid is Our Friend
Did you ever wonder where the connection between lactic acid and soreness came from? In this NY Times article, Gina Kolata explains that a doctor came to this conclusion by sticking half a frog in a jar and conducting experiments on it over a hundred years ago. Today, science has discovered that our muscles use lactic acid as a fuel by producing it from glycogen. Then mitochondria uses it as fuel. Intense training can double the size of the mitochondria.
Track coaches often have their athletes train “very hard in brief spurts” before a race. This intensity causes extra stress which in turn increases that mitochondria even more. Sound familiar? Our “brief” and “hard” spurts of intensity in CrossFit is exactly what the doctor ordered to increase athletic performance. So, keep on crushing the WODs, CFSB!
WOD – 4.21.09
Overhead squat (OHS) a total of 20 x your body weight (BW), for time
Nicely described by CrossFit 603:
For example, at a BW of 180#, that’s 80 reps with a 45# bar, or 20 reps with 180#, or any combination in between. Sorry for the complex math (no, not really). Here’s the equation: (20 x body weight) / OHS weight = # Reps. Do ‘em. Fast. Record BW, weight on the bar, and time.
Cash Out: 5×10 Man Makers
I’m just going to do one overhead squat of 3,700 pounds.
Forrest,
Please let me know how that works out for you.
Thanks for the love, CF South Bay!
Melissa Byers
Thanks for stopping by, Melissa. We’re all fans of your blog!
OHS x 20 (bodyweight 148#)
2:34
Cashout:
50 manmakers (25# dbs)
8:31 (blah)
It was actually really sad that we didn’t have enough weight in the gym for Forrest to do his one 3,700 pound rep. We were going to just drive a car into the gym, but it was too much trouble to move all the rowers.
Here’s me…
OHS x 40 (95lbs, body weight of 177)
3:42
Cashout
50 manmakers (25# dbs)
7:?? — tons of fun.
Jose powered through it as Rx’ed, totally bad-ass.
OHS
37 @ 95# (BW is 172)
2:33
50 Man Makers @ 25#
10:49