Yes, I've still got Hotshots 19 on my mind. I have not done it yet, but I will.

This morning I walked into a WOD that I had no idea how to interpret. The board said:

100 front squats for time
-30 sec for front squats
-30 sec for pull ups
-30 sec for double unders

Ryan and Pat explained that we were doing 30 second rounds of the 3 different exercises, but only focusing on the front squat. "When you hit 100 squats, you're done," said Ryan, while Pat contributed, "if you wanna save some energy, don't do the other stuff." I was intimidated, partially by the fact that I've never actually done a front squat. I've done back squats, but my limited elbow means front squats are naturally wonky on me to start with. In a front squat your bar rests on your collar/shoulders and your hands are at your shoulders to steady it. Yeaaaaahhh, left elbow's not ever going to do that--I haven't touched my left shoulder with my left hand in 17+ years. But I'm game to try, right?

Ryan moved me outside so we had more room and set me up with a training bar. I have no problem using the training bar, especially for a move I've never done before--I have no ego attached to this process. Given the flexion limitations I was dealing with, we eventually ended up with my elbows really wide (instead of forward and up) and my bar resting on my right shoulder and half-supported by my left hand. Whatever, it works. I'm doing ring rows for pull ups, and those were inside the door. Follow that with jump rope and I was set.

Time started. Ryan called "ROTATE!" every 30 seconds. I quickly bailed on the jump rope--I just had no power to jump. I worked steadily, though, squats and ring rows and rest. Squatsrowsrest. Squatsrowsrest. Squatsrowsrest.

18:37, I hit my 100 and dropped the bar. You know what this means, right? I need more weight on the bar!

Having done a couple different kinds of workout (AMRAP, reps for time) I think I prefer AMRAP. The intensity and focus are different. It was intense to do 100 front squats, don't get me wrong, and I'll certainly be feeling them later. But the electric intensity, that tunnel focus that drowns out the world, isn't present when you're doing reps for time. This morning I didn't feel like I was buzzing in my own world, like I was fully present in my entire body. I was instead aware that I was wearing out one part, not the whole. Don't misunderstand, it was still a great workout and the energy in the box is fantastic. And I was still bright pink and hot and completely wet with sweat at the end. But I kinda missed the otherworldliness of the AMRAP.

Did I just say I missed the AMRAP? Those words will come back to haunt me!