WOD 080629

Crossfit includes benchmark workouts -- affectionately known as the "girls" -- that are intended to measure your progress. The idea is that you periodically perform the girls and compare your results with the last time you performed the same workout. Today was my first girl... Lynne.

Lynne:

• 5 rounds for max reps of
• body weight bench press
• pull ups

This workout surprised me because up until this point we haven't done any bench pressing. In fact, I've picked up on a decidedly anti-benchpress vibe. The benchpress if often disparaged as non-functional and requiring special equipment.

Anyway, I was actually a little nervious to bench because the last time I benched I strained my left pec. Back in the good old days I was a big bencher and I would regularly perform sets on incline bench with 225-275. Those days are long gone.

Anyway, my workout:

• 5 rounds max reps:
• 1 mile run (8 mins)
  
• bodyweight bench press (185) 6/5/4/4/3
  
• dead-hang pull ups (no kipping) 11/8/6/7/6

I was disappointed by my rep count of bench and pullups but I'll take it. Without rest between sets and with no spotter I didn't really push things. My bench sets probably could have been 1-2 reps higher each but this will give me a nice starting point for the next time I meet Lynne in a dark alley. Even the fact that I'm critical of my bench performance after a multi-year layoff indicates how deep the benchpress mentality runs.