Push Press
3 x 6
Heavier than last week.
Post loads to comments.
Exposure 7 of 8
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Every 4 minutes for 5 rounds:
250m Row
Take the first row at about 85%, then all out efforts on each. Score best time to comments.
Post best time to comments.
Lesley O. is CFSBK’s June Athlete of the Month! | Photo by Joel Z.
Athlete of the Month: Lesley O.
By Chris Fox
I first met the Lesley O. and her husband Nate in early 2011… and they pretty quickly let me know they were “non-joiners” and thus would likely not be taking classes or taking part in the larger CFSBK community beyond our private sessions. Lesley has now been around for longer than I’d realized before we sat down for this interview, and she and Nate and the kids have been a staple in the gym for almost all of that time. Lesley, based solely on doing CrossFit as a mother of 4, is a true TFBA and a well-deserving AOM. I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about her below!
Fox: Congrats! I’m so happy to be able to interview you for AOM.
LO: Thanks! Are you sure?
Fox: Yep… let’s start! When and why did you first start CrossFit?
LO: It was February 2011. Nate and his friend Rich were doing privates with you for a while, so I kept hearing about this “CrossFit” thing. I wasn’t (at the time) into the group class idea, so I started with private training. After Rich eventually fell off, Nate and I did semi-privates together for a while until I was about 7 months pregnant with Genevieve. I took a break, did a few more private sessions after Genevieve was born, and have been doing classes ever since.
Fox: What were you doing fitness-wise prior to CrossFit?
LO: I’d been working with a personal trainer at a local gym. It was fine. We did some similar things that we do here, but it just wasn’t adding up to anything. When I went on my own, I’d pretty much just “do the elliptical” for a while.
Fox: What were your initial impression of CFSBK? Why did you stay?
LO: It was a big, intimidating space with lots of very fit people! Nate and I initially came together. I don’t think I would have come on my own. Honestly the fact that we lived so close at the time also helped. I soon became less intimidated by the experience and began to appreciate and enjoy aspects of CFSBK. I didn’t have to think about what I was going to do. It was laid out for me in a sensible way, and the progress was quantifiable. I could actually “see” how I was improving, and the programming was varied so I wasn’t doing the same thing each day or week. Honestly, for the first 2 years coming to the gym I didn’t even remember the names of the things we do… now it’s mostly there. 😉
Fox: So you were like, “Is that the one where you do uh and then do eh?”
LO: Yep… It took a while but here I am!
Fox: I’m pretty certain that many folks around here follow the same trajectory. Were you an athletic kid? Where’d you grow up?
LO: I grew up just outside of Boston where one of my sisters still lives (the other is in Austin). I was… sort of an athlete? I played basketball and field hockey as a youth. I wasn’t an all-star athlete, but I did enjoy being on a team.
Fox: I know that family is a large part of your life. Let’s hear about how you met Nate, and about all your kids!
LO: I met Nate right after I moved to New York in 2001, and we had what I consider to be an extended flirtation at a big law firm we both worked at. Long story made short, we eventually started dating, married in 2006, and had our first child, Vivian, in 2008,. After that came Whit, Genevieve, and Arthur, who’s now 2.
Fox: I know (actually I don’t) that with 4 kids there’s not much time, but what do you do outside of CrossFit and being an awesome mom?
LO: Honestly, getting to CFSBK is my time away from home, especially now that we don’t live as close. I’ve also been working with a friend on a not-for-profit called the Childhood Rescue Project. It’s been great to work on a project that I believe in, and for a woman I strongly believe in as well. Other than that I really enjoy cooking and baking at home, especially when I get to be alone while doing it! Mexican food is always on the menu… and ask me about my awesome and easy Key Lime Pound Cake. Although Nate and I have pretty different parenting tactics, it balances out well. He’ll take the kids on the weekend for a few hour trek through the park, and they’ll come back filthy after doing things I likely would not have done with them. But, during that time, they’ll have thoroughly enjoyed their romp, be exhausted afterwards, and I’ll have had some time alone to do what I enjoy.
Fox: I’ve always appreciated how you guys work as a family unit and have a ton of admiration for it. Plus, the kids are a hoot! I hope we get a picture of them playing in “Lake Degraw” a few years ago during “Murph.” Back to fitness for a quick bit: What were things that you struggled with early on, and what are you working on now?
LO: The Olympic lifts for sure. I used to think I would never get them at all. Now I even have good days! I’m still looking for Pull-Ups, and to that end, I’m really enjoying AG Strength. It’s all the stuff I know I should do but don’t make time for. I have to say though, that Squatting is still so hard and doesn’t seem to get any easier.
Fox: I have to say that your Squat has come so far since your first private session where I thought you might fall over and wondered how you were able to walk! Just kidding, sorta… last question: What should we look for in a future AOM?
LO: Someone who has improved, and someone who has improved in the face of some adversity in particular. Also, someone who’s a welcoming presence in the gym. It can be an intimidating space to walk into at first!
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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Snatch | Kettlebell Swings, C2B Pull-Ups, Run
Park Slope Dad Nightmare The Awl
Squats and Your Knees Starting Strength
Les! 👍👍👍👍👍👍 such a strong lady and a welcoming presence in the gym!
Also, every time she comes to AR I leave wishing I were part of her family, because in AR all we talk about is food, and it is highly evident from those discussions that Lesley is a killer cook
Yaaaa Lesley!!! Congrats! Well deserved : )
Yesterday's Fitness @ Crow Hill: training with some friends for funsies
5 rounds NFT:
a)Handstand walks ~10 feet, up to wall- directly into strict HSPU
b) accumulate 30s L sit hold on paralettes
**this was a circus act. Had to walk in-between a rogue rack to get to the wall, so my legs kept knocking into it on the way to the wall. Found some really unique ways to gracefully recover. At one point I managed to get my foot inside of a rogue ring, which was nifty. Anyway, after playing around, I actually was able to walk up to the wall and go straight into a set of HSPU! Fun challenge. Accumulated about 25-30 strict HSPU and worked in tucks, single leg L sit, then double leg when I was feeling supa strong.
TnG Cleans:
3×5 @ 115#
3×4 @ 135#
3×3 @ 155#
These went way better than expected, mostly because I was lifting with other people. Pretty happy with the TnG triples. I don't know if I could have done that if I was training alone. Felt fast under the bar, and was focusing on staying calm, breathing (as normally as possible) in-between reps. Managed to keep my heart rate relatively calm
Partner WOD: team of 6
FFF partners 100 cal row while MMM partners 200 cal bike
30 synchronized burpees over paralettes
FFF partner 200 cal bike while MMM partners 100 cal row
30 synchronized burpees over paralettes
This was fun. I enjoy the communication aspect of team workouts like this. Assigning roles for counting/pacing takes a little more strategy than you realize sometimes! Especially when it's 6 people. I've really only done team WODs of 4 before. Also AirDynes are a dream compared to the assault bike, so much easier. I'm glad we don't have one of these, best to get used to the equipment that sucks more.
Yay Lesley!! Such a good choice for AOTM. Always a pleasure whenever I've gotten the chance to partner with her in the past!
Congrats Lesley!
6am with Ro and McD
Push Press – 185x6x3 – barely made it, but a 10# jump from the last 6s
Rowing – Best was 43.1, worst was 45.9 (I think)
Yay Lesley! It was a pleasure working out with you this morning!
7am w/ McDowell and Ro
Finally BACK after another week off!! Felt super grateful and happy to be in the gym today. It was fortunately a very ankle-friendly workout too. Push press at 90# which is where I was at the last time I did it on 5/15. Went pretty well…just felt great to move some weight. My fastest row was, I think, my last one at :54.1, and my slowest was around :58 if I'm remembering correctly.
congrats Lesley!
Yay Lesley! One of the first people I remember when I joined the gym. Always very welcoming and thoughtful.
Push Press: 110 x 6 x 3.
WOD: 53.6, 48, 47.6, 49, 52.4
My legs just absolutely gave out on the last one. Some serious couch recovery time after. Starting with a first one at 85%, instead of all out, was very helpful to put the results into perspective.
Hurray Lesley! Can we talk about how amazing it is that you manage to be so consistent at the gym with FOUR children? Congrats on ATOM!!
Congrats Lesley!!
Btw – That cartoon doesn't even come close to a Park Slope Dad nightmare. For realz. The triplets stroller is the most chilling thing I have seen/nightmared about. Dinner at 5:30 anywhere in the neighborhood is next on the list.
Congrats Lesley!
Always super impressed with your determination and dedication.
Love seeing Leslie highlighted on the blog and as part of our community. She's so consistent, determined and always open to feedback as well as a really active member of our community events! Three cheers for LO!!
Stoked to have Lesley as AOM this time around…she's great to have around the gym, smart, funny, and full of great cooking tips. Definitely someone I enjoy coaching but also having a conversation with. Also, as a unit, the Oseeps are also one of my favorite CFSBK families.
Nice Lesley!!
Noon with Fox
Push pressed some weights.
Rowed some sprints.
Sucked some wind.
Felt some pain.
Cool write up on AOM! 🙂
6am with Melo and Ro
Push press at 110#
Rowing: Fastest was :50, slowest was ~:57. Legs so burnt after. Was a fun one.
Another great AOM choice, Lesley!
Yayyy congrats Lesley!!! Well deserved!!!!
Lesley is the best bar partner!
12pm class with Fox
78lbs with the push press. Felt heavy. But also not feeling great today.
Metcon:
Best: 52.7
Worst: 53.2
I'm giving myself points for relative consistency. Matched my first round in the last round!
Yes to Lesley!!! I've admired her growth over the past several years while also having 4 kids to boot! Congrats!!!
Haven't been posting but have been doing fitness.
Today:
Short Circuit class at 9am then lifts at 11am.
Push Press: 110x6x3
LBBS: 140x5x5 (planning on squatting at least 3x/week adding 5# each time to hopefully help heal/recover from an injury)
GHD situps 5×10
Cooldown…Acupuncture for the first time ever! Weird sensation but hoping this helps said injury!!!
12pm with Fox. Still getting back into the CF swing of things after some extended time at Strength Cycle carrying Dan's water and then some time (not) training for the Brooklyn Half.
Best: 52.6 (3rd attempt)
Worst: 1:00.1 (1st attempt)
Paired with my old strength cycler partner Artie on push press and got to 125#, I still have the old problem that strict press > push press > push jerk because of my mobility and stability.
Also, thanks to the photographer and blog-master for the great pic of my son and I on the blog yesterday during Murph. A nice surprise if not quite the long overdue and highly anticipated athlete of the month for which I've been subtly lobbying. As they say in House of Cards, Vote Underwood.
Yay! Lesley had always been warm and welcoming. I barely manage with three kids! Four stars for managing with four kids.
Congrats, Lesley! Loved reading this.
I'm in China with a very warm and humid but surprisingly well-equipped hotel gym. Actually managed to do today's workout solo and I have to give a huge thanks to the CFSBK community-at-large for giving me the confidence to walk into a gym and lift some weights solo. Seems like a little thing but for years I would have thought about it, gotten anxious, and then just run on the treadmill. I felt like I had direction and confidence and managed to have a pretty nice little workout. Ya'll rock.
PP:
3x6x78 (maybe 79?) – assuming I did my kg > lb math right. This felt very hard but I also haven't pressed in 3 weeks and the bar seemed way longer than usual? IDK, it's a random hotel gym so I was just delighted to find a bar at all.
Rowing:
Best was 53, worst was 59. I was hurting toward the end.
I love reading the athlete of the month blog…helps me get to know ppl and it's amazing hearing everyone's story and how impressive they are!! Congrats!
430 with Ro!! Nice question of the day today…….
Push press
3*6@ 120#
Feeling so much stronger. My old 1rm last documented was 125….guess I need to retest that! I love this strength cycle!!
metcon: 250m row- :48,:45,48:,:49,:49.
Those were rough…in the last 100m in rounds 3-5 I literally felt like I had no legs. No strength to push back. It was a weird sensation. Yet another thing to work on!
MU work
3 sets 5 mu transitions with #25 plate
3 sets
8 db bench press(2012)#40
8 false grip rr (2012)
Regionals wod #6: 4:11
6 min timecap
25 cal AAB
20 burped box jump overs24"
10 dball cleans #100
I died….this was the fastest way to kill someone's lungs. Peer pressure al la Ryan, jake, and Dave. Very cool workout though…it burned but you just pushed through it. One more week of random workouts then I'm gonna buckle down and start focusing on lots of weaknesses
105# push press, :47 :43 :43 :43 :43 rows.
My feet were numb after!
YEAHHH LESLEY!!! CONGRATS
Congrats, Leslie! I am amazed by moms who are able to make time for crossfit!! I also noticed Leslie's notebook at AG strength on Saturday–she's so meticulous with her notes. Made me go out and buy a notebook 😛
PP: 93 5×1 (dropped the bar, came out in front), 93 6×2
WOD: Man, this was hard. Rowing is just so. damn. hard.
1:02.5 worst
(1:01.3/101.1/101.5)
:58 best –> FOUGHT for this, thanks to the cheering from people around me. I wanted to get under 1:00 so bad!!! It is *insane* how much more exhausting it was for those 3 measly seconds.
Was going to do some muscle up work, but I was too tired/hungry and I forgot my protein shake. AG strength is tomorrow, so probably for the best.
Congrats, Lesley! Well deserved. Always a pleasure to have Lesley in class, and I seem to learn a lot from her as well every time we chat!!
Sat: 5-6 mile hike with pack (25-30#?), mostly uphill. Humbling!
Sun: 3 mile hike with pack, mostly downhill. much nicer.
calves are killing me after that descent!
TODAY:
40 min (4 rounds)
1:00 bike (55-60 rpm)
1:00 oh carry R 20#
1:00 oh carry L
5 goblet sqt @ 55×1 @ 20#
Tall plank on dumbbells with 3ea slow shoulder T
:30 chin up hang
10 each side plank powell raise @30×1 @ 7.5#
10 ea eccentric dorsiflexion
10 ea sciatic floss
thought i was done for the day, but found a sweet free outdoor dining table on my walk home so then …
30 min (1.5 mile) odd object partner carry, alternating shoulders every 4-5 blocks, with brett!
Push press: 205#
Row: 41.8/43.4. That hurt a lot.
Congrats Lesley! Always fun reading profiles on folks here and getting to know people a bit more!
Been slacking with my comments! Back at it!
Today's 6:30 class with Melissa and Arturo
Push press at 65.5 lbs, it's geting rough but I made it through!
Rowing: Had a lot of fun with this, liked the whole ring of ergs situation, definitely felt myself pushing harder to keep up! Longest was my first round at 56.9 seconds, shortest was my 3rd round at 54.3.
Congrats Lesley! Such a great choice, she's always been super nice and welcoming. Only downside is that she sounds like an amazing cook (from Sunday AR chats) and yet has never brought me any food :p I guess with four kids there probably aren't leftovers…
6:30pm with Melo and Ro
160 push press
47/42.9/43.1/43.9/45.1 on the erg. Going all out on the erg isn't fun. Laid on the mat for ten minutes afterwards.
p.s. I don't know who inputs our programming into Beyond The Whiteboard, but I've consistently seen days missing (eg last Tuesday) and some delays (eg Sunday and Monday are still not there)… Is there anything I can do to help?
Congrats, Lesley! I'm also super impressed with your dedication with four kids! Also- another former field hockey player! Time to get a pick-up game going.
PP@90#
Shoulders and wrists were tight today.
WOD:
Fastest: 53.3 which is a 2s PR (yes, I keep track of my erg times)
Slowest: 55.3