C30 rollin' down the strip. . .

Today is a rainy, cold, listen to the Cure and think about all the hearts I've broken kind of day. But that is not what I did. I consumed 50g of protein in powder form at 1015, and popped two of Advocare's "Thermo Plus". Trained a new client in her home, dropped the Van off for an earl change, and then ran 2.7 miles on a different stretch of east-west highway. I figured 'twould be much harder as the hills were nasty, gradual, and LONG. Much to my surprise, I straight up bent that hill over and did the dance. Why this run was easier I think I know (I have been running these last three weeks and has begun to get easier), but check this: right at the end of the run, a car with two Marines in Dress Blue Alphas rolls up next to me honking the horn and pointing like I'm on fire. It was my recruiter SSGT. BIlbrey and another SGT. from the recruiting office. Looking back, if they had found me in the middle of the course I plotted I would have shaved a full minute off my time. But with hills and at a bodyweight of 275+ I came in at 24:12. Not bad. Whether the USMC accepts me for reenlistment or not, I am running my self down to 260. Have some.

Last night's workout was almost as pathetic as my financial statement.

Set out to run 3 miles in under 26:00. I made it to the halfway point and walked it out, gasping for air with big fat disgusting belly jiggling as I coughed and wheezed. Managed a walk/run pace back to the starting point, which was my house.

Double Clean and Press 16kg x 5 sets of 10 reps with 1:30 rest between.
Military Press 24kg x 2 sets of 10 L/R with 1:30 rest between.
Swing Clean Press 24kg x 1 set of 5 each side.

I realize that there are people who actually read this blog, so I will not whine about what I want to whine about, but I will say this: I am going off the grid if the USMC denies me for reenlistment. I'm talking no email address, no cell phone, no nothing. Me, two bells, and a job washing dishes in Australia.

Is that you John Wayne?

I am taking my physical for re-enlistment into my beloved Corps in 24 hours. I will not be required to pass recruit training again, yet I will encounter men like this on a daily basis. Listen for the part where he says "I will PT you until your assholes are sucking buttermilk". Classic.




When I began working with the USMC recruiting office in Downingtown in June training the poolees in kettlebell lifting, being around Marines again stirred up a whole netty pot worth of emotion. I have realized that over the last 5.5 years I have began more stories with "When I was in the Corps" or "Back in California" than I can recall. Not only that, but my interests in life are simple. I do not desire money, a house, a fancy car, or a wife and kids. I enjoy music, healthy food, playing pool, working out, and living near the ocean. All of which are components of a life spent in the Marine Corps. If I pass my re-enlistment physical (no reason why I should not), and the board accepts me, there is a damn good chance I will re-enter the Corps as a Corporal (the rank I attained before honorable discharge in 2002) and receive orders to 5th Marines on Camp Pendleton, CA. I can honestly say that at this point of my life I would rather be a Marine anywhere than a civilian in PA, but that is not to say that my highest hopes are for Pendleton. Not only is it Southern California, which speaks for itself, but two of my closest friends in the world reside there, and it is a haven for kettlerbellers. To wake up one day a Marine on Pendleton, and still an RKC, with some kettlebells and a TAPS bar for my platoon to train with is the equivalent of a degenerate gambler hitting it big and then being able to walk away from the table. Watch the video again and see why I love it.

If I were a character on 'Family Guy'

I would be as happy as a drunken clam. Then I would go workout at the 'Sweaty Clam', Quahog Rhode Island's only gym. But for real, know what I just discovered? The iTunes store. Ok, I used to download music illegally from Russia, but the two sites I used got busted, so last night I was ripping on the iTunes store to this girl, and then she boots it up in front of me and says "buying albums for 6.99 is a rip off? Do you make any money at all?"

Humbled, I laid down the debit card and bought some AFI, At The Drive-In, and The Clash. Superdope playlist for tonight's 5K run coming up!

"JARhead" funniest moments from Youtube.

I am watching this movie again for honestly the seventh time since I first viewed it in theaters on the 230th birthday of my Marine Corps, 10 November 2005. here are some highlights.

Bring 'em BACK alive.

If I had any more time I would fill you in on what has become "el ritual de lo habitual" around 456 East King, but all my ten digits have time for now is the results of tonight's workout. Which was impromptu, and beyond beneficial. Felt the breeze which precedes a stormy depression coming in today. I've been fighting fever all week and knew I had to be preemptive. I struck at the right time.

1930 hours, Malvern PA.
5 Push Ups (PU) rest 1:00
5 Swings L rest 1:00
5 Push Ups rest 1:00
5 Swings R rest 1:00

Straight through the push up and swing variations and numbers for each set, resting afterwards.

5 PU 5 Swing L/R 5 PU rest 1:30
5 Swing L 5 PU 5 Swing R 5 PU rest 1:30
5 PU 10 swings L/R 5 PU rest 2:00
10 PU 10 Swings L/R rest 1:30
10 PU 10 swings L 10 PU 10 swings R rest 1:30
15 PU 10 swings L/R rest 1:30

Max rounds in 7:00 of 10 PU, 10 Swings L/R minimal rest made it through four and I called it :50 early.

Even at my lightest (which was also my leanest) in adulthood, right before my discharge from the Corps, I never quite spoke fluently in the language of the Push Up. Not until I was Pavelized did the shoulder pain disappear from my PUs. Now, after a workout like this, get this, my lats are always sore. For real, I get pectoral soreness from high rep workouts, but when I crank out high volume, it is always the "widest back" muscle that tickles for a day or two. Let's see what happens.

"Proceed to blast into the galaxy"

It's good to be on top of the world.
Check out these last few workouts.

1030 Saturday 070929, with the Advanced S&C Class
Pull Ups 1,2,3,1,2,3
Swing x 50
Run 400m

Swing x 10
Run x 400m
Press x 5 LR

Swing x 20
Run x 400m
Press x 7 LR

Swing x 30
Run x 400m
Press x 9 double

Swing x 40
Run x 400m
Press x 15 see-saw

Swing x 50
Run x 400m
Press x 5 alternating

And then last night, real late, in my living room. I feel awesome.

Pump x 5
Press 32kg x 1 x 1 40kg x 1
Swing 32kg x 10

Resting :45 between all sets listed below, sets also staggered.
Swing 32 x 5 40 x 5 x5 x5 x5 x5
Press 40 x 1LR 32 x 1 x1 x1 1x x1
rest 2:00

Swing 40kg x 5 of 10 followed by 5-10 push ups, resting :45 between
Jog 1 mile at 9:15. Stretch, ate a tuna salad sandwich. Life is good. Just had four eggs, 2 slices sodium free whole wheat bread a big coffee for morning chow. Errrrrrrr Marine Corps.