cesimpson

Today (Friday 29 May 2009) is the 33rd anniversary of my birth. Some people, on their birthdays, get calls from their mothers at some point in the day (or maybe late the night before) “33 years ago right now I started having labor pains.”

Not me. I got my reminder two days ago. That’s right. On Wednesday night I was helping mom build a new computer for her office. She looked at her watch at some point in the evening. “About 33 years and 3 minutes ago I started my labor with you.” Two days of labor…and she’s mostly friendly with me today. I guess time does heal all wounds. =)

Birthday Goals

I have been so caught up in a) healing my back AND b) work, that my birthday snuck up on me. I set no specific birthday goals this year. I set a few goals at my birthday last year. Now is as good a time as any to revisit them, see how I did.

Over the next year I’d like…

…to be still around 160# (though 165# would be acceptable if it came, literally, 100% in muscle.)

…a 1000#+ Raw PL total, a sub-7:15 2k row, a sub-2:30 800m run and a 200+ SSST w/ 16kg KB.

…a sub-7:00 Master The Met stair climb.

…to be doing more strategic work at work. … I’d like to be 40/60 strategy/tactics in one year….

So, let’s compare. I’m a little closer to 165# and my body fat is a bit higher than 10%, but not much. Maybe 11.5% or so.

I broke the 1k# PL total in December. With my back problems, I’m fairly certain I couldn’t do it today, but I’m on my way back up.

I haven’t rowed hard in a while. Not sure what my 2k time would be. Nor my 800m time. In October I did a 232 SSST.

Maybe one of my more ambitious goals was a sub-7:00 Master The Met stair climb. In March I raised $275 for the American Lung Association and got to the top in 6:42.

Finally, I wanted to be more strategic at work. I’m happy to announce that on Monday 1 June I begin my new job. I’m still at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and I’m still on the same team. There is a slight re-org going on here and the powers that be have asked me to manage the team I helped start about a year and a half ago.

This past week has been the transition period - scheduling meetings, getting HR paperwork and the like. On Monday I will have two UX designers and a prototype engineer as direct reports. We’re a small team with lots of work, so I’ll likely still do some tactical, hands-on project work, but it will be significantly diminished. I said I wanted to be doing 40/60 strategy/tactics. It’s likely the ratio will be, at least, flipped.

I’m super-excited about this opportunity. Our team has gone a significantly bumpy road the past year. We’ve had lots of very chaotic project work and not much strategic direction. The team got cut about in half with some lay-offs in the fall. Morale is not at it’s highest; there’s uncertainty and confusion.

One of my main goals for the next few months is to establish some stability of process, some structure, and some good communication…basically, provide enough comfort and insulation for my team so they can focus on doing what they do best. And, when left to focus on their work, they’re a very bright, talented team who can design and produce really amazing products.

Wish me luck.

Workout & A Birthday Present

Warm Up

5x Power Snatch + 5x Overhead Squat @ 45#

5x Power Snatch + 5x Overhead Squat @ 95#

I sped through the warm up today. That was probably a bad idea. My hips were pretty tight through the first few sets of squats.

Squats & Chin Ups

3x Squat @ 205#

7x Chin Ups @ BW

3x Squat @ 235#

7x Chin Ups @ BW

4x Squat @ 270#

7x Chin Ups @ BW

5x Squat @ 285#

7x Chin Ups @ BW

5x Squat @ 285#

7x Chin Ups @ BW

5x Squat @ 285#

7x Chin Ups @ BW

5x Squat @ 285#

7x Chin Ups @ BW

Last night before bed, my wife gave me my birthday present - a new RKC/Dragondoor 24kg KB. She said, “I know I should wait until tomorrow, but I want you to have it for your workout tomorrow morning.”

I do so love that woman.

My new Toy

Kettlebell Circuit @ 24kg KB

33x 2-handed Swings

30x (15x ea. hand) C&J

20x (10x ea. hand) Snatch

4x (2x ea. side) TGU

I wanted to do more, but after 4×5 Squats @ 285#, my legs, butt and lower back were already very tired.

Two kettlebells now. Next Wednesday is going to be awesome.