How’s your week been so far? I was planning on climbing yesterday but ended up resting due to shredded skin from an awesome day at Horse Pens 40 on Sunday. The weather was great, we were away from the smoke, and the psyche was high, due to a great crew. The first time I had ever climbed at Horse Pens, I was hurt. The second time, 3 feet of snow covered all the boulders. For my third trip, it was nice to just be able to climb. I was able to put down some harder (for me) boulders such as Litz Pocket Problem and Supernova. I also managed to fall off a boulder and have my pants catch me. So that was something interesting. Oz took some great photos during the trip. Check ’em out (or don’t) and then let’s get into the bullet points.
The Bullet Points
Hip mobility and thoracic rotation are two movement qualities that many people lack. This drill hits both. Why not save some time? Check it out.
Recently, Dean Somerset and Tony Gentilcore put out a resource dealing with hip and shoulder training. I’m working through it, and it’s fantastic. This article deals with some items discussed in their product. It covers proper movement technique, explores some anatomy, and is packed full of information. Worth a read.
I stumbled across this article and got some information out of it. Another piece that involves some anatomy and functional exploration of the structures that allow us to climb. The wording can be a little awkward at times due to translation, but nothing ridiculous. Read it, and learn how to squeeze things harder.
The Brew
Beer For Breakfast, Dogfish Head Brewery
This was an interesting stout. The folks at Dogfish Head crafted this dark beer with roasted and smoked malts, coffee, and scrapple. What’s scrapple? According to wikipedia,
“Scrapple, also known by the Pennsylvania Dutch name Pannhaas or “pan rabbit,’ is traditionally a mush of pork scraps and trimmings combined with cornmeal and wheat flour, often buckwheat flour, and spices.”
So…that’s an interesting thing to put into a beer. Guess what? It works out nicely.
It pours black with a tan, active head that dissipates quickly to the outside of the glass. This is a beer with a big, complex aroma of coffee, a hint of maple syrup, and subtle smokiness. It’s really nice aroma, nothing overpowers, and it all blends together well. It’s Sweet and smooth on the taste. Coffee comes first with maple syrup and a smokiness intermingled throughout. I’m not a big fan of smoked beers, but this is very subtle and deft. A light chocolate-ish sweetness is present as well. The label does not lie, this would be a fantastic breakfast beer!
That’s it for this week.
What’s Happening This Week
Mailing List
I’m playing around with a newsletter. It will contain article alerts, special content promotions, and offers exclusive to subscribers. You can sign up here if you’d like. It’s completely free.
Nutrition, Performance, and Strength Coaching
If you’re interested in nutrition coaching, strength training, or performance training, I’ve got room for a couple more clients. More information here.
I’m teaching two kettlebell classes at Scenic City Strength and Fitness.
An entry-level class that emphasizes the foundations of safe and effective kettlebell training will be held Tuesday, November 15th, at 6 pm. It’s only 10 bucks and spots will be limited to ensure a great experience. If you’re in the Chattanoooga area and have always been curious about trying out kettlebells, it’ll be tough to find a better opportunity.
I’m also teaching a class on Thursday, the 17th for folks on who are more familiar with kettlebells. We will dive into some more advanced kettlebell movements and concepts, and push the intensity up a bit more than Tuesday.
You can register online for any of these classes here. Each class is 10$. Hurry, because the spots fill up fast.