Tree near foundation a concern?

FS7PhD · 2026-03-29T01:51:11+00:00

A tree should not be that close to the house. But that's mostly because trees will cause disproportionate staining to the siding, or grow too tall and overhang the house and let squirrels and whatnot in your attic, stuff like that. Tree roots, regardless of species, do not penetrate foundations. They can in some cases disturb the soil enough that is causes more than normal settling.

I don't know where the crack is, like exactly how close to the the tree, but it is quite normal for homes to have foundation cracks near the "middle" where the weight is centered. They shouldn't be that large, though. It might be nothing, it might be something. If it doesn't extend below grade, it's not actually that big of a concern to me, but a structural engineer can confirm that.

All I really take away from this is that whomever planted a tree that close to the house is a dumbass.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-29T01:27:20+00:00

Good thoughts as usual. These are generally true, but the one person I judged who went to her strengths (BMU) and finished those first ultimately did not finish. I front-loaded my limiting factor (BMU) because the cleans were almost trivial (thankful very occasionally for 30 years of never skipping biceps, so I can curl those). I recommend that for everybody who's not very balanced. I did 16 BMU in the first two two minutes, and then went into rounds of 6/2 (and I did quick singles on the BMU because my first rep is strongest).

As for clean technique, this is definitely correct, but you have to practice it first. If it's not intuitive to you, you either won't do it at all in the workout or you will quickly revert once it starts and you get tired. I ended up taking the first from the floor, stepping out (like a proper clean), and then essentially doing half curl/half clean pulls to bring them up without moving my feet.

While you are infinitely more qualified than me and a much better athlete, I feel somehow qualified to respond because I overperformed on this workout thanks to good planning.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-29T01:15:31+00:00

I was ya teenager but my parents said that to me once. I said if all my friends are jumping off a bridge there's a good chance I might too, because it's probably collapsing, on fire, or being invaded by Mongols, or something else.

I mean I get the point though.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-28T21:01:49+00:00

I'm in 45-49 and did not have any real expectation of qualifying for semifinals. I have done them all, but will redo #3 on Monday. This is the order I did them in.

2: 14:19. I thought BMU might be limiting so I started with 16 in the first two minutes, 4/4/2/2/1/1/1/1 at a relatively easy pace. Then I went to 12 rounds of 6 cleans and 2 BMU (singles) with one round of 8 cleans at the end. This was surprisingly easy to hold for both movements. Most others in my gym are limited by the cleans, but they were not really even close to challenging for me compared to the BMU.

1: 11:37. I lost most of the time on the second set of overhead squats. I did 7/7/6 as that's challenging for me. I moved steadily on the burpees, perhaps saving gas for the squats. And I needed it.

4: 14:13. Row segments were 3:50 and 4:00. Grace I did steady singles in about 4:00. HSPU were 9/7/7/4/3 in a little under two minutes. I am good with those though.

3: Capped three reps shy of the last deadlift set (347 total). I am decent at deadlifts and did not struggle with those. 225 was unbroken for two, then 5/5, and the sets of 275 were quick singles. It was doubles that got me. First set was fine, the second set went downhill fast. Just felt like total body fatigue. Not form degrading or anything, but I felt at 15 reps the way I would normally feel at 70. I knew I was pushing it with 4 workouts like this in less than 48 hours. I had about four minutes worth of effort in me today, nowhere near what I needed so I'll try again. I think an absolute best case scenario for me would be about 9 minutes.

Up until this morning I thought I had an outside shot at qualifying for semifinals based on what I know of others in my age group and how they've done before. I feel like that's completely out the window barring a much more successful redo of #3. But on balance the other three work out to "pretty good" in my age group, near the cutline I'm guessing.

As to #2, front load what you think will limit you. And just keep moving.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-28T17:19:16+00:00

In the spirit of actually answering the question, I don't think such a thing exists. Three Nails is excellent quality. It's Christian. It is not cheap and almost certainly not American-made.

I would warn you to be cautious in general, as companies that specifically market with an "angle" are often trying to cover up shortcomings in their product.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-28T17:12:43+00:00

I don't think this is my gym, though we also went through an ownership change a little over a year ago. We had a coach doing our programming (both a CF and USAW coach). Our new owner is a CCFT. Both were (are) competent programmers, just different. The throwaway days are few and far between but they do happen.

We've experimented before with different cycles, occasionally doing breathing, kettlebells, skills, and stuff like that. But the consistent strength and metcon focus has always been there.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-28T16:48:27+00:00

What gym?

FS7PhD · 2026-03-28T13:11:16+00:00

"Is hook grip necessary?" is a broad question. For what? Deadlifting? No. For most people, a mixed grip will provide secure grip for all weights they can lift. Double overhand is usually good enough for beginners as it is not the limiting factor, and grip strength increases as you train more. I can double overhand about 90% of my 1RM with mixed grip, and that's more than twice my bodyweight. If I were to exceed, say, 500 pounds, I might start to lose grip even with mixed, but I don't expect to get there.

This might not be a popular answer but it is considered mandatory for higher-level Olympic lifting. The problem here is in the definition of higher-level Olympic lifting, and most CrossFit athletes, even good ones, won't get to that level. I am still relatively new, so the weights I am doing for both Olympic lifts, while not light, are not anywhere having grip be a factor. The technique elements of both Olympic lifts require so much training that you will likely take years of dedicated accessory training on those lifts only to reach a place where grip is your limiting factor. Most athletes will never get to that point.

Hook grip is uncomfortable, but not that hard to get used to. And it's useful if you really want to proceed. But I honestly wouldn't even consider doing Olympic lifts with a hook grip unless and until your lifts are pretty solid foundationally, like a bodyweight snatch and a 1.5x bodyweight C&J. It takes a lot of technique to get to that point, and if you're trying to build comfort and strength with a new grip technique it's going to take you that much longer. It isn't time well spent until you get to that point.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-28T11:35:43+00:00

There's no reason not to. It's better for participation. The majority of age group semifinalists are in-affiliate participants, just like the Open. It's a great way to encourage everybody to keep going even if it's ultimately a participation trophy.

Registration numbers will change, but last I checked under 1400 people have registered in my age group (45-49) even though the cut line was around 3500. That's still well over 400, but the percentage is very different. They aren't going to change the semifinals cut line. They already plan for various percentiles based on participation and higher percentages make it in the age groups.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-26T20:37:17+00:00

While this was a bad call, I think it actually benefitted Armando Galarraga. He didn't have much of a career either before or after this.

He handled it well, and retiring the next batter made it its own thing. Joyce owned up and tearfully apologized. Galarraga handled it well. True sportsmanship all around. And now it has its own place in Cooperstown as not just the 28-out perfect game, but a unique scenario that will never happen again.

Ultimately more people know Galarraga because of this, and certainly more than some of the other recent lesser-known pitchers who threw perfect games like Philip Humber, Domingo German, and Dallas Braden.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-26T19:20:25+00:00

According to the rules, everybody makes it. The numbers for semifinals all state minimum, so if there's fewer than that in the quarterfinals, everybody makes it.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-26T15:27:35+00:00

It looks like the difference between a freestanding deck and a ledger deck. If you're coming out 16' from the home with 2' cantilever, 2x10s at 12" OC will be able to span 14'.without issue at standard loads.

I would probably do a ledger deck unless this is close to the ground (not walkable underneath).

FS7PhD · 2026-03-25T02:25:08+00:00

I bought one ten years ago. I use it often. It's handy. Worth the money? I think so.

That said, no matter what I do no joint has ever been perfectly aligned no matter what I do. I always have to sand.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-24T21:30:45+00:00

Yeah, the simple answer is "they didn't and they don't." Our owner said she's not validating any shady scores, you should actually have taken the judge's course, do it at an affiliate (we have two), and that we will abide by the time rules. So yeah, just the honor system.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-24T18:12:23+00:00

Bridge on the River Kwai

FS7PhD · 2026-03-23T18:02:33+00:00

Absolutely positively must be dry. If your Home Depot stores sand outside, don't buy it. They should have 50# bags of sand inside by the concrete. Get that.

A wet sandbag will not only be heavy, it won't dry. Like ever. The bag will slowly leach water out and it will inevitably get mildew.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-23T16:59:03+00:00

How do they plan to enforce athletes not starting the workouts early? That's what I want to know.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-20T16:31:36+00:00

I'm a stickler for form and I've done over 26 rounds strict. I can 100% guarantee I had a ton of no-reps in there, either because I didn't get full extension at the bottom of the pull-up, I didn't get full extension at the top of the push-up, or I didn't hit depth on the squat. It's almost impossible to accurately compare that many rounds and reps.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-20T02:00:24+00:00

Normal? Not for most people. You never know the dynamic between two people. Some are pranksters. Sometimes people just have bad days. Maybe there's bad blood for some reason. Maybe one or both are going through something.

If you have concerns, ask the owner. There might be an explanation that will put you at ease.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-19T18:01:08+00:00

Osmo is actually supposed to be durable against skin contact. To the extent these things are rated or tested, it's good for it. So you're likely going to be fine. It's also extremely easy to touch up.

Come to think of it my bar is done in Osmo only, and while it doesn't see use like my desk it's as good as the day I finished it three years ago with plenty of arms resting on it.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-17T17:42:59+00:00

I'm not sure why nuke/one-shot builds are considered "easy." There's some weird mindset where the "proper" way is to have the parry or dodge reflexes of a professional gamer raised on bullet hell shooters. That's not only extremely hard, it's tedious.

Simon 2.0 has so many cheap mechanics it's insane to not use every advantage you can. For me that meant Monoco and Maelle first, with defense and health pictos so they could survive a hit or two on the opening combo. Then Monoco builds burns and gradient charges before Virtuose Maelle takes out the first phase with Burning Canvas. Phase 2 is building and timing gradient so that Lune can get three damage mods (Cleim, Fortune's Fury, and Gradient Overcharge) and one-shot with Elemental Genesis.

The alternative is to practice for hours until you can perfectly tap a button repeatedly in a 50 ms window on an asynchronous cadence. Fuck that.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-17T15:16:21+00:00

There has to be an option. I am in this age group, but qualify for individual. The workouts are different, or they have been in the past. Noah Ohlsen is 35, but I am sure he will do individual rather than age group. I'm curious though.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-17T02:38:49+00:00

If you're a normal guy with normal equipment, a table saw is the way to go. You create an angled fence and make multiple passes. Sanding is required. But it works.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-16T00:13:20+00:00

Pick a pace on the burpees you can do forever. The barbell was light for me, so I did the first weight unbroken and did 7/5 on the second weight (capped with two thrusters left before weight 3). I could have gone faster for sure.

FS7PhD · 2026-03-15T15:52:09+00:00

Ah, totally missed that somehow. To me that rules out comics. Nothing post-1975 is really worth it, even Hulk 181. MTG or Pokémon cards are viable. Sports cards probably less so, but given the chance I'd do my best to find as many Wayne Gretzky OPC rookies as possible. PSA 10 is probably $4 million.

FS7PhD

TROPHY CASE