How-to:

Warmup: 30 second Grok Squat ^[3], three light sprints at 70%.

It was the unholy confluence of corporate ethics lapses and shortsightedness, governmental/corporate collusion, and personal irresponsibility that set the stage for the “Flip That House” phenomenon, and we’ve seen what damage it wrought. As a nation, we’re still reeling from the effects. This week’s WOW, dubbed “Flip That Log,” also requires a triumvirate of preconditions – strength, speed, and a heavy log (or log analog) – for successful implementation, and it too will cause great microtrauma, only this time to your musculature. And the effects will only be felt for a day or two, rather than years. And it will all be beneficial.

“Flip That Log” is simple: flip a log end over end (using explosive hip extension ^[4] to get the log up to chest height, then drive it up and over using your shoulders and by pushing/running with your legs) for roughly 25 meters, then pick it up by one end and drag it backward to your starting position. Rest for about a minute and repeat three more times. Don’t let the simplicity lure you into complacency; this is a tough, tough workout that hits your entire body. It’s a quintessential strength-and-conditioning routine. You’re lifting, pushing, extending, sprinting ^[5], and pulling. You work your hips, your glutes, your quads, your shoulders, your lats. Name it and it’s being used. Short, sweet and to the point.

The hard part will be finding the log. Railroad ties, big tires, a heavy bag, a slosh tube ^[6] filled to the brim with water, small abandoned refrigerators, and heavy lumber will all work – basically, anything that requires significant effort to flip end over end. The taller and heavier the thing is, the more difficult the exercise will be (although the taller it is, the fewer flips you’ll have to make to hit 25 meters). What’s important is that it’s heavy for your skill and strength level. That might mean a thirty pound log or it might mean a two-hundred pounder. It’s all very relative. You’ll also most likely have to perform this outdoors, and, since it’s February, that could mean snow/rain/cold, depending on where you’re located. I can do this on the beach in 72 degree weather, and I realize that I’m lucky. Sorry about that, guys! Still, make it work. The workout is short, remember, and the intensity required will warm you up in a couple minutes. If you do it right, you won’t even notice the cold.

A few things to remember:

• Because this is an explosive ^[7] exercise, you’ll have to maintain a neutral back position, even as you’re tossing and dragging logs. Don’t let your form get away from you. Keep a tight torso to keep a healthy spine.
• Go as fast as you can. This is geared toward conditioning, rather than strength.

Variations:

• Add a couple more cycles if you feel up to it. If you have access to different logs, try switching each cycle. Go long and lighter first, then shorter and denser. The movement dynamics are different depending on the height and weight even as the foundational movement stays the same, which means different logs will hit you in different places.
• Do this WOW for time. How quickly can you get through it? Time yourself and share your details in the comment board.

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