Training 5/25

Close Grip Bench to 2 board
wu to....
235X4X4
265X2
300X2
All with pause, then
235X8 t'n'g

Seated DB Military/Sledge Hammer Strikes/Keg Carry
35's/22 lbs/225X20/20/50'X3 sets

should have done this last, was very tiring, and not used to the heat yet.

Training 5/24

Deads
45Xwu
135Xwu
245X5/5
335X3
385X1(added suit, doesn't fit anymore, too tight, but wanted to try it anyway)
435X2
495X2
550X2
650X-miss I think if I didn't wear the suit today I would've gotten this. It is WAY too tight and was throwing me off bad.
4" Deficit
465X2
525X1

Reeves Deads
115X10X3

Called it a day, messing with the suit took WAY too long.

Training 5/21

Buffalo Bar Box Squat
142Xwu
252X4/4/4
342X3
392X3
432X5
482X5

Axle C&P
143X2
197X2
217X2

Stones
238X1
296X1/1
375X-miss
325/296/270/258/238X2 sets, once up and once down

Training 5/18

CG Bench
135X10
225X4X4
255X2
290X2
t'n'g
225X8

Axle Rows
213X10X3

Poundstone Shoulders
4 sets, 55 lbs dbs, 18lbs sledge

Wet Arms
X5 sets

Training 5/17

Deads
warm up to
425X4X4
485X2
545X2

4"Deficit t'n'g
425X8

Keg Loads
292X1/1/1

GHR/Band Leg Curl
bw/purpleX15/15X4

Abs

Training 5/14

F-250 Pulls, then push back
X100'X3

That was it, we were both still feeling crappy after a long work week and lag from the contest. Ready to zero in on Monday.

Training 5/13

Went to United Sport and Athlete for the night with Philip for a change of pace.

Deads from 15"
135X5
225X3
315X3
405X3
495X2
585X2
675X miss above knees....I've got to correct this
495X5

A ton of other back stuff, didn't write it down.

Training 5/12 and Diet thoughts

First training day since contest. Just wanted to get some blood in the upper body as I still feel like I was in a car accident. Couldn't get the feeling of a "pump" at all. I've got to get my diet on point as I've gotten completly out of control. Dave Tate at elitefts talks about blast and dust in life and in training cycles. This sums me up perfectly, in training, in work, in life. I'm all in or all out. Last fall I did a VERY strict BB diet and got down to 219. Now I'm up to 283 and eat whatever I want. I originally planned for it to be a 1 month whatever I wantedm then a healthy bulk diet. But my diet went into "dust" mode and I've filled my face with whatever I wanted. I've got to take care of this, based on BF measurements I've put on 38 lbs of muscle since October when I was at my low BF. But I've also put on 26 lbs of blubber. I've got to switch this. I'd like to drop 10 lbs of the blubber and then put on 10 of the good stuff. If I can get my lean body mass to 270-280 I will be a VERY competitive strongman.

Anyway on to the training...

Close Grip 2 board presses
45+EFS orange short bandsX10
95" "X10
135+"" X10
155+""X10
135+""X10

Muscle C&P
45X10
65X10
85X10
Biceps cramping from DOMS, stopped here

Band Extensions/Band Dips
PurpleX25/25 X4 sets

DB Curls
25X100 reps each arm as fast as possible. Trying to get SOME blood in there to illicit recovery.

XTS Strongest Man 5/8

Truck Pull-20,000 lbs X 80'
It was pretty cold outside and I had the video camera ready for Philip to go. He had the climbing shoes on and was all set to go, then they told me I was up because they were going to take weight out of the truck for the lightweights. So I had about 60 seconds to change shoes and go. Not prepared, and I need to practive the truck pull. Last place, not sure on time, over 50 seconds.

Farmers (285)/Yoke(700) medley
Nice rain and hail filled event. Decent traction despite the ground being soaked. Stopped raining during my run so that was nice. Dropped the yoke for some reason(wussed out I guess) and it cost me, took 2nd in this event by about 2 seconds.

Tire Flip (1000 lbs for 1 flip)/Sled(600) X80'
Last minute change from an 800 lbs tire for 80 to the big boy for just 1 flip. Pete Konradt commented he did the tire for sets of 5 and it is VERY tough. Everyone used gorilla grip here, but I had none. I lifted the tire and my chalk slipped off, I rechalked and flipped it. Pulled the sled in a little over 20 sec. but wasn't enough to make up, all the other heavies got it over the first time. Last place here again.

12" Log for Max
So I was feeling pretty bad. Sitting in second to last place after three events and my legs felt like jello. The log was very slick and we were lifting on turf which was very spongy, and it definatly took something out of my leg drive. So I opened light at 235 and easily made it. Most of the heavies were struggling and it was clear everyones legs were somewhere between the sled and the truck pull. The way it was shapping up I jumped in at 255. Another easy lift. Then the way it shaped up 285 would gaurantee me 2nd place so I called for it. Again another very easy lift. The winnder hit 285 on his second, so I took 2nd place here. Really screwed myself out of first by messing around with the 235. Oh well...

Loading Medley
(250 keg/250 sandbag/250 field stone/250 atlas stone/315 sandbag/315 atlas stone)
They changed up the order of competitors going into the final event and I was in 5th place. Through the lighweights and the masters and the heavies before me no one had loaded the last 2 implements. I knew I needed a win here to have a chance at placing. So I did what I needed and loaded them all, time in 40-45 I think something seconds. Held up for first.

This resulted in a three-way tie for first, so the winner had won 2 events, and I had won 1 event. So I took home 2nd place and qualified for nationals. Which was the goal. Next time more truck pull practice and I should win outright.

Competing Saturday

Philip and I will be competing at XTS Strongest Man in Wisconsin. I haven't competed in strongman since 08 so I'm excited about it. We decided to do the show Monday so we are doing it just for some contest expierience. So just looking for a good training day. But I won't complain if I qualify for nationals:)

Competing as a heavy and should show up about 280. Even though we didn't train the events happening in this show, I feel like we are both very prepared. You never know, but all should go well. The only kink is the 900 lbs tire, it will be the heaviest I've flipped, should be fun!

Training 5/4

13" Log
Up to 176.2 for some quick singles. Saturdays contest has a max log in it so wanted to make sure I felt familiar with the log.

CG 2 board bench
wu...then
225X4X4
255X2X2
all with a pause
then 225X8 Tng
Very easy, and wanted it that way with the contest saturday. In two weeks I may try for 30 reps at 225 close grip, I think I'm there right now.

Neutral Grip Pullups
three sets of 5.

Training 5/3

Deads
135X10
245X5
335X1
400X1
425X4
425X4
425X4
425X4
485X2
485X2
Deficit 4" t'n'g
425X8

Tire Flip
650X80ft.

Cycling

First day of really riding. My wife and a friend of mine went out and did 12 miles. Went surprisingly well. Should make for some good cardio, just gotta make sure to not loose any leg size.

Training 4/30

Last day training by myself. Decided to hit up a local gym with lots of machine options to change it up since I wasn't going to do the event day by myself.

Back Squat
405X3X6

Power Squat Machine
up to 5 plates per side X10

Leg Press, Unilateral
up to stack X10 each leg

Extensions
lotsXlots

Leg Curls
lots Xlots

Got them pretty good, and all in all was in and out in about 50 mintues.

Looking forward to getting back into the normal routine Monday though.