Day 369

I kept the kiddos this afternoon while mom went to the store. We were thinking of heading out of town, but changed our minds on that. Just hung around the house and sat outside on the swing for while, had a good supper and a quiet night at home. 

Day 368

Got out in the garage for a little something.

Squat
-I chose to squat today mainly for basic strength retention/skill practice leading into the contest, plus it doesn't drain the CNS like the deadlift for me. So being that I'm not much of a squatter means it's self limiting (i.e. I won't be able to ruin myself pre contest.)
bar x 5
135 x 5
225 x 5
315 x 3
365 x 2
405 x 1

Incline Press
bar x 10
135 x 10
185 x 8
225 x 5
255 x 3
285 x 1

Band Lat Pulldowns
20,10,10,10 (10-15 breathes b/w sets... I tried to breathe slow ;-)

My sister is house sitting for some people... they have a pool....

Swam + jumping off the diving board x too much and now I'm waterlogged. Plus I decided to do a front flip which ended with me slapping the water as hard as possible with my lower back.... Then I did the ye olde dive through the inner tube trick and then I realized I'm not 18 anymore and it would take days for my head to stop hurting and my ears to dry out.

Rebekah did several cannonballs that were of technically perfect form, I was proud. And when she is swimming, she is so slender she glides like a water snake. Girl can swim.

Day 367

Took a short nap and fed little Ruthie Bess her afternoon bottle. Then me and Rebekah got out and she played while I sprayed vine killer all over the back yard.

No training today, honestly the hay is in the barn as far as that goes, just going to keep it semi-heavy to stay in that mode. 

Georgia's Strongest Man 2013 entry is in the mail today. 

Day 366

Work beat me to death.  I came home, took a nap, and it was outside for event training.

Shoulder warmup

Log Press
empty x 8
155 x 4
235 x 2,2

Frame Carry
440 x 50ft. x 2 (just a light carry to keep the pumps primed)

Keg Press
150 x 4
240ish x miss, miss, miss (really disappointing day on this, really frustrated. I played with a few different techinques, but at the end of the day you've got to be strong enough to clean and press without re-gripping. This event will be a wash for me, hopefully I can just get through a few presses, no way I see the loading portion)

Stones
210 stone x 5 (no tacky, still mad about the keg, left bicep be Da****)

Today was a run through in full sleeves and belt. I really can't express to you how sweat soaked I was. Hung out with the family the rest of the evening, helped get the youngin's in bed. Then I layed ice packs all over me and thought about how unimportant my silly hobby is in comparison.

Day 365

Well here it is. One year later.

I'll have to wait a few more days to compete, as they have moved the strongman show back a couple of weekends.

Just glancing at my training log from a year ago I can't help but laugh, as A.) I forgot what trainwreck I was physically a year ago. and B.) I don't really think I'm much stronger, which, frankly, is a little discouraging.

But you know, I guess if I just hold the line maybe I can set some fresh pr's soon and prove to myself that I am (ever so slowly) improving on some level, but at 34, it's clear that I am hitting a ceiling of sorts.

No training today. Work is killing me, and other life issues have my attention. But from where I stand it was a  Big Year indeed.

Day 364

Woke up early, sat out by the water, drank coffee. Took a morning nap, ate lunch and headed home. Too short a weekend, but I'm glad to be back with my babies.

Took another nap after I got home, and did some light chores outside. It was a great weekend. 

Day 363

Spent the day by the lake, caught the world's smallest fish. Took a nap, me and my lovely are headed out for dinner.  Great day!