Day 416

Floor Press With Chains

bar x 10
135 x 10
185 x 10
205 x 10
225 x 8
245 x 6
255 x 4
275 x 2

Band pushdowns 1 set x as many as possible

130lb. block press x 5,5 (just playing around in the back yard)

Day 415

50 tire flips with my 540lb. tire in the back yard.

worked mostly in sets of 5 to 7. It was good medicine.

Day 413

Incline press
135 x 10
185 x 5
205 x 5
225 x 3
255 x 1
265 x 1
275 x 1

Hang Clean x 2 + strict press x 2 + push press x 2 + push jerk x 2

115 x 1 round
185 x 4 rounds

Gonna try and learn the clean from the hang position, I think it fits best right now. 

Day 402 - 412

A lot of different things.

I log pressed 255 somewhere in there, I did some deadlifts with chains and those felt good. I worked up to a nice squat or two and some heavy high box squats that felt good. I inclined pressed a little bit and that was good to

Honestly, I haven't felt like myself for about a month. But I'm getting there.  

Day 401

Squat (no belt)
bar x 5
streching, KB swings, the stick, mobility stuff
135 x 3
225 x 3
255 x 3
295 x 3
330 x 3

Clean (once) and front squat
115 x 3
185 x 3 x 4

I could have done more, but honestly that was enough.  All good quality reps, why push it. 

Day 400

Log Press
empty x a bunch
155 x 3
170 x 3
195 x 3
220 x 3

Axle Floor press 200lbs. x 6 x 6 (10 breathes between sets)

Band lat pulldowns 5 x 10

band triceps x 3 sets

Day 399

Monster nap...

Day 398

Went swimming for about 2 hours with my oldest and the cousins.  I'm water logged, but I did some good stretching and movement in the pool and loosened up a good bit. 

Day 396

Band Shoulder Warmup

Incline Bench Press
bar x 5
135 x 5
175 x 5
200 x 5
225 x 5

Deadlift
225 x 3
325 x 5(DO grip)
375 x 5 (DO grip)
425 x 5 (straps, no belt)

strict press 2 reps, push press 2 reps, jerk 2 reps
bar x 1 round
115 x 1 round
165 x 2 rounds

I had to then move a bunch of plates from my frame I was practicing on for the contest out in the back yard. That zapped my last remaining strength. 

Day 394

I'm back.

I could tell you about what a wreck I was post contest, or how busy I've been since, but it's time for a fresh start.

I went to Charlotte last week to visit my sister and took the kiddos and wife and we shot some fireworks and spent time with family and in general had a great time.

Today was my first real day back in the gym. I did do a little something last week but it's not worth mentioning.

Today

Shoulder warmup
The Stick to my quads, hams, calf
Goblet squats x 10
couch stretch
KB swings x 20
triceps stretch

Squat 135 x 5, 235 x 5, 275 x 5, 310 x 5
Log press 155 x 5, 185 x 5, 205 x 5
Axle Floor Press 200 x 10,10,4 (15 secs rest b/w sets)
Band Lat Pulldown with a squeeze and hold at the bottom x 4 x 8
Pullups 5 singles (these kill my left bicep, but I don't care)


sweat... lots of sweat...

Day 377

Contest Day

Last in my division.

In all fairness, I gave it my best, honest to God, effort.

Had a great time seeing some old friends and meeting some new.

I love the competition, I love to hear "take your grip!", I love to hear the whistle blow, I love to give it all I've got for the next 60 seconds, I love finding my limits and watching others find theirs.

Strongman is my thing, but it has passed me by, I'm not very good at it, but that's ok, I know PLENTY of terrible golfers.

----
Many, Many "thank you"s to

Scott Helms and Dane Garreau for a very well run, and fun contest. All of the Georgia crew really, they are fun to compete with.

"The World's Strongest Alabama Fan" Brad and Kim "Team Mom" Stanford, although we were accused of trying to turn the contest into "Barner Convention", I am always thankful for the encouragement and coaching I get from someone who is older and has more experience than me. Your wise words and perspective ("you beat everyone who was too scared to sign up") is what keeps me coming back. Thank You.

Zack Roberts, a Renaissance man if there ever was one. From theology to politics to economics to weightlifting to life there is scarcely a topic that you cannot discuss with authority, and I am thankful to have shared much of that as we traveled the road early Saturday morning and late Saturday afternoon. I'm better for your friendship and can't say thanks enough for doing an awesome job with the contest photos.

Will Bagley, The 265 class was eliminated and you didn't even flinch. The lightest man in the Super Heavy Weights by 30lbs. and you deadlifted 805lbs without gear when everyone else had on suits... I cannot be more impressed with your drive, your strength, and your character. You are still young and stupid, but I imagine that will ease off over time. I'm glad I'll be around to see it and help you grow.

And with that I'm I think I'm going to hang it up for a while unless a contest just falls in my lap. Time to lose some weight, work on some weaknesses and focus my efforts on some other areas of life...  First on the list, relax and have some fun, and enjoy training when I'm able to do it.


Husband, Father, Strongman, always, always, in that order.

Day 376

My wife left this afternoon to take the kids to her parents in Hoover for a visit. Now I'm in a quiet house with nothing but my anxiety and nerves to keep me company.

I packed all my gear, ran through my checklist twice.

Gonna try and get some sleep, going to be a long day tomorrow. 

Day 375

Fed the Baby, played with the little lady, and hung around the house this afternoon. I printed a checklist for my gear/supplies to take to the contest. It's pretty comprehensive, and helps to have it all written down.
Not long now.

Day 374

Took a nap no training, just getting ready for Saturday. 

Day 373

Shoulder warmup x a little extra

Log Press
empty x 8
175 x 2,2,2

Light band lat pulldown x 3 x 10

Well, the hay is in the barn so to speak.  I'll question everything I've done to prepare between now and Saturday. I'll turn myself into a head case (I'm my own worst enemy in this regard).

But I can lift what I can lift, and I can do what I can do.

And not a moment of preparation for Saturday's contest will have come at the expense of my family's welfare or failure to pull up the bucket from the well of life and drink deeply of it's fleeting joys. In that, I am satisfied.

I stop philosophizing now...

Husband, father, strongman, in that order... always.

Day 372

Morning training session today for a change. Had to go into work late.

Squats
bar x 3
135 x 3
225 x 3
275 x 3
315 x 3

Deadlifts
275 x 2
325 x 2,2

Day 371

Sunday school and big church, then a fine father's day lunch provided by my lovely bride. Then a much needed extra long nap. Then I finally go the rest of the dead tree I cut up put out by the road for the city to pick up. It was good to get outside and get the blood flowing. I'm going to try and keep moving this week and keep loose. 

Day 370

Got up early, and fed the baby. Finished off a pot of coffee and watched cartoons with Rebekah. Then about 11am we went over to the pool at the house where my sister is house sitting and swam with my neice and nephew. Then came home for lunch about 1pm-ish and ate and took a nap.

Got out about 3:30 for my last day for training that matters.

Shoulder warmup

Log Press
empty x 8
155 x 2
175 x 2
205 x 2
225 x 2 (nerves started to kick in and I wanted to keep going up just to "make sure I could", this is not the plan so I intentionally pulled off a 10lb. plate from each side so I didn't shoot my wad before next week.)
205 x 2
155 x 6 (w/speed)

-Very glad I didn't go up for a heavier single, this was not the time for that, 225 felt light and fresh, and that is good enough.

18" Deadlift w/chains
bar x 5
135 x 3
225 x 2
315 x 2
405 x 2
495 x 2 (just right, same principle as the log press)

Stones w/ light tacky
215 x 1,1
240 x 1,1
300 x 1,1 (this is my 20"er that I poured last year, this flew off the ground and full extension felt good and easy, very pleased with this)

I skipped kegs because it just is what it is and there is no point in wearing myself out or opening myself up to injury. May do my light keg first of the week for a rep or 2.

Then back to the pool for more fun and we ate supper out on the back deck.  It was a great night!

Strong people are more fun at the pool

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.