Novice Competition

Such a great day the Forge Gym in Winkler. Every training day, every competition I'm learning. Gaining more experience. Truck Pull lead the comp. Of course it started snowing like crazy. It cleared up for the Farmer's Walk (210lbs per hand). Then we moved inside for the Log Lift (145lbs), Deadlift (395lbs) and Sandbag/Keg Medley (175,200,205lbs). Thank you to everyone who made this competition so auccessful. Thank you to my lovely wife for spending the day with me and filming. Today I managed to get the gold with only minor aches and strains.

Here are some final take aways from each of the events.

Truck Pull (1st) - Obviously I need more experience to tidy up my technique. Otherwise I'm pleased how it went.

Farmers Walk (2nd) - Again I need more experience. 210lbs per hand for 50ft each way is a huge personal best.

Log C&P (1st) - I've done better but not after the first two events. I'm happy with my form. More polished. 

Axle Deadlifts (1st) - They lowered the weight from 435 to 405 to 395lbs. This is my jam. I'm happy with 11 reps.

Sandbag/Keg Medley (2nd) - my Sandbags are weak. Because of that I'm starting to really enjoy them. I managed to get the 175lbs bag over the bar. That's it. At least I'll enjoy all the work I need to do to get better.

After the competition we raced to the Forks to meet some good friends for some beers and dinner. Fish and Chips. 

Today, I feel really good except my traps. They are sore. Making the weak points stronger. 

Snowdaddy

Sit Ups

Core strength is gonna be important at the competition. I don't want to have sore and aching muscles like I do now after the Sandbag work. Time for some Sit Ups.

Rebounding - 45 minutes.

Bench Sit Ups - 5 sets/20 reps.

This evening while I was out my abs cramped. Not pleasant. Luckly I was parked. Now I'm home. Time for electrolites.

Snowdaddy

Sandbag

Again, training is causing me anxiety. The thought of making my muscles and my lungs burn is scaring me. Eventually I've gotta get my head wrapped around this. Until then I won't have any expectations going into training except starting to train. Completing the first rep. For example, I predicted I would just do singles today. Of course that didn't happen.

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

Sandbag Work - 3 sets/various/150lbs, 2 sets/various/200lbs.

Push Ups - 3 sets/15,15,20 reps.

Sandbag work sucks but I'm starting to love it. Just like Squats. I suck at them and they hurt but the work I need to put into training them is rewarding. Shouldering the 150lbs bag is common place now. 200lbs still needs to be worked on.

Snowdaddy

Axle Tire Deadlifts

More prep for the competition next week end.

Rebounding - 45 minutes.

Kettlebell Swings - 2 sets/20,25 reps/40lbs.

Axle Tire Deadlifts - 225lbs/1,1,1,6 reps, 315lbs/6 reps, 3 sets/6 reps/405lbs.

Straps and no belt. The straps kept slipping. I'll have to fix that. Not physically demanding. More frustrating because the straps kept slipping. Lots more left in the tank.

Snowdday

Adductor and Log Press

Are you freakin' kidding me???!!! I was gonna go to bldg 21 and do Log, Deadlift and Farmers. Walking from work out to my car I noticed my left adductor pinching. Considering my history with my left adductor I know not to mess around with it. Especially with a competition in 10 days. That said, I came home and decided to hit the Log.

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

Shoulder Mobility.

Standing Log Press - 2 sets/12 reps/70lbs, 2 sets/12 reps/120lb, 3 sets/6,6,8 reps/170lbs.

Dumbell Side Laterals - 2 sets/12 reps/20lbs.

Static Stretches.

That went pretty well. All things considered. Now it's time for supper.

Snowdaddy

Motivation (less)

I had it all planned out. This afternoon I was supposed to go to bldg 21 and perform the first three events. Nope! Didn't happen. After procrastinating I got out to the garage to do something.

Rebounding - 75 minutes.

Bench Sit Ups - 6 sets/15 reps.

Behind Neck Pull Downs - 6 sets/12 reps/45,55kg.

Push Ups - 4 sets/12 reps.

Nothing what was planned but still something.

Snowdaddy

Squats

Feeling really good lately. Motivation is still crap but when I do train it goes really well.

Rebounding - 30 minutes.

Kettlebell Swings - 2 sets/20 reps/40lbs.

Squats - bar/6 reps, 135lbs/6 reps, 225lbs/6 reps, 315lbs/6 reps, 315lbs/8 reps.

These felt solid and somewhat easy. Now I need something to eat before going into work.

Snowdaddy

Physio

Yesterday after training I went to Physio for my left elbow mobility issues. I can't lock it out. After some assessments I was given some electo muscle stimulation and finishing with accupuncture.

Afterward I was sent home with one exercise. Try and hyperextend the elbow under tension. The Physiotherapist suggested I do it in a door frame. I tried a few varriations concluding that the kettlebell worked best.

While doing these I also bounced.

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

My next physio appointment is Monday.

Snowdaddy

Core and Press

Another mixed bag of training to keep active. 

Rebounding - 70 minutes.

Bench Sit Ups - 5 sets/15 reps.

Standing Axle OH Press - 115lbs/12 reps, 3 sets/6,8,6 reps/165lbs.

NG High Cable Rows - 3 sets/12 reps/60kg.

Static Stretches.

Good training day. Everything is feeling better. This afternoon I have a physio appointment for my left elbow. We'll see what they have to say.

Snowdaddy

Sandbags

Consitancy is key. The more I train with the Sandbags the better I get at them. Note, I didn't say they get easier. They certainly don't get any easier.

Light Stretches.

Rebounding - 70 minutes.

Kettlebell Swing - 2 sets/20 reps/40lbs.

Sandbag - 150lbs/6 rows+1 pick, 3 sets/200lbs/6 rows+1 pick.

Push Ups - 3 sets/12,14,16 reps.

Static Stretches.

I actual did a little moving with both the 150lbs and 200lbs bags. Maybe I'll have some luck with the Sandbag and Keg Medley at the comp.

Snowdaddy

Axle Tire Deadlifts

Motivation is still crap. Today I was just going to rebound and stretch. I managed to add a bit at the end.

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

Extensive Stretching.

Axle Tire Deadlifts - 205lbs/8 reps, 415lbs/6 reps.

The video speaks for it's self. Nothing difficult but it still prepares me for the impending competition.

Snowdaddy

Log Press

Again my motivation is less than ideal. I finally dragged my butt out to train late afternoon.

Light Stretches.

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

Standing Log Press - 2 sets/12 reps/70lbs, 4 sets/6,7,4,8 reps/160lbs.

Dumbbell Side Laterals - 2 sets/12 reps/20lbs.

WG Cable Rows - 3 sets/50,55,60kg/12 reps.

Log Press was kinda all over the place but I'm still happy with the over head control. Tomorrow is another day.

Snowdaddy

All Nations Tribal Days

The 3rd of April was Good Friday. Friday was also a good day. An old friend asked if I would help out with the strongman event. What a great day! I will always be a strongman fan first before a competitor. The best way to watch a strongman event is by helping out. Started at 1300hrs and didn't get home until 2300hrs. I was exhausted. Highlights of the day were meeting Brian Shaw. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture. Of course the best was hanging out with friends. Ten hours of moving weights around equalled one heck of a great training day.

Snowdaddy

Sandbag

My kryptonite. Sandbags are indeed difficult. I wish I would have trained these when I was young. Such a great way to train workload. I'm hitting muscles that won't get attention with any other exercises.

Light Stretches.

Rebounding - 45 minutes.

Kettlebell Swings - 2 sets/20 reps/40lbs.

Sandbag - (rows) 2 sets/6 reps/150lbs, (to chest) 4 reps/150lbs, (to shoulder) 4 reps/150lbs, (rows) 4 reps/200lbs, (to chest) 3 reps/200lbs missed fourth rep.

Much better control over the bags than previously. I still can't move much with them. Still lots more work to do.

Snowdaddy

Mixed Bag

I want to do Sandbags tomorrow. With Deadlifts yesterday I want to give my lower back a little break before it does, break. That said, I didn't put yesterday's weights away. Bad boy. My punishment was to pick the 405lbs bar up with no belt, chalk, straps nor any warm up. Here's how it went.

The rest of the training went like this.

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

Bench Sit Ups - 5 sets/12 reps.

NG High Cable Rows - 3 sets/12 reps/50kg.

Standing Axle Press - 3 sets/12 reps/115lbs.

Static Stretches.

Like I said, Mixed Bag. A good but not demanding all over training day.

Snowdaddy

Deadlifts

Nothing exciting today. Just a bit of hard work. 

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

Deadlifts - 5 sets/6,8,12,12,12 reps/225lbs (raw), 405lbs/6 reps (belt and straps).

Static Stretches.

I didn't have today's training planned out. It just kind of evolved. The idea of exhausting myself with the lighter Deadlifts then do one heavy set seemed to make sense. Competition day I'll do Log C&P before 14" Axle Deadlifts for reps. I'm feeling confident for this event.

Snowdaddy

New Knee Sleeves

Is there anything more motivating than getting new gear to try out? It's Squat Sunday! Time to try out my new triple ply knee sleeves.

Light Stretches.

Rebounding - 30 minutes.

Squats - 2 sets/8 reps/bar, 135lbs/8 reps, 225lbs/6 reps, 315lbs/6 reps.

Log Clean & Press - 70lbs/12 presses. 160lbs/4 reps.

Zercher Squat Trial - 2 singles/115lbs.

A really good training day.

Snowdaddy

Axle Rack Pulls

I am stiff and sore. I'm off this last week and next. It's an excellent opportunity to focus on the lifts for the up coming competition. I'm happy with how the week has gone. Still tomorrow left to go but so far so good.

Light Stretches.

Rebounding - 90 minutes.

Kettlebell Swings - 3 sets/20,25,20 reps/40lbs.

Axle Rack Pulls - 2 sets/6 rep/205lbs, 295lbs/6 reps, 385lbs/8 reps, 500lbs

NG High Cable Rows - 3 sets/12 reps/50kg.

Static Stretches.

Everything went well. Still lots left in the tank.

Snowdaddy

Sandbag

Sandbag work is so humbling. I can throw double the weight around on a bar. The 200lbs bag is still kicking my ass. However, it was kicking my ass a little less today. The 150lbs bag felt very controlled today. More so than usual.

Rebounding - 50 minutes.

Sandbag - 3 sets/2 reps/150lbs, 4 sets/various/200lbs.

WG Lat Rows - 3 sets/12 reps/50kg.

Down to the last few weeks until the competition. Although, the Sandbag work is getting better, I really have no idea how I'll do on the Sandbag and Keg medley. The benifit is I'm getting stronger.

Snowdaddy

Recovery

Yesterday knocked the crap outta me. My lower back is stiff and sore. Several times last night and early this morning it threatened to cramp up. Lucky it didn't. Today was all about recovery.

Light Stretches.

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

Push Ups - 4 sets/12,14,16,18 reps.

Static Stretches.

Tomorrow is Sandbag work. The 200lbs bag worries me. But, I have to get used to it.

Snowdaddy