Crazy Days

Here's what's been happening since my last post.

Wednesday, my upper back was still a problem so I didn't do anything but try to roll it out and medicate.

Thursday thru Saturday, I was deployed to Baggotville Quebec. It was a really good trip and I had a great time. My back was feeling slightly better.

Sunday was Mother's Day so I spent the day with my wife and Mother.

Monday I walked around the block again and finished it with Kettlebell Swings 3 sets of 20 reps with 40lbs. In the afternoon and evening I went to work.

This morning I had all the intent of getting back on track and train for my FORCE test and the up coming Strongmania 2. However, my 17 year old cat Juno decided he was done. My wife left work and I called in. We went with the kids to the vet and had him put down. Sad but for the better. We'll miss him but it was his time. Love you always Juno. My Handsome Boy.

 

Maybe tomorrow I can get back on track but for now I'm gonna grieve my buddy.

Snowdaddy

Bench Press

With my upper back and shoulders in this state I feel I shouldn't exercise anything that may aggravate the issue. This substantially limits what I can do. 

Rebounding - 60 minutes.

Bench Press - 3 sets/15 reps/135lbs, 4 sets/10 reps/225lbs.

Theragun.

Everything went alright. Now time to rest.

Snkwdaddy

Training

My shoulders/upper back is still a problem. Doing the Seated Log Press on Saturday didn't help. I rested the remainder of the week end then today did a variety of exercises I felt wouldn't aggravate the issue further.

Light Stretches.

Rebounding - 90 minutes.

Bench Sit Ups - 4 sets/25 reps.

High Cable Rows (parallel grip) - 5 sets/15 reps/50kg.

Fat Bar Cable Ext - 4 sets/20 reps/25kg.

No aggravation. My tummy cramped after the first set up sit ups. It was fine after that.

Snowdaddy

Seated Log Press

My shoulders, traps especially, are fried. Today I thought I'd try some presses. It didn't help. Ugh!

Rebounding 45 minutes.

Seated Log Press - 4 sets/12 reps/70lbs, 3 sets/6,8,10 reps/160lbs.

Time for some ibuprofan.

Snowdaddy

Walking and Training

This week begins "beating the streets." My FORCE test is in August. Rebounding is great but I need to walk/jog to prepare. It's still a bit cold but the streets are dry. Around the block is almost exactly 2km. All I need to get ready.

Yesterday it went like this.

Today I added a little lifting.

Kettlebell Swings - 5 sets/20 reps/40lbs.

Push Ups - 5 sets/15 reps.

Static Stretches.

My next competition is Strongmania 2, 13 June 2026 in Selkirk. 

This week is about getting back into my running shoes and preperation for Strongmania.

Snowdaddy

Recovery

Surprisingly, I feel pretty good after the Novice Showdown. My upper back and traps are still quite sore. But better than yesterday. Today is all about stretching and light movements.

Rebounding - 45 minutes.

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

Static Stretches - Upper and Lower Body.

I need to formulate a training program that encorperates the events for Strongmania 2 and start my preperation for the FORCE test in August. In a good place right now.

Snowdaddy

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