Becoming a HW Strongman

[Jason2459]

http://www.nastrongman.com/pdf/2014/...r%20Entry1.pdf

That looks awesome. 300# min. stone... Be safe OP.

[thom2355]

Comp on saturday? Good luck brotha! Show em what us Michi-brahs bring to the table!

I will....the other guys from MI are bringing some heat too.

have fun bro

Always.

Kill it man. We'll wanna see some vids!

There will be (hopefully)

Hold it down Paul.

No doubt.

Just looked at the weights for that contest and you are not kidding, that sucker is heavy. Good luck.

No kidding man....gonna be a ball buster.

Link to the weights?

http://www.nastrongman.com/pdf/2014/...r%20Entry1.pdf

Yeah, that one.

That looks awesome. 300# min. stone... Be safe OP.

300 stone ain't sh*t. The 280 minimum log sucks....but at least it is first and I will be fressssssssh

[Jason2459]

I'm looking at it as end of the day, for reps, 300# min, but weight rules so it's the last event to strategize to place higher and choose the right weight to get ahead of the next guy and out rep them...

[thom2355]

Hoosier Strength Challenge IV - Max Effort Winter Edition

Last Man Standing Log Press
*Start at 280, make 20 lb jumps

280 x 1
300 x 1
320 x miss

280 was bad, 300 was awesome (no vid though), 320 is there. We only had four HW guys, so the rest was very, very quick. We all hit 300, one guy hit 320. Three way tie for second.

Progressive Car Deadlift
*Pull a weight, add 50 lbs. Once to 6 reps (yeah right), rep out for time.

Rep 1 ~700, rep 2 ~750, Rep 3 ~800 (no lift)

I have no idea on the weight. That third rep felt like every bit of 800. The guy that took first hit a rep or two in the car deadlift at nationals, which is know for being very heavy. He gave everything he had for that third rep. Second place.

Them new Cadillacs supposedly have a lot of rear suspension weight to them. The promoter wanted used cars, dealer brought out brand new Caddies....I now hate Cadillac and their fancy new suspension.

Husafel Carry

370 x ~75'

*Wasn't expecting much here. Second time ever doing H-stone and haven't been able to train a front carry because of the snow/ice all winter. Pick was bad, didn't get it high enough. Fourth place. This took me from second place to fourth....not good going into the next event.

Farmer's Hold for Max Time

330 x 30-35 seconds

*Lead this event off, which was good/bad. I knew I had to set a good time. In my experience in past contests, I would need 30 seconds plus to be decent. Palm callous on my right hand was pulled off (no blood though) and I was done. The next two guys didn't make much more than 20 seconds. The leader knew what he needed and beat me through shaking, swearing and just putting on a ballsy effort. Second place.

Stone Over Bar

400 x 1 to 51"

*This was a bit different. Ran by the "Ladder Rule". Basically, you can pick any stone you want. Weight beats any amount of reps with a lighter stone. Choices were 300, 320, 340, 360, 400, 425. The rules went that the guy in last chose his weight, next guy chose his, first place chose last. Strategy could be used. We all agreed to go for the 400, except the guy in first, who was going to win anyways....so he went 425. I was in third, one point ahead of fourth and one point behind second. Took me forever to get one rep. Notice that I move the stone a bit before the pull when it came loose....thing was tackied to the mat. That one rep took all my damn tacky off, so I called it there. Best I could hope for was a tie for second if the next guy zeroed....he got two. Third place.


Great contest overall. My best contest to date without a doubt. Great training leading into it and I am not sure I had anything more to give (except maybe the stone, but I doubt it). I finished third out of four and two points out of qualifying for Nationals. Given the weights that were hit in this contest by the other guys and the fact that all three had been to Nationals (some have done rather well too), I am certain I am improving in my ability to compete in a contest.

John Albrecht (NAS Indiana State Chair) put on one hell of a contest. Chad Robison was judging the HWs all day and did a great job of making sure we were ready, not to mention giving great advice throughout the contest. Church of Iron is a great facility in NE Indy. Really, really enjoyed this contest. Great time.

Upcoming plans to follow next week....but for now, I am drinking lots of beer.

[Jason2459]

That was just awesome. You've had some great progress this training cycle. Strong competitors there too so no shame at all in that placing. So close to qualifying. You'll get there this year easy. And I called it on the stones. Great job on the logs.

[csday924]

You have gotten a **** ton better. Nice contest. How many pr's did you get here?

Come do this contest with me:
http://www.nastrongman.com/pdf/2014/...0Challenge.pdf

[BigJon55]

That was a helluva stone lift. Great job!

[NC_Tarheel]

Bad Ass Paul. Nice work for sure!!!!

Jelly of dat everything.

[FrmrHoss]

Congrats Paul. Glad to see all of your training come in for a contest.

[izzygrant]

that looked really hard. good job.

[Anthony21]

Congrats boss

[TheBeastTyler]

That's some crazy strength you have there, man. Makin' me feel like a shrimp.

[NC_Tarheel]

that looked really hard. good job.

Izzy, sometimes you make trolling too easy. I'll let this one slide.

[thom2355]

That was just awesome. You've had some great progress this training cycle. Strong competitors there too so no shame at all in that placing. So close to qualifying. You'll get there this year easy. And I called it on the stones. Great job on the logs.

Thanks man. I think I stand a great chance at qualifying this year, but it will depend on how work allows me to spend my time. More on that in my future plans that I will type up this week.

The strategy came in on the stones for some, but we all decided that first place was set. Only shot I had at getting second was if the second place guy zeroed. He wanted to lift the 400 stone and so did the fourth place guy. We were wavering and our judge pulled some trickery into play and convinced us to use that stone.

You have gotten a **** ton better. Nice contest. How many pr's did you get here?

Come do this contest with me:
http://www.nastrongman.com/pdf/2014/...0Challenge.pdf

Thanks....and yes, I have improved quite a bit. Log was a PR (270 in training), stone (330 in training), H-stone for weight adn distance (never do it), Farmer's hold improved over my 305 for 18 seconds last May and that car deadlift was the heaviest thing I have pulled in a contest ever....so yeah. Two major PRs, two more kinda PRs and one assumed PR.

I have my eye on that. If time allows, I may do that one, or the Buckeye Battle (or something like that). I kinda just wanna go to Jakked though.

That was a helluva stone lift. Great job!

Thanks. The stone felt amazing....but I have very few hairs left on my arms.

Bad Ass Paul. Nice work for sure!!!!

Jelly of dat everything.

Thanks Thad. I'll see you at Masters Nats in 12 years.

Congrats Paul. Glad to see all of your training come in for a contest.

Thanks Chris. Feels good to not have a crappy day.

that looked really hard. good job.

You think that was hard, you should see....

I mean Thanks.

Congrats boss

Thanks Ant. I swear man, competing makes all that training worth while. You will soon find out.

That's some crazy strength you have there, man. Makin' me feel like a shrimp.

Nah man....just have to get after it. Thanks though.

Izzy, sometimes you make trolling too easy. I'll let this one slide.

I will not let such things go.



As mentioned a couple times, future plans to release this week. My low back is f*cking wrecked right now. This will take a bit to get past. I am drunk as sh*t right now and it still hurts....light training next week for a day or two, then onward after that.

[csday924]

Thanks....and yes, I have improved quite a bit. Log was a PR (270 in training), stone (330 in training), H-stone for weight adn distance (never do it), Farmer's hold improved over my 305 for 18 seconds last May and that car deadlift was the heaviest thing I have pulled in a contest ever....so yeah. Two major PRs, two more kinda PRs and one assumed PR.

I have my eye on that. If time allows, I may do that one, or the Buckeye Battle (or something like that). I kinda just wanna go to Jakked though.

As mentioned a couple times, future plans to release this week. My low back is f*cking wrecked right now. This will take a bit to get past. I am drunk as sh*t right now and it still hurts....light training next week for a day or two, then onward after that.

Jakked contests are where the monsters hide.

As for everything else:

[Anthony21]

I definitely can't wait to be up on that platform looking all fat & fluffy to see how my hard work is paying off.

[thom2355]

Future plans....

Alright, so training this week in any sort of productive manner isn't going to happen. Back is still nice and jacked up, so maybe some light work to try and get it to quit being a b*tch, but that is all. Next week I will attempt to do somethings and ease back into a training program.

Also, I will be transferring projects for work, which will involve me moving back to Indiana. This will happen at some point in March. The transition will make training difficult, but there is a solid gym there and I will be able to get work in. That said, I am not expecting anything stellar to occur in the next couple months.

On to the goals and plans. First things first, time to drop some fat. I have hammered on the calories for the past 3 years and have never really let off the gas in that time. Going from ~250 to ~325 has been great for strength, but my physical size is becoming a limiting factor in some perspectives. If I want to be competitive at a high level, I will have to be very quick/athletic. I am not slow right now, but I am not strong enough to make up the difference between me and those that are fast. Also, my deadlift and stones are not holding up to their potential because of my stomach size. Dropping a bit of circumference will help greatly in this aspect. Initially, I am thinking that getting to around 285ish will be enough. Stay there abouts for a few months, then push back up to ~300 as the time is appropriate. I am working with a couple nutritional consultants to discuss pricing and services at this time. Leaning toward bringing one on after life stabilizes from the move.

Training will adapt a bit toward the weight loss goal. Volume on a caloric restriction will be adapted as necessary. I don't forsee it being an issue now, but I will increase intensity/reduce volume as calories (mainly carbs) drops off in an effort to maintain as much strength as possible.

My next contest will most likely not be until August. If I can get to one in March-June, I will probably go for it, but not unless the contests suits my strengths at that time and I stand a chance at qualifying for Nationals. I am going to be gearing my training toward the August contest, which will be heavy, but will build in a path to transition from it to Nationals just in case I qualify.

....that is it for now.

[LessThanLuke]

Good luck homie.

[FrmrHoss]

In for noodz.

[NC_Tarheel]

Can't wait to weigh more than you and be weaker....




Oh wait

[Anthony21]

Damn Indiana? What's in Indiana haha.

Best of luck on the move boss and great plan

[thom2355]

Good luck homie.

Thanks skillet

In for noodz.

You wish....I do have a pic that makes it appear I have a six pack though....right Luke?

Can't wait to weigh more than you and be weaker....

Oh wait

One day

Damn Indiana? What's in Indiana haha.

Best of luck on the move boss and great plan

Well, I worked in Indiana for 3-4 years before moving back to Michigan. I just travel around and build cool things.

[Jason2459]

David Letterman is from Indiana.

[LessThanLuke]

Let us not talk about that picture....

[thom2355]

David Letterman is from Indiana.

So is the birthday President.

Let us not talk about that picture....

Hater

[thom2355]

DE Squats

Squats

315 x 3 (8 sets)

*Tried wraps out for the first time today. Sleeves on first four sets, wraps on sets 5-8. Just some old Inzer Iron Z 2.0m wraps. Not a strong wrap, but definitely get some pop out of them.

Front Squat

335 x 5

SSB Pause Squat

290 x 6

10" Log Clean

200 x 2 EMOM (10 minutes)

*EMOM = every minute, on the minute. So 10 doubles in 10 minutes and like 15 seconds. Very, very tough.

GHRs

BW x 8

Back Raise

BW x 12 (4 sets)

Abs

Band Crunch
Light x 25 (3 sets)


First day of training block for next contest. More details to follow, but Saturday will be 10 weeks out if I counted correctly.

[csday924]

Who's place in Indy?

[thom2355]

Who's place in Indy?

huh?

[BigJon55]

You sit back pretty far on some of those front squats. Are you using a cross over grip or an oly grip?

[thom2355]

You sit back pretty far on some of those front squats. Are you using a cross over grip or an oly grip?

Cross grip. My stance is fairly wide as well, so take that into thought.