Becoming a HW Strongman

[thom2355]

Did the bathroom break make your belt just not fit quite as tight anymore?

I felt quite different coming out of there.

[NorthStrong]

Well the video was cool to see and the pics were also cool so that's what is really important anyway.

Strongman looks like the chiit. Do that team one arn posted about in the fam thread brah.

[thom2355]

Well the video was cool to see and the pics were also cool so that's what is really important anyway.

Strongman looks like the chiit. Do that team one arn posted about in the fam thread brah.

Agree....well, that and the beer afterwards.

I have a guy in Michigan that would probably do that with me and we pair up rather nicely on height and what not, so the yoke and log may work out. Problem is, he will be starting his last semester in college right around then, so he may not be open to it.

[thom2355]

Squats

Front Squats
*Loose wraps

325 x 3
355 x 3
385 x 3

*Used a squat bar....I may have to buy one. It is just that much better. Felt really, really good under the bar. Cardio was a bit off. Low on food today (trained earlier than anticipated) and didn't drink enough water yesterday and today.

GHR

BW x 15

*Different Machine. Felt awesome. Easier than mine, but debilitating pump.

DB SLDL

100 x 15 (3 sets)

Leg Curls ss Leg Extensions

Something x 15 each (3 sets)

Abs

Planks
BW x 50 sec (3 sets)


Good day. Trained at the gym across town today.

[Jason2459]

Jesup 32mm cheap and stiff.

[thom2355]

Jesup 32mm cheap and stiff.

NO! Must buy with wider knurling!

[CROMAGS1985]

That's excellent front squat weight

[Jason2459]

NO! Must buy with wider knurling!

In that case, I would highly recommend the westside barbell bulldog squat bar.

[thom2355]

That's excellent front squat weight

Thanks. They felt really good. I need to get up into the mid 400's sometime soon. Been flirting with it for a while.

In that case, I would highly recommend the westside barbell bulldog squat bar.

ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh dats nice! Salty, but nice.

[StayxCold]

in/subbed.

I hope to compete in the future, but right now I'm focusing on getting stronger..
Would love some input from a competitive Strongman, check out my log if you get a chance.

[HARRYBEAST]

thought somehow I just got unsubbed realize now you are just lazy

[Jason2459]

thought somehow I just got unsubbed realize now you are just lazy

Why'd you bump this old thread for.

[thom2355]

Lazy....kinda

I have another contest this Saturday. Then again on 9/6 two weeks after. I have been working 90+ hours a week and really haven't been able to do anything other than keep moving since my August 2nd contest. One decent deadlift session and then front squats.

Honestly, these next two comps are more because I support the promoters and the cause for the contest. I am not going to get a ton stronger for them by trying to push training on top of long work hours and may just burn out. After Labor Day, my work load will lessen tremendously and I will be able to train more consistently with ample rest at night. This break has also allowed my shoulder to feel much, much better....so I have my fingers crossed there.

[HARRYBEAST]

I guess that is acceptable. I didn't know you were experiencing discomfort in your shoulder.

[thom2355]

I guess that is acceptable. I didn't know you were experiencing discomfort in your shoulder.

It wasn't discomfort. It was a complete lack of function. Couldn't even hardly hold a log in the rack position. Makes it tough to press.

I would love to plow forward and keep training hard, but it would most likely lead to burn out and sh*tty competing. Contests coming up are pretty light anyways.

[thom2355]

2014 Havoc at the Haven

Log Press

250 x 0 in 60 sec

*Haven't trained the press in like 8 weeks because of a shoulder injury. Just couldn't hold lockout. Light pain, but I think I can start training it again.

18" Axle Deadlift

Max reps with 500 lb in 60 sec

*Video got cut off here, but I got 12 reps. This event required settling the weight to receive an "up" call before lifting again. The tires made it really difficult to maintain a cadence and the parking lot sloped pretty steeply toward your toes. I was able to basically control the negative and just barely touch the tires to the ground to get the up call, but that stopped after like 5 reps. Could have had more in a perfect world, but it was good enough for first place.

Farmer's Walk/Sled Drag Medley

250 x 75'/500 x 75'

*I was not ready for the go call as the "athletes ready, take your grip, GO!" was very quick. Either way, moved alright and finished in 32.75 seconds. Tied for first (yes, tied to the exact hundreth of a second).

Yoke

650 x 150' (Turn at 75')

5 reps in 42ish seconds. Fourth place.

*This yoke felt like 750....it wasn't, but at that point, we were 4.5 hours into the contest and it was very warm and humid out. The parking lot was sloped at a rather steep grade and I think that made it a bit more difficult. I saw this going into the event and chose to move my pick height down a notch to make sure I didn't get hit with a slide penalty, or hit a portion of the lot and cause a drop. This led to the yoke swinging pretty wildly, but I was able to complete the run in 49 seconds which was good enough for second place.

Sandbag Loading Medley

200/225/250 carried 50' and loaded to a 48" platform

*I was in second place, ahead of third by a half point, going into this event. Only chance I stood at first was for me to win the event and the leader to zero. I slipped a bit on some dirt on the pavement on the second bag and that cost me some time, but I was still able to finish in just over 44 seconds. This was good for second in the event and second overall.


I am very, very happy with this contest. I wasn't expecting much out of the press, I have hardly trained in the past 4-5 weeks due to long hours at work and it was a very hot and humid day. The contest was very long (about 6-7 hours). I think they gave us cool down time between events as there was no escape from the sun and heat except the gym....but that was small and only a portion of the competitors could fit in there. Anywho....very close contest and a battle that I could have won.

Just to illustrate how little differences add up....The winner beat me by 7 points. If I locked out the first rep on the log press....3 points. If I pulled the sled a split second faster I get another point up, no slip on the sandbag and I have another event win and a two point swing. So three things that are a split second away and I am a point down from first. Two reps on the log and I win by count back.

[runtocatch]

Good work big man!

[Jason2459]

Kicking ass!! So fuking close and get things together for a health set of events and you're going to wreck some competitions.

[jsullivan93]

Kicking ass!! So fuking close and get things together for a health set of events and you're going to wreck some competitions.

Dude this. Coming off some injuries and doing that well is great.

Get healthy so you can f*ck some other comps up

[plsm]

Awesome! I did this event, last year, in the lightweight novice class...came in last place. It was my first comp and I had a blast. I had wanted to do it again but was traveling with family. I'm hoping to get stronger, anyway, so that I can at least try and come in next to last!

Great job!

[thom2355]

Good work big man!

Thanks.

Kicking ass!! So fuking close and get things together for a health set of events and you're going to wreck some competitions.

That is the name of the game. Need to consistently be perfect.

Dude this. Coming off some injuries and doing that well is great.

Get healthy so you can f*ck some other comps up

Yup. So close to pulling out a win even though the margin was high.

I have one more contest in a couple weeks, then I will put on the brakes for a bit. Going to rehab a few things until about October, then begin a build up to a contest in February. I aim to be very competitive there. It will be a big contest with some tough competition there, so I have my work cut out for me.

Awesome! I did this event, last year, in the lightweight novice class...came in last place. It was my first comp and I had a blast. I had wanted to do it again but was traveling with family. I'm hoping to get stronger, anyway, so that I can at least try and come in next to last!

Great job!

Nice! Last place be damned. Just getting through a contest is an accomplishment and gives you a point to start from.

Are you in the area?

[plsm]

Nice! Last place be damned. Just getting through a contest is an accomplishment and gives you a point to start from.

Are you in the area?

I am not in the area...well, I'm up in Hillsdale, Michigan. That was part of the problem, I didn't have any way of training with any implements. I have a tire and a football gym and just make it work. Right now I'm working on getting stronger through powerlifting and plan to transition, eventually, into doing two of each of the comps each year. I enjoy both sports but right now I'm too weak. Old guy and new to strength training problems.

My biggest problem, though, is vanity. I have a hard time gaining weight. I was overweight a lot of years and on a lot of diets so trying to get into the mindset of gaining is hard, especially because it's not all muscle.

[thom2355]

I am not in the area...well, I'm up in Hillsdale, Michigan. That was part of the problem, I didn't have any way of training with any implements. I have a tire and a football gym and just make it work. Right now I'm working on getting stronger through powerlifting and plan to transition, eventually, into doing two of each of the comps each year. I enjoy both sports but right now I'm too weak. Old guy and new to strength training problems.

My biggest problem, though, is vanity. I have a hard time gaining weight. I was overweight a lot of years and on a lot of diets so trying to get into the mindset of gaining is hard, especially because it's not all muscle.

That is a very common path, but in speaking from experience, doesn't always pan out the way it appears it should. I can top most of the local guys I compete against in gym lifts, but they take me on the events because of practice. You need event time. Honestly, you may be stronger in the events than you know of right now. Take a training partner of mine, he has a low 500 lb deadlift and squats in the low 400s....but can carry a 800 lb yoke. That doesn't correlate to me, but illustrates what training events can do for you.

There is a gym in Defiance, OH (Iron Faith Christian Fitness Center) that may be a 60-75 minute drive for you, a great place in Holly, MI that would be closer to two hours, Troy, MI that is a couple hours, Strength Haven is probably just under two hours. If you could make it to any of these places a few times a month, I think you would be surprised at how fast you can progress.

There are enough lighter weight classes now that if you were to progress consistently, you will be fine. Unless you are 6'-3"+....then you will want to be heavy.

[CROMAGS1985]

Nice job at the contest big boy. Such a weird place to fail on the press (like the last 1%). You'll be dominant once healthy...

[thom2355]

Nice job at the contest big boy. Such a weird place to fail on the press (like the last 1%). You'll be dominant once healthy...

Thanks. It was weird. Just out of practice or it would have been locked out without issue....probably more than a few times.

[plsm]

Dude, thanks for the heads up on the gym in Defiance, OH. That's only 60 minutes from my house! They have a comp there in October that I'm hoping to get to as a novice. I'll still be light on the event training but it will give me a time to meet the guys down there and maybe set up a schedule to train once or twice a month (finances permitting).

Cheers!

[thom2355]

Dude, thanks for the heads up on the gym in Defiance, OH. That's only 60 minutes from my house! They have a comp there in October that I'm hoping to get to as a novice. I'll still be light on the event training but it will give me a time to meet the guys down there and maybe set up a schedule to train once or twice a month (finances permitting).

Cheers!

No problem man. Those are good guys over there and should take good care of you. Just as a reference point, the crew I trained with only had 2 guys drive less than 45 minutes to get there. Most were just over an hour. Heckuva lot less expensive than buying your own stuff.

[CROMAGS1985]

Place is like a ghost town. Let's get some updates...

[thom2355]

Place is like a ghost town. Let's get some updates...

ok!

[thom2355]

2014 Corktown Strongman Throwdown

Log Press

260 x 0 in 60 sec

*Again....haven't been training it. Shoulder hurt in the rack position....****.

Alternating Deadlift

500 x 4/550 x 3

*Played it a bit easy here. Got out ahead a bit and knew I was a bit better at pulling than my competitor, but dang near goofed it up.

Farmer's Hold

325 x 21.xx sec

*Didn't get a good grip set up on this and a callous tore a bit....not a good performance here.

sandbag/Yoke Medley

275 x 80' (Turn at 40')
700 x 40'

Lost by 4 seconds

*Terrible....terrible....terrible. Awful pick on the sandbag. Got waaaay too high and just had to go with it. Missed the "rule" that the sandbag had to be standing up before you got to the yoke. Yoke was ok, but I was pretty mindless by that point.

Stone Over Bar

300 over 54" bar for reps in 60 seconds

5 reps

*Messed around too much on the first pick and missed a load. Really silly. Should have had 7 reps.


Not happy here. Only had one other guy in my weight class and I couldn't put it together to get a win. I mean, I shouldn't expect much since I haven't had a full week of training since July....but whatever. Just a sh*tty day.