Scott's "Volkslauf Warrior-In-Training" Log

[V-240]

Greetings, fellow warriors. PREPARE FOR BATTLE!

LOL, or at least have fun reading about how I fall down in the mud a lot, and throw heavy things up muddy hills and up & over other heavy things, push things, pull things, push cars, pull cars, run around like a nut and fall off stuff. This is my Volkslauf Warrior-In-Training log!

I've been doing this stuff for a while and realized I should be logging it someplace. I have an old log here called "blabber's 'From Fear to Absurdity' log" from a few years back when I weighed 360 lbs and couldn't even do a push-up. http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=1960531 ...During that journey I also tried the Velocity Diet. That was a real adventure.

I have participated in two mud run -slash- obstacle courses recently, and the training to prepare for them is what I call "warrior training" because these events usually involve a theme and funny hats... LOL!

There will be photos and video to illustrate what happens at these events and how we train for them. I say "we" because I am part of a small group of crazies that meet at our nearby city park 3-6 days a week with our coach. The group dynamic really makes it fun. I doubt I could push myself as hard without this element.

So, off we go....

[V-240]

For my first post, I'm stealing this quote because it is such a great one. Thanks, Iron Barbarian:

The Warrior awakens before the sun rises. To the Warrior, there's only one goal in life: To be stronger than the previous day. This means he/she must battle complacency and inner weakness. The Warrior must first win the struggle taking place within himself/herself. Then he/she must overcome every external adversity that is presented before him/her. All of these adversities become battles within the larger war.

To win this war, the Warrior must reach deep down inside himself/herself and find out what he's/she's truly made of. A warrior does not say, "I will try." A warrior says, "I will do". No excuses. No regrets. No failures. If you live a life where you put limits upon yourself, you might as well be dead. Never accept mediocrity. To live, you must kill these self-imposed limits.

A warrior always has a battle plan. You must learn to draw up a plan, implement your plan, overcome adversities, maintain discipline and control under great stress, and ultimately defeat your foes. To be a warrior, you must adopt this way of thinking.

[discdoggie]

In on page one!!!!!

[-=FLEX=-]

Welcome to the journals.

-=FLEX=-

[V-240]

Thanks, D-Doggie and Sir Flex! This will be a somewhat pictorial thread with some videos. And since I don't work out in a gym at this time, the training logs will look pretty crazy; instead of "Bench Press ___ lbs x 10-12 reps", etc., it will say things like "Monkey Bar Swings", "Dead Hangs", "Negative Chins", "Car Pulls with Chevy Tahoe, 4x across parking lot".. Oh, and "Fell Off Kids Plaything At Park" lol

[whatevergirl]

I look forward to following your journal.

[V-240]

Here's some car pulling and pushing we did recently. We didn't record the 3 or 4 pulls I did that day, but that's me with the huge & extremely white legs helping push it back. That's my coach Eric in the Tahoe, and that's his girlfriend Melissa doing the pull:

[V-240]

I look forward to following your journal.

Thanks, W.E.G.! I promise it will be riveting. lol

[ChocoChick]

Hey - you did it! I'm in!

Car pulling looks like fun, actually.

[ChocoChick]

For my first post, I'm stealing this quote because it is such a great one. Thanks, Iron Barbarian:

The Warrior awakens before the sun rises. To the Warrior, there's only one goal in life: To be stronger than the previous day. This means he/she must battle complacency and inner weakness. The Warrior must first win the struggle taking place within himself/herself. Then he/she must overcome every external adversity that is presented before him/her. All of these adversities become battles within the larger war.

To win this war, the Warrior must reach deep down inside himself/herself and find out what he's/she's truly made of. A warrior does not say, "I will try." A warrior says, "I will do". No excuses. No regrets. No failures. If you live a life where you put limits upon yourself, you might as well be dead. Never accept mediocrity. To live, you must kill these self-imposed limits.

A warrior always has a battle plan. You must learn to draw up a plan, implement your plan, overcome adversities, maintain discipline and control under great stress, and ultimately defeat your foes. To be a warrior, you must adopt this way of thinking.

p.s. These over 35 eyes cannot read this yellow font! Be kind!!!

[V-240]

p.s. These over 35 eyes cannot read this yellow font! Be kind!!!

lol Fixed it... I forgot not everyone uses the grey contrasted "Hardwired" screen mode that I use. I have problems with pink and purple font colors using that mode.

[V-240]

Hey - you did it! I'm in!

Car pulling looks like fun, actually.

It IS fun, actually! And hard as hell. Doesn't take much of a rise in the parking lot surface to really kick my ass. We tried a different area last time and I needed help coming up out of a storm drain.

We used to pull a Nissan Altima, now we use my Chevy Tahoe. Usually there are my kettlebells in the back, too... lol!

[flyfish]

Welcome to the journals. Subbed. Looks interesting!

[V-240]

Thanks, f-f! I think this will be a fun journal.

Speaking of which, I forgot to log yesterday's fun:

Monday 12/6

Dead Hangs: 5x 15-20 seconds or until my grip gives out

Monkey Bar Swings: 5x as far as I could go

Hammer Grip Monkey Bar Hangs/Swings: 3x 15-20 seconds each

Negative Chin-Ups (more like Chin-DOWNS, lol!): 8x

Monkey Bar Ladder Hanging Walks: 2x

Pushups: 3x15

One mile lap around park

I think that was it... great day, we had nice weather here for us, too.

[V-240]

Tuesday 12/7

2 mile run around the park

Table jumps with drop and rolls: 5x

And that was it for today, leaving some in the tank for tomorrow's rock throws and runs. Another nice day in the park.

[V-240]

Here's one of our rock tossing sessions we did recently:

[ChocoChick]

Tuesday 12/7

2 mile run around the park

Table jumps with drop and rolls: 5x

And that was it for today, leaving some in the tank for tomorrow's rock throws and runs. Another nice day in the park.

What's a table jump?

What you're doing sounds really similar to Crossfit. It's great, isn't it?

[V-240]

What's a table jump?

Pretty much what it sounds like; we jump off picnic tables, and practice landing without hurting ourselves. One method is to drop and roll to dissipate the energy.

We also do picnic table "hops" where we spring up with both feet, arms swinging, onto the bench and then immediately onto the table. These are similar to stair hops that professional athletes do. These tables and benches are made of concrete and embedded into the ground, so they aren't going anyplace.

What you're doing sounds really similar to Crossfit. It's great, isn't it?

It is great, at least for those of us that can exercise outdoors in winter! Otherwise, probably NOT so much!

[V-240]

Wednesday 12/8

A fun, damp, muddy, rainy day in the park. I slipped and slid in the mud and got dirty. lol

Rock Carries, 80 yards round trip: 5x

Rock Tosses, up/down hill: 5x

Rock Shotput Throws up/down hill: 3x

Rock Deadlifts: 15x 3 sets

Rock Squats + Overhead Lifts: 3x

Runs up/down hill w/rock: 3x

Walking Lunges w/rock, 80 yards round trip: 2x <--these suck!

My coach noticed today I'm starting to get some serious muscle size and definition in my shoulders and arms. Even at my high bodyfat level, it's starting to pop through. It's all from good nutrition, rest and all this crazy warrior training! w00t!

[ChocoChick]

Pretty much what it sounds like; we jump off picnic tables, and practice landing without hurting ourselves. One method is to drop and roll to dissipate the energy.

This sounds like fun!

We also do picnic table "hops" where we spring up with both feet, arms swinging, onto the bench and then immediately onto the table. These are similar to stair hops that professional athletes do. These tables and benches are made of concrete and embedded into the ground, so they aren't going anyplace.



It is great, at least for those of us that can exercise outdoors in winter! Otherwise, probably NOT so much!

The hops sound like the box jumps we do at CF. You bend down a bit, then spring up onto a 24" box, open the hips, then step or jump down (jumping both ways is the goal). The double hop sounds challenging!

[ChocoChick]

My coach noticed today I'm starting to get some serious muscle size and definition in my shoulders and arms. Even at my high bodyfat level, it's starting to pop through. It's all from good nutrition, rest and all this crazy warrior training! w00t!

W00t, indeed!!

[V-240]

This sounds like fun! . . . The hops sound like the box jumps we do at CF. You bend down a bit, then spring up onto a 24" box, open the hips, then step or jump down (jumping both ways is the goal). The double hop sounds challenging!

Sounds like the same thing. A lot of arm swinging involved to help with the upward momentum. We go up and over the bench and table, then down the other side, we don't come down backwards, although we sometimes do a bench drill that is hop up, then down backwards. We also sometimes just run over the top without hopping, multiple times over all 15-20 tables that are more or less in a circle. That's unless someone's sitting there with their McDonald's, then we go play somewhere else.

I've seen boxers train for endurance by doing these hops up entire staircases. THAT is WORK! We may try that soon at a college stadium down the road if we can get access.

[V-240]

W00t, indeed!!

Nothing is more motivating than VISIBLE results. We say we do it for improved health, but it's sure great to SEE the changes in our bodies. I even noticed recently my face looks a lot thinner in the mirror. It's all good.

[V-240]

On another note, I sure like these shoes for slopping around in the mud. They're called "Vibram Fivefingers" and I got mine at REI:

[ChocoChick]

I've seen boxers train for endurance by doing these hops up entire staircases. THAT is WORK! We may try that soon at a college stadium down the road if we can get access.

Hey - this sounds great. I may try this at home, although I imagine stadium stairs would be easier (because of the wider platform on which to land) and more challenging (greater distance between steps). Might be worht a shot anyway...

Nothing is more motivating than VISIBLE results. We say we do it for improved health, but it's sure great to SEE the changes in our bodies. I even noticed recently my face looks a lot thinner in the mirror. It's all good.

I do it for physical health, mental health, and having the body of a 30 year old.

On another note, I sure like these shoes for slopping around in the mud. They're called "Vibram Fivefingers" and I got mine at REI:

I looked into the Vibrams when I was shopping. I was put off by the fact that the need to be washed frequently, or they start to smell funky. I also read that if there is more than 1/6" difference between your big an second toes, you're not likely to get a good fit. So I went with the Nike Free Run. Have you been using the Vibrams for long? What do you think?

[V-240]

...I looked into the Vibrams when I was shopping. I was put off by the fact that the need to be washed frequently, or they start to smell funky. I also read that if there is more than 1/6" difference between your big an second toes, you're not likely to get a good fit. So I went with the Nike Free Run. Have you been using the Vibrams for long? What do you think?

I got mine in late summer, and used them in both of my mud run obstacle courses in October. At first I didn't like running in them because they don't offer much cushiony support like my Brooks did, and it felt like I was pounding my feet pretty hard into the ground, especially on a hard surface like a sidewalk. I stuck to running on grass and in soft dirt. But my coach trained me how to run with less impact and I gradually got to like them even on asphalt.

Where they are really great is in soggy turf and mud. We do a lot of running up the grassy side of a levee, and this time of year it gets pretty mucky. They really bite and grip into the bog and give me pretty good traction. I climbed up some pretty steep slippery hills faster than most of the runners half my size and age at my Warrior Dash.

I do have to wash them frequently, mainly because they get covered in mud a lot! So I haven't given them a chance to get funky smelling, I got that covered in other areas.

And my second toe is genetically and freakishly long (Thanks, Dad.. lol!), so maybe that's why I didn't have that issue with the fit. In fact, this is the first I've heard of that problem. They are kind of hard to put on sometimes, I have to guide my toes into the proper locations. Worth the trouble!

[V-240]

Hey - this sounds great. I may try this at home, although I imagine stadium stairs would be easier (because of the wider platform on which to land) and more challenging (greater distance between steps). Might be worht a shot anyway...

Sometimes we do these hops on grass hills with no steps. That is a whole different feel, landing on a tilted surface and vaulting off of it again. But I have developed pretty good explosive power from this. My hams and calves are hard as steel now.

I do it for physical health, mental health, and having the body of a 30 year old.

Boo-yah!

[flyfish]

Wednesday 12/8

A fun, damp, muddy, rainy day in the park. I slipped and slid in the mud and got dirty. lol

Rock Carries, 80 yards round trip: 5x

Rock Tosses, up/down hill: 5x

Rock Shotput Throws up/down hill: 3x

Rock Deadlifts: 15x 3 sets

Rock Squats + Overhead Lifts: 3x

Runs up/down hill w/rock: 3x

Walking Lunges w/rock, 80 yards round trip: 2x <--these suck!

My coach noticed today I'm starting to get some serious muscle size and definition in my shoulders and arms. Even at my high bodyfat level, it's starting to pop through. It's all from good nutrition, rest and all this crazy warrior training! w00t!

All I can say is w00t! Sounds like you are having a blast and getting a great workout! Congrats on the muscle mass!

[Pretty Hardcore]

Wednesday 12/8

A fun, damp, muddy, rainy day in the park. I slipped and slid in the mud and got dirty. lol

Rock Carries, 80 yards round trip: 5x

Rock Tosses, up/down hill: 5x

Rock Shotput Throws up/down hill: 3x

Rock Deadlifts: 15x 3 sets

Rock Squats + Overhead Lifts: 3x

Runs up/down hill w/rock: 3x

Walking Lunges w/rock, 80 yards round trip: 2x <--these suck!

You Rock!! haha sorry.

Good to see you posting here again. Your workouts look fun.

My coach noticed today I'm starting to get some serious muscle size and definition in my shoulders and arms. Even at my high bodyfat level, it's starting to pop through. It's all from good nutrition, rest and all this crazy warrior training! w00t!

this is very cool, it's always great when someone notices all your had work.

[V-240]

All I can say is w00t! Sounds like you are having a blast and getting a great workout! Congrats on the muscle mass!

Yeah, like I said, we do this for our health and well being (and being able to move the refrigerator without help), but it's great when people say "Wow, you look great!" I've had several people I hadn't seen in a while approach and say they didn't recognize me.

You Rock!! haha sorry.

Good to see you posting here again. Your workouts look fun.

this is very cool, it's always great when someone notices all your had work.

Rock, harhar. Speaking of which, I don't really know what this rock weighs, but it's heavyyyyy... We find the same rocks every time we do this. I think my rock lost some weight today, because at one point I dropped it and some pieces shot off of it.. lol! Almost killed a gecko a few weeks ago, good thing he ran fast!