My 1st Strongman Show - 2nd Time Lucky?

[T3hPwnisher]

Yup. I have qualified for nationals many times as a lifetime drug free athlete. Just never cared to actually go. Either the venue sucked or the events were lame.

[carlbm]

Shows my ignorance. I have 0 idea of what’s possible with/with out. And what’s required to reach certain levels of competition.

@wsmwannabe

if this is purely recreational and fun, there’s no point in compromising your long term health by using AAS

Yes and no. I’m never gonna be a top athlete. But I want to be competitive. If it was just my decision I’d probably run a cycle. But it’s not. I have a wife & kids that would have to live with any fall out.
And that’s not saying that’s a smart move. I’m unreliable when it comes to self preservation.

@T3hPwnisher

I have qualified for nationals many times

Honestly - you’re something else. Like cut from different cloth.

[T3hPwnisher]

I appreciate it, but I am no one special. I have been beaten before by other dudes that were most likely natural as well. Qualifying for nationals isn’t too hard: winning it is a different matter.

[strongmanvinny2]

Everyone has great information so far.

1. Write your name or initials on all of your shit. Sometimes the comp venue is a wasteland of nameless gear that ends up getting lost or stolen.

2. Pay attention to who the judges and officials are. Talk to them, ask them questions about concerns, scoring, whatever, etc.

3. Prepare to be nervous as fuck and borderline shaking before the whistle blows before, or as they call your name up.

4. Bring some form of wet wipes or sanitizer. You can get pretty gross if you stencil-squish a pb&j into your gullet hastily without much forethought as to how you will clean such a mess.

5. Don’t just warm up like everyone else. If you see a piece of equipment and you want to try it, fucking try it. The worst someone will say is “hey stop picking that thing up”. If you are about placing, do whatever you can to get an advantage.

[strongmanvinny2]

@carlbm

I dont think I’ll ever hit national levels. I’m not into the additional “supplements” required.
It’s not a morality issue. But my wife is not keen. Shes very nervous. She even dislikes me taking over the counter supplements.

The truth is, it’s not that difficult. If you pick out an easy show and beat 4 guys, boom, you’re there. The hard part is placing well or getting to the Arnold (usually top 15%-20% of your class).

I’d guess slightly less than 50% of the guys I competed against at nationals were on PEDs. I know for a fact a lot of those guys ate dust. Tons of natty guys including myself placed very highly. You’d be surprised man. Never compromise or sell yourself short. Have fun, but remember, there’s a savage in all of us.

[flappinit]

I have nothing to add and no experience to share, just want to wish you luck. No matter what or how, putting yourself out there in a competition is good shit.

[carlbm]

Thank man all great advice. Never really thought about half of what you @wsmwannabe or @T3hPwnisher have said.

I’ve wanted to ask if you’re natty for a while now. Not out of any judgement but kinda as a standard. You and Punisher are both about my weight. So I you can front squat 500lb natty so can I.

@strongmanvinny2

there’s a savage in all of us.

Cuz this I believe in. I love it. Bring the pain.

[carlbm]

Thanks man.
I’m just keen to see what I got. Where I stand in relation to others.

Also its fun to win! And if I lose I’ll end up training harder. So I win anyway!

[wsmwannabe]

@carlbm

I’ve wanted to ask if you’re natty for a while now. Not out of any judgement but kinda as a standard. You and Punisher are both about my weight. So I you can front squat 500lb natty so can I.

I love this mentality, keep this mindset and you’ll go much farther than you thought possible.

No, I am not natural, I have a long thread in the Pharma section about my last cycle. Kind of a log of sorts. You can even see my eye injury stuff in the same thread if you’re curious.

Also, I was talking about back squatting in the 500’s, not front squat haha. Front squatting 500 lbs at any weight is pretty elite.

[strongmanvinny2]

@carlbm

So I you can front squat 500lb natty so can I.

I finally front squatted 500 in July or August this year. I’ve also strict overhead pressed 300 and deadlifted 675 weighing under 230lbs. I have been drug-free my entire life. You’d be surprised how far you can take yourself naturally.

Everyone has certain confines of genetic limitations, but you’ll never know how far you can go until you give it all. That said, I am genuinely curious as to what I could do with large doses of AAS, but I’ll probably never get to that point.

[wsmwannabe]

@strongmanvinny2

I finally front squatted 500 in July or August this year. I’ve also strict overhead pressed 300 and deadlifted 675 weighing under 230lbs. I have been drug-free my entire life. You’d be surprised how far you can take yourself naturally.

Everyone has certain confines of genetic limitations, but you’ll never know how far you can go until you give it all. That said, I am genuinely curious as to what I could do with large doses of AAS, but I’ll probably never get to that point.

First and foremost, you’re an animal.

Secondly I am a huge fan of taking the “less is best” route with regards to AAS. I try to make as much as possible out of smaller doses. Even on this last blast ramping up for nationals, I was still under 900mg/wk total gear. And in retrospect, I probably should’ve been even lower than that (probably could’ve gotten similar results in the 600-700 range). I prefer to start with small doses and ramp up as opposed to just straight up blasting tons of gear. I think MORE important than the amount of gear you’re running is: How much sleep are you getting, how consistent are you, how is your diet, and how is your recovery? Gear doesn’t GIVE you anything, it just allows for better nutrient partitioning, faster recovery, and pushing yourself further before reaching the point of overtraining. All the gear in the world won’t do anything for you if you aren’t putting the work in.

[carlbm]

@strongmanvinny2

front squatted 500 in July or August this year. I’ve also strict overhead pressed 300 and deadlifted 675 weighing under 230lbs

These are goals.

I’m currently:
FS 140kg/308lb x 4 reps
Dead lift (axle) 180kg/396lb for 7
Press 86kg/190lb for 6.

So I have a way to go. But honestly I feel like able to.
I kinda figured I’m in and around average for genetic gifts. Maybe better maybe lower. But I figured the traitd I can choose are determination and discipline. What is it I read once?
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesnt work hard enough”

[wsmwannabe]

These numbers are nothing to scoff at. I would say you’ve got a solid base from which to build. Is it record breaking? of course not, but that doesn’t mean that it is not worthy. We all started somewhere and you’re doing well.

You really don’t how good of genetics you have until you push them to find out. Your strength starting point isn’t necessarily an indicator of you genetic ceiling.

[FlatsFarmer]

Strength dudes are clumsy, slow and good at the gym. As an actual athlete you have a huge advantage in a Competition.

[carlbm]

@wsmwannabe

These numbers are nothing to scoff at

Thanks. I appreciate it. But I’m desperate for more.

@wsmwannabe

We all started somewhere and you’re doing well.

I coach rugby and one of thing I tell the new guys is - no one’s born good at this.
I guess it’s the same. Hopefully in 5 years I’ll look back at these numbers and go - yeah man. Smashed it

[hardartery]

@T3hPwnisher

Qualifying for nationals isn’t too hard: winning it is a different matter.

This is very true. I qualified for Nationals in the US for 9 or 10 consecutive years. One of those years I was competing as a LW, but qualified at a contest that I didn’t cut for and competed as a HW. Winning, no. I went to a bunch of them though. Don’t focus on your gym numbers, they don’t mean anything in competition. The day is the day, it will bear little resemblance to any other contest that you do. They tend to be very NOT standardised one to the next. Enjoy yourself, tak to the other athletes, talk to the judges, don’t chill too much. Don’t worr y a lot about warmups, just don’t seize up between events.

[carlbm]

All gyms closed from Thursday. Great result. So the shows off!
Even if the organisers want to re organize - no ones going to want to compete after 4 weeks off training.

[wsmwannabe]

UGH, I feel for you. That’s really frustrating. BUT, that means it’s time to grow bigger, stronger and faster. Got any buddies with a home gym? Luckily my coach opened his home gym to me to prep for a competition while gyms were closed for 2 months around where I live

[carlbm]

I got a yoke, 230kg of plates and an axle…

I’m okay. But yeah. Time to get lean and then get HUGE.

I feel a 400/450lb front squat next summer.

[alex_uk]

Mate that absolutely sucks, such bad timing when you were that close. Great attitude though - race you to 400 front squat! (You’ve got a head start as I don’t front squat!).