@littlesleeper : Happy you liked it. I had an amazing time! I have read in TX_iron’s log that you are playing with the idea of getting into strongman yourself. I can’t recommend it enough, I am sure you won’t regret it.
Thanks man, I have to say the only reason I’m considering it is because of people like yourself that make it sound like so much damn fun! I’ll be following along with your progress for sure.
Awesome Job on the competition man! And I really liked your write up brother!
@littlesleeper : There is nothing more one could ask for! If it wasn’t for Tnation and especially guys like Alpha , T3hPwnisher , strongnmanvinny I am pretty sure I would have never competed.
@Alpha : Thanks man I really appreciate it!
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I agree, I’m liking the direction that the Strongman side of TNation is taking. Some big names in here that I’m proud to follow along with.
25.03.
First squat session in about 4 months.
1 squat
3 sets of 5-7 reps (didn’t really keep track) with 100 kg
2 deadlift
2 or 3 sets with 60 and 70 kg. Just worked in with the girl I am dating there
3 TRX planke
55 sec
4 back raise + leg curl (sort of like a GHR on a very old hyperextension bench that allows for this set up. Pretty cool)
Notes:
- still deloading
-squats felt really easy actually, could have done a lot more reps - I would even go so far and say that I didn’t loose too much strength in my squat. We will see once I get going with a program again
- will go for 20 reps with 100 kg at some point
- training with her is amazing, because she actually puts in the work and focuses on compound movements (not because of my influence). Needless to say that this is reflected in her figure. She is really athletic and I find that highly attractive. I am looking forward to training with her while I am not on a deload and actually train hard myself
28.03.
First log press session in a few months. I plan to include log pressing frequently now. I want to get better at it.
1 Log press (always clean once)
30 kg x some
40 kg x some
50 kg x 5
60 kg x 3
70 kg x 1
80 kg x 1 - ties old PR
65 kg x 10
2 axle strict press (clean once)
36 kg x some
56 kg x 11
56 kg x 8
56 kg x 8
3 axle pendlay rows
numerous sets with different grips - 56 kg
4a band face pulls
2 x 15-20
4b lateral raises with 5 kg plates
x 25/ 20
Notes:
- the clean on the 80 kg log press was the ugliest one ever done or seen by anyone. Have to work on that!
- Why are axle presses harder than regular bar presses? I really have no explanation other than I don’t clean the bar when I am at the gym using a regular bar. But a 56 kg clean shouldn’t be that demanding.
- I also forget to log that about 2 weeks ago I got a pretty much never used barbell for free. Now I only need a squat stand and I am ready for the summer!
I feel the axle detracts perhaps a bit on the press due to the increased diameter hindering your ability to sustain a good rack position on the dip of the press, whereas a barbell’s smaller diameter makes for less of a chance the bar will fall down or out of position on a dip. Also, the axle being thicker seems to effect strict press as well slightly in that it might compromise your position just enough so that you’re like 10lbs under your PR strict press or something.
But yeah, log is one of the most important lifts to train in strongman. I remember not having trained it at all before my first show thinking I would have no issues hitting a 120kg log because I have pressed 155kg on an axle…yeah…no. I cleaned the log and it felt like a million pounds on my chest. Anywho, keep working man!
Sounds about right! My rack position seems to be affected with the axle.
155 kg on the axle… why am I even trying? I like to press the log even though it is tougher than a standard barbell but cleaning it is a pain in the ass. I guess I just have to put in the work and make it a staple. Thanks Vinny!
I was awkward cleaning the log until I watched this video and now I can definitely clean a LOT more than I can press.
@littlesleeper : There is no video or link attached
@Koestrizer: Hmmm, I thought I had the link thing figured out. The word “this” should be hyperlinked to the video?
Shows up and works for me! Let me know if it does, or I can repost it. It is just a How to Log press video by Alan Thrall.
Oh yeah it is, my bad! Would be good if it was marked in a different color.
Unfortunately I have watched this video several times and my clean still sucks bad!
Today I trained with someone who practices weightlifting and he had no problem cleaning the 80 kg at all. His cleans looked very good even though it can not be compared to a standard bar. He had no chance to press the 80 kg though.
29.03.
Haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep. Decided to train legs in the morning because I have the late shift at work today.
1 squats
2 x 20 kg x some
1 x 50 kg x some
1 x 80 kg x 6
2 x 100 kg x 5
1 x 105 kg x 5
1 x 110 kg x 5 - with wraps
1 x 90 kg x 5
1 x 80 kg x 6
2 front squats
2 x 50 kg x 8
3 lat pulldown
2 x 10
4 45° back raises
2 x mad glute pump
Notes:
- legs feel like jelly after this
- am very exhausted
- I think finally squatting again will help me to get better in various aspects
- I know my depth was shallow on a lot of reps but I am not concerned with that right now
- squatting is terrible and I am glad I am back at it
- not looking forward to working all day later
Perhaps it’s time to change the title to “Became a Strongman”
Lol.
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@TX_iron : You are right, I will think about a fitting new title
I will start my new program next week. It was given to me by @buckaubarbellbenni . To be honest it is something I have never done before (not even remotely close). But it definitely meets my goals of becoming better conditioned and losing weight. I am curious about how my strength will develop. It will be a hard challenge and I am looking forward to it. I have set my training maxes very conservative to not get my ass whooped too hard!
01.04
First session of two today. Weather was gorgeous! Sun was shining and it was warm and didn’t have to work or study today. Couldn’t waste that.
1 sandbag sprints
10 sprints for 30 meters with 30 second rest between sprints.
2 sandbag walk (zercher position)
1 lap around the soccer field with drops and rest as needed
3 light jog
Just a few hundred meters to finish the conditioning
Notes:
- did some standard drills and jogs we used to do when I played soccer to get warm and got out of breath very soon. It came to me that I am pretty out of shape with aerobic conditioning. I couldn’t imagine to play 90 minutes of soccer right now (like I used to every game). Thank god I was a defender and had pretty much one of the positions that required the least amount of running
- the sprints were good. I am looking forward to more of this in the summer!
- I really believe that better conditioning will help me with my strongman goals
- the lap around the football field (approximately 400m) was done with normal walking speed and was very draining by the end of it. My glutes were on fire and my lower back was starting to get fatigued as well.
- will way the sandbag at one point. Would make it heavier if I continue with these workouts.
- Will work upper body later with my girlfriend.
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Again 01.04.
Trained upper body in the evening with my girlfriend. We had a great time!
1 bench press
2 x 20 kg x some
1 x 50 kg x several
1 x 80 kg x 6
1 x 90 kg x 3
1 x 100 kg x 4 - PR (+1)
2 slingshot bench press
2 x 100 kg x 8
3 db bench
30 kg x 8
35 kg x 8
40 kg x 5-6
4 pull ups (band assisted)
4 or 5 sets
5 cable rows
about 4 sets
Notes:
- well for not benching raw in a long time and taking a break from benching at all due to pec injury before that I am pretty satisfied with hitting a small rep PR.
- 100 kg is becoming a very comfortable weight for me
- tried to utilize the tips I got from @Alpha’s newest videos but I need some more practice. Still am not using leg drive correctly. But I feel I have a pretty good set up. Will get a video at some point.
- working out with my girlfriend was great, she did the same training as me (with different rep schemes). I was impressed with how hard she fights through reps and sets. That is something I admire.
03.04.
1 power clean
1 x 50 kg x 5
1 x 55 kg x 5
3 x 60 kg x 5
2 snatch grip high pull
1 x 40 kg x 5
1 x 60 kg x 5
3 power shrug
1 x 70 kg x 5
1 x 80 kg x 5
Carry Medley
2 rounds of ca. 17m, trap bar walks (106 kg), run back, sandbag run
1 round of the above but with double distance (one turn with trap bar and one turn with sandbag)
Notes:
- Was a great day
- want to start with the new program so I decided on exercises that allow for less weight on the strength part
- pec felt weird again during the workout and later in the day. I really don’t know whats up there but I hope it isn’t re injured
- did the whole workout without a belt
- had a lot of fun, weather was nice and I coached my girlfriend on deadlifts. Her form is quickly improving and so will her strength.
Edit: Meant to ask one more question for the strongman guys. Is it normal that my glutes engage super hard in any kind of carry? They also get sore and my hips get tight from carries.
05.04.
I will feel this workout later at work…
1 log clean and press (clean once) @ 60 kg
x 1 (30 sec pause), x 2 (30 sec pause), x 3 (2 min pause)
x 1 (30 sec pause), x 2 (30 sec pause), x 3 (2 min pause)
x 1 (30 sec pause), x 2 (30 sec pause), x 12 (2 min pause)
2 Axle strict press (clean once)
10 x 46 kg x 3 with 30 sec pause between sets
3 axle pendlay rows
10 x 66 kg x 3 with 30 sec pause between sets
4a band face pulls
1 x 20, 1 x 15, 1 x 12
4b lateral raises with 5 kg plate
1 x 20, 1 x 15, 1 x 12
Notes:
- I was dripping in sweat like crazy
- the last set in the last wave is meant to be an AMRAP in the fashion of Jim Wendler’s “+ sets”. 12 reps are pretty good in a fatigued state but there is definitely room for more next week!
- actually I felt a lot better during the workout than expected. It was hard but I felt pretty good.
- the log clean and presses felt really good! I think consistently training the log with sub maximal weights like today will go a long way in bettering my clean.
Included the video of my AMRAP set to ask: Is this too much backward lean or still acceptable?
