Oh yeah, definitely skip novice. That is for kids that are brand new to weights and sandbaggers. You are an open competitor.
And you won’t waste anyone’s time dude. I always cheer louder for the guy zeroing in open than the guy winning novice.
@Benanything no problem dude. Joel is a great guy. He was always gracious in defeating me, haha.
No training today, but my cheat meal is worth documenting.
Went to a local BBQ place. Got a triple meat mixed plate with sliced beef brisket, smoked turkey and smoked kielbasa, mac n cheese and onion rings. Finished it off with half of an Its is ice cream sandwich.
I haven’t had mac n cheese in like a decade. It was incredible.
(6) Axle Mat Pulls
5x136
5x226
1x276
1x366 (Mixed grip)
1x456 (Mixed grip, 5 second hold at top)
10x546 (straps, touch and go, rest pause)
10x456 (straps, dead stop)
30 second DOH hold w/276
Notes: I’m feeling better at bracing myself on these. Intensity is showing up as well. On the dead stop set, I was a little off kilter and kept locking out the left leg before the right, but the set moved real smooth.
GHR sit ups w/25lb plate behind head
2x8
2x7
Buffalo bar squats
5xBar
5x100
5x140
3x190
1x230
1x280
1x320
1x370
DROPSET
1x410
10x320
10x280
10x230
10x190
Notes: My twist on birthday squats. Bodyweight x Age was too easy, considering I hit 230 for 40 a few weeks ago, so I went for a 31 rep dropset at first, then bodyweight for burnout. In truth, my intent was to hit BWx31 at the end, but I got a bad shin splint in the right leg that didn’t want to play nice. I took video, but my ass was hanging out of my shorts to the point of it being obscene, so that won’t make light. Gives me an excuse to hit this again when I’m healthy and kill it.
General notes: Woke up at 193.4. Stomach isn’t too mad with my crazy cheat meal.
Keg carry/backwards prowler drag medley
50’ carry 182lb keg
50’ run back to start
50’ run back to keg
50’ carry 182lb keg
50’ run back to start
50’ run back to keg
50’ carry 182lb keg
50’ run back to start
50’ backwards prowler drag loaded w/200lbs
3 rounds of the above
Notes: I feel back to my old self. This was a helluva effort. After the second round I thought I was done; just struggling to recover. The last round was more of a death march than a run, but I made it through, and the prowler drag actually went well. I’ve really developed my ability to dig deep there. I have found out that I DO have decent enough speed with the 182lb keg off the starting line, so I’m not necessarily slow, just fatigued. I still have a month to really get that down, but at this point I know I’m going to be the toughest I’ve ever been.
I said it in my last log, and I’ll say it here again; you can’t kill me.
Woke up at 192.8. Shin split didn’t bother me on the medley, so that’s a positive.
AM WORKOUT
Axle strict press
5xAxle
5x66
5x136
3x151
3x176
3x196
Axle push press
0x256
3x236
Axle strict press stripset
7x156
6x136
6x116
6x103
6x83
7x66
Notes: Plan seems to be working. Anything north of 250 still eludes me, but I’m feeling stronger and better. Part of it was that I just wasn’t primed to push press. I’m thinking, after hitting required reps for the strict set, I’ll hit 1 rep of push presses just to use as a warm-up before moving on, because the set of 236 felt real smooth. That stripset is feeling great, although my right shoulder gets a little mad by the end of it. Something to watch for. Usually it’s the left that gets buggy.
Lat pulldowns 140
5x15
Band pull aparts
5x20
Notes: Brought the weight back down on the pulldowns to spare my elbows. Focusing more on the back contraction really seems to make the movement more worthwhile. No points for the heaviest assistance work. All done between sets of pressing.
Axle rows 136
50 reps
Notes: Just going for rep goals to get volume. No straps. I like this approach. Think I’ll keep it going and see where it takes me.
Dips (upright)
50 reps
Notes: Keeping the volume light on these while I push the shoulders.
Axle curls
1x145
Notes: These were awful after those axle rows. Forearms are fried.
General notes: Woke up at 193.0. Part of my nut allergy experiment has had me eating pistachios with no issues, so I bought some bags of them for work. I’ll see if they work out. Shin splint is still a little pissy. I might end up just doing yoke pick-ups tomorrow. I’m actually thinking of transitioning my squat day to a ME style workout with cycling movements rather than constant progression with 1 move. There are a lot of things that I think will make me a better strongman, and I can’t do them all at once.
AM WORKOUT
Axle front squats
5xAxle
5x66
5x136
2x186
1x226
1x276
1x316
15 reps of 226
Notes: With my shin splint on my right, I decided to keep the loading light by sticking with front squats vs the SSB. Part of it is my new plan going forward to make this more of an ME day. Limiting factor is still the upperbody, but the 316 was tough. Rest paused with the 226 to get volume. Wrists are getting more flexible.
Reverse hyper 320
4x8
Standing ab wheel
4x8
Notes: Both performed between sets of front squats. I am liking this approach more, even though it means being more fatigued for the heavy work.
Axle continentals
3x136
1x186
1x226
0x256
Notes: 256 made it high, but I was just out of gas and couldn’t make the transition. It stuck to my belt pretty well. Next time, I’ll try to really wind up the wrists. This will be my second attempt weight, and though I missed it here I am sure I can manage it in a comp. Gotta keep in mind that I’m doing it at the end of a morning workout with little food. First thing in a show, fresh, well fed and well rested, I’m not worried. The 226 was really smooth, which bodes well.
General notes: Woke up at 192.4.
I gotta see those axle front squats on video. Knowing your lack of rack position flexibility, I can imagine the look on your face must be priceless. Something like “Why do I do this to myself 
”
Also, happy belated birthday???
Hahaha. I’m sadly getting better at the movement, and my video angle is from the back rather than the front, but I can still grab some video sometime. They’ve been an interesting movement.
And thanks for the birthday wishes dude! Getting closer and closer to posting in the Over 35 forum.
AM WORKOUT
Axle bench press
5xAxle
5x66
5x136
5x186
5x226
5x241
3x276
7x306
10x241
Notes: My shoulders are feeling pretty beat. The 2 days a week of pressing is creeping up on me, as I predicted. The set of 7 on 306 was still a great set, but I need to start scaling stuff back and getting smarter as I’m now 1 month out from the show. Assistance work is gonna peel back a touch.
NG chins (various grip widths)
35
30
35
Band pull aparts
5x20
Notes: First set of 35 chins was continuous. Rest had resting as needed. Just getting sick of chins and trying to get them done quickly. All of this was performed between sets of benching.
GIANT SETS
Axle push press 193
1x6
3x5
DB rows 105
4x10
DB reverse curls 35
4x9
Notes: Push press technique is getting dialed in, even if my shoulders are achy. I kept the volume on the low side today to see if it’ll facilitate some recovery.
General notes: Woke up at 193.0. Everything is feeling a little beat up right now. I’m right on that razor’s edge of contest prep between peaking and burning out. As long as I’m smart, I should be ok.
Hey man, this is more of a question on life. I felt like asking you this because… Idk, I just felt like you would be the right person to ask?
Have you been through stages(in your youth) of your life where you just feel absolutely… Meh? Like life is mundane and there’s literally nothing you look forward to etc etc. To put it bluntly, life just doesn’t feel like it’s worth living. Man, I hope this doesn’t come off as depression/emo-y but yeah… Thanks man.
I have dude. Legitimately, I would seek someone who is qualified to talk about those matters. It’s what I did.
So… Get a psychiatrist?
There are a lot of options. Psychiatrist, psychologist, therapists, chaplains, counselors, etc. People who are trained in the understanding of the mind and it’s processes. It’s like going to a doctor when you’re sick or a physical therapist when you’re broken.
GRIP WORK
CoC #2 timed hold
45 seconds right hand
35 seconds left hand
CoC #1 Timed Hold
60 seconds
Notes: Upping the intensity here as I get closer. Grip feels like it’s really coming along. I’m learning how to really hold on past the point of discomfort, pain and burning.
Axle continentals
3x136
1x186
1x226
1x256 (lifetime PR)
Notes: I felt that old primal evil rush take over as I stood there with 256 on my chest. This was probably the ugliest continental in history, but I made it. Double overhand the whole time, it stuck to my belt, made it to my abs, rolled slightly upward, bumped it a bunch of times, folded in half, and then there I was. I am officially a month out from the show, and I am at least confident in my second attempt now.
And I’m doing this on an Ironmind axle. The smaller diameter knurled deal I’ll have at the show will be easy mode.
245 was impossible last year. I’ve got it now. I am the Juggernaut.
Woke up at 192.0. Been eating big today. See if anythin happens from it.
Yoke 50’
2xYoke
2x320
2x410
2x500
2x550
2x590
Notes: Comp weight is 525. I know I need to spend more time on speed, but I got tired of being timid, and just kept upping the weight. I would finish a run, look at the yoke, look at my weights, say “Fuck it” and just keep adding and walking. It was good to take 590 out, even though it pained me how slow it moved. It was like my 750lb yoke walk I did a year back. Still, it’s moving, and it’ll come back. Gonna try to double up on conditioning this week, and then next yoke session will be light and focus on speed.
General notes: Woke up at 193.4. As with most shows, I’ve become obsessed with listening to one song over and over again as I prep. It’s been Nine Inch Nail’s “Ruiner”. Specifically been listening to this verse
“You didn’t hurt me. Nothing can hurt me. You didn’t hurt me. Nothing can stop be now.”
AM WORKOUT
(5) Axle Mat Pulls
5x136
5x226
1x276
1x366 (mixed grip)
1x456 (mixed grip)
10x546 (straps, rest pause, touch and go)
10x456 (straps, deadstop)
20 second hold of 276 DOH
Notes: Grip wasn’t solid today, but I’ve been taxing it a lot. Far happier with my performance on the pull proper. The first rep of 546 felt like it was going to be the last one, but I dug deep and managed 5 before the first set down. I’m tapping back into that ability to really reach down deep and grind.
GHR sit-ups w/25lb plate behind head
3x8
1x5
General notes: Woke up at 192.4. 86’d the squats today because, after a full week of my shin/knee feeling better, this immediately caused it to hurt. I’m too close to the show to push myself on a movement that isn’t a comp lift at this point. I’m feeling better, so I might try to work it into a 2 a day tomorrow, but today the smart move was not playing.
Cheat meal this week was 3 item combo (double orange chicken w/beijing beef) and fried rice at Panda Express. Should see a weight spike with the carbs.
Suicide Medley
50’ carry 182lb keg
50’ run back to start
50’ run back to keg
50’ carry 182lb keg
50’ run back to start
50’ run back to keg
50’ carry 182lb keg
50’ run back to start
50’ backwards prowler drag loaded w/200lbs
4 rounds of the above
Notes: It was so windy that I only got footage of the first one, but this was a ballbuster, just like last week. I can see now that I’m still clomping along on the run. Still need to relearn the movement pattern post surgery. I’m getting faster and faster at least.
Woke up at 194.0. Contemplating hitting a squat set post dinner.
AM WORKOUT
Axle Strict Press
5xAxle
5x66
5x136
5x166
3x186
1x206 (w/1 push press rep afterwards)
Axle Push Press
2x246
Axle Strict Press
9x166
Notes: Good day. I whiffed the first rep of the heavy axle push press, but got my head back on straight and was able to get out those last 2. Last 1 was a total grinder, but those are good for me. Gives me more confidence. The leg drive bugs my shin a little, but nothing unmanageable. The new hooks I got for the power rack are a boon. I think it’s going to open up a lot more training opportunities. Dropped the massive dropset for now, as I think all that volume was partially what was wrecking my shoulders. Good off season stuff, but can’t deal with it right now this close to the show.
Lat pulldowns 140
5x15
Band pull aparts
5x20
Notes: Performed between sets of pressing. I’m keeping the pulldown weight the same and shooting for less rest between reps. Just doing the bodybuilding thing right now and worrying more about contraction than weight moved.
Dips (upright)
50 reps
Axle rows 136
65 reps
Notes: Same protocol as last week; just shooting for rep goals. No straps.
Axle curls
1x100
Notes: The rows take a lot out of my arms, so the reps are getting cut down on these.
General notes: Woke up at 194.4. Shin continues to improve, but my desire to completely obliterate it scales linearly with it’s healing process. I can’t tell if it’s some sort of inherent self-destructiveness or if I’m actually trying to get stronger. I’m also going off seasons crazy already, which is usually a sign that I’ve been doing a good job of sticking with the program.
Funny thing regarding continentals/odd exercises. The first time I saw it was on some CrossFit video and thought “those idiots, why in the hell are they using a mixed grip for cleans”
Since then if I see an exercise I’m not familiar with, I automatically assume my ignorance is to blame.
You’re kickin’ so much ass that this is all I have to contribute, haha.