January 09, 2011 - Events

Dynamic Warm-ups

Duck Walk
210x20'
300x20'
390x20' PR+45lbs
435x20' PR+90lbs
480x20' (2 drops) PR+135lbs

Atlas Stones
No Tacky
240x3 to 51.5"
324x1 to 51.5"
385x1 to 51.5"
505x0,0 to 44"
505x1 to 44" PR+53lbs

55 Gallon Oil Drum Bear Hug Carries
121x50'
166x63'
211x63'
256x0
256x0
256x63' PR+25lbs & 11'

Comments: Well, today was the day. I had a bit of good luck as my friend Mike Jenkins finally came out to train. He's getting ready for the Arnold Strongman Classic and not many places nearby have heavy stones. Joe was sick and Wes was in Jamaica on his honeymoon so it was just Mike, Bill and Zack and my dad. Bill and Zack were finishing up on duck walks so I did those first (I don't like doing just one event). Never gone heavier than 345lbs on these (second time) and it definitely gets a lot harder with more weight swinging like that. Then it was stone time. Mike had easily done my 452lbs stone to the low platform (44") for couple singles and doubles. He was just killing it so of course he was game for the 505lbs one as well. I only worked up to 385lbs no tack before giving 505 a try. Mike had gone first and just barely missed. He has an interesting 'rocking horse' like technique for getting more hip drive into the stone. That style wouldn't work for me but it obviously works for him. So I went next knowing that it wasn't impossible. I picked up easy but I wasn't center and it dropped back down as I tried to lap it. I refocused and gave it another shot. This time I lapped it, had to push off the platform to keep the monster from escaping. Heavy is the best word I can use to describe it. It felt like it was crushing my soul just sitting there. I positioned myself to the platform and tried to drive it off my lap. No luck. I would have called it there but Mike wanted another shot. And sonofabitch if he doesn't get it. Now I have to try it again. Not only was he the first to touch my stone, now he's the first to load it. I stewed in my anger and focused, muttering to myself I can do it. I got setup again and lapped it easier than the last time. Still heavy haha. I square up to the platform and give it all I got. I feels just like the last time but I just keep fighting. I kind of crapped my pants but I keep going and finally, it moved up a bit, then a little more. Enough to get a bit on the platform and I shove it. Still not all the way and it starts to come back down. NO! I'm too close now and I shove my whole body into it. It still hesitates before I land the final blow and put the beast in its place. Success and exhaustion. Mike and talked about training for the next few sessions and I went up to finish up my training. Definitely looking forward to more sessions with Mike. I did the oil drum bearhug carries at my house. The first set was awful since I had a long sleeve warm-up on (cold out and the win was vicious). So I had to take it off for the other sets. I missed picking up 256lbs twice before I got it. I feel wrecked but I feel I accomplished something.