Mobility Prep
12” Log Clean and Push Presses
Titan
72x5
Pitbull
135x2
175x1
225x1
260x1
280x1
305x1 PR+5lbs
18” Deadlifts (suit/straps)
Straps Down
135x5
225x3
315x2
Straps Up
405x1
495x1
585x1
645x1
705x1
760x0
16” Farmer’s Hold
50xpick
250xpick
310x50.03 seconds
Atlas Stones (50”)
250x1
315x1
360x1
400x1
450x1
Comments: I really felt like was woefully unprepared
going into this one. I had signed up for three events (max 18” deadlift, max
farmer’s hold and max atlas stone) with the plan of treating this as a really
heavy training session for the next show coming up (Oct 5). First thing was
stones were sucking like they never sucked before. I was hot and sweaty and
everything after that first session felt like garbage. My grip work wasn’t
where I wanted it either but that had more to do with prefatiguing it with
farmer’s walks. Then after getting things kind of figured out on that, I ended
up fracturing (for sure) my right pinky (probably the left but not nearly as
bad) so that meant no grip training for a month. And this was the lead up to my
last really heavy day for the deadlift and stone. So not looking good. I mean,
I’d recover but it was questionable if doing this contest was safe. Really the
only thing was taping the fingers and resting really. The date was getting
closer and I was starting to stress about it. My joints were aching, I was
feeling weak but I got past it. Talking with my family, my girlfriend and
coach, I calmed down substantially. The deload and week leading up to it, I was
at peace. I decided I was going to just have fun. Pretty much two days out, I
asked the promoter if I could add max log and move up to under 308lbs class
instead just so I could do the heavier farmer’s weight (and give me the option
to go SHW if I decide to do USS Nats in 2020). I ate big the rest of the week
and tried to get to sleep at 8:30PM the night before. I was tossing and turning
with what I hope was “the meat sweats” and I think finally went into a deep
sleep about 2 hours before I had to get up at 4:30AM for the drive up there
with my dad. Yeah, I couldn’t sleep a damn so it was going to be an early
morning for me. Unlike in March, just Mike was going to be up there with me.
Like me, I think he had some things to redeem himself on. I didn’t realize that
the under 308lbs class had only a 300lbs log for the state record and the 18”
deadlift record for both national and state was empty. So I could hit some PRs
and get some hardware. I did my usual warm-ups but did about a third of the 5
minutes of sled drags back and forth with like 35lbs, then concept 2 rower and
finally the remaining time on the echo bike. This gym has it all so I was able
to mimic my other stuff just fine. Log up first. Things were moving pretty
quick. One platform this time and they were using the pitbull log, which suits
me fine. I wasn’t sure what it was when I jumped in and just hit it for a
double after doing really really light dumbbells and the tiny but thick handled
Titan Fitness log. Ended up being 20lbs heavier than I thought it was so I
figured I might have a good day. Weight started at 240lbs and I had thought it
was going to be 10-20lbs but they ended up doing 20lbs so I had to move my
opener to 260lbs. I was feeling a little sluggish but the strength was there. I
had originally planned on 30lbs jumps but 20lbs was going to have to do as I
really wanted to get just over 300lbs in contest. I’ve done it for a double in
contest in 2015 but this would be the most ever. 280lbs felt a bit less
sluggish and Ben (I’ve known him in NY for a while now) said it looked technically
perfect and I better get that state record. Mr. Westerling had been right about
me getting over something as I tried for a double at 300lbs after the thought
of missing that weight again in contest caused me to shut down after my
shoulder injury leading into USS Nats this year. I wasn’t going to be denied
today. Got it up there and it felt a little unstable on the dip so I paused it
and then powered it up. Not as smoot as I would’ve liked it but it went up and
I got the down call. I had held my breath on that as I started convulsing afterwards
but I got my wits back and head over to cool down, drink a protein shake and read
as I knew I had a bit of downtime after that awaiting for max 18” deadlift. Watched
Mike do deadlifts and then hit a PR axle that had eluded him back in March. So
I had hoped to improve with the 18” pulls. I had been able to work on them as
opposed to last time. Still don’t feel as powerful on these as I did leading up
to Beast of the Blue Grass last year. But stronger than I was in March at
least. I had assumed the same setup. But that had apparently been way too time
consuming putting the plates directly on the blocks so they used wagon wheels.
Changes things a little but still the same. Also gives me a little
unintentional practice for the next show. So with this way, I was able to do
more warm-up singles. Plan was last warm-up at 585lbs and go either 645lbs –
675lbs for opener. 585lbs didn’t feel super easy so I went with the lower
estimate. My opener didn’t feel great but I figured I’d stick to my plan and go
705lbs. Got Mike to crank down the straps really tight. Perfect. Felt slow but
it went. Needed help getting the straps off. So more than last time. I was advised to go
maybe 735lbs. But I’ve done it before. I didn’t want to be stuck thinking of
the most recent back injury as a new reboot. I’m planning all-time lifts still.
My terms. So I called for 760lbs for a 5lbs contest PR. I thought I was going
right away but apparently my jump was more than expected so other guys wanted
to go first. This gave me some time to think. The suit doesn’t feel like it is
giving me as much as it used to. It’s riding up the legs too much. So I did my
best to pick at it to get the legs of the suit down some and it seemed to get
that feeling in the hips to get more pressure into the suit. I think that this
is the missing thing here. Unfortunately, I think that with how the wheels are,
the weight can oscillate differently as I thought I had it past the knees but I
lost my balance. I tried again as it had gotten so close but nothing left in
the tank. It was close. Not discouraged. I think that if I wear my spandex
shorts under, that it will be enough to keep the legs down and get max power
for a partial pull. I think it is still enough for larger ROM pulls though.
Will have to play around with it next time I have suited pulls. Got a little
break and then it was farmer’s hold. I didn’t need any massage like last time
to get back into things so that’s good. Deadlifts not taking as much out of me comparatively.
The farmer’s hold for the under 275lbs weight class is 280lbs for time. I didn’t
think I could beat my time considering I had lost a month of training for it
with the fingers. The record for the under 308lbs class with 310lbs was under
20 seconds. I figured even with Eddie Hall hands, I could hold them longer than
that. And I’d rather train heavier if I can. Last time, I got a lot of warm-up
picks. This time I got the one. It was more to make sure that my fingers didn’t
want to explode picking up that much weight per hand. They were fine but I knew
that it was going to be difficult. The pick didn’t feel terrible and I believe I
grunted “this is mine” or something to that effect. I knew right then that I’d
get at least 30 seconds. I wasn’t sure on the time but I got to 30 quicker than
I was counting so I knew I had to break 45 seconds. I really wanted to get a
minute. I could hear my dad shout at me to give him a minute. But I ended up
just under 10 second shy of that. I guess I had adjusted my feet as I dropped
the one handle on my right foot. Competitor that was also a nurse stated it
looked broken because of lack of circulation to my toes but I assured them that
that was because I had on compression socks. So probably bruised. I had stones
left. Didn’t hurt to walk around so I guess this was happening. I’m known for
being good at stones. So coming into a max stone event and feeling like I was
the least prepared for it had me anxious. I had meant to do this in March but I
chickened out of it because of the Arnold and my back. My friend and training
partner Brian had lifted the 450lbs then for huge PR and it was an awesome
moment. I wanted to lift a heavy stone. The plan was to have this be my last
heavy stone session for Krank’d (also has max stone) and this would still be
the case but I didn’t think I’d get to the 450lbs stone. Things were moving
fast and I realized that trying to get my old reliable leather stone sleeves on
wasn’t going to be easy so I figured that tape will do today. It’s training
after all right. I had to assure people I was being serious doing warm-ups with
250lbs and 315lbs. I had no idea if this would bother my hands. Once I knew
that was going to be fine, I settled on opening at 360lbs. I barely sat this
thing in my lap. The pick and lap were strong but my midsection wasn’t where it
needs to be to handle the heavy stones to extension like usual. 400lbs I called
for next. Lapped this in a deep lap. Tend to do that on these larger diameter
stones (I don’t think 22”, probably 21”). Went up well enough. 50” isn’t a
terrible height for me to extend to. So I said screw it, roll out the 450lbs
stone. It’s what I came for right. The way 400lbs felt, I wasn’t sure this was
going to happen really. I got set and went for it. But my lack of stone training
was showing as I didn’t go on it deep enough to get a firm crush grip and it
slipped. I may be rusted but I haven’t forgotten everything and it felt like it
was going to at least get into my lap today. So I went back at it and got it
deep this time and got into my lap. I went to extend but I was off balance and
stumbled back. This thing was heavy. I knew people were screaming at me to keep
going but I really couldn’t hear them. Just felt pressure from around but I
could hear my own thoughts it was calming. I just said relax, find that balance
point and extend. Not quite a neat as I’d like it to be but sometimes it ain’t
pretty. Up it went and the day was done. I had a great time at this and I think
this is the happiest and chilliest I’ve been at competition. Just a few days of
rest before back into the mix again.
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