August 15, 2026 – Week 18, Day 3

Dynamic Warm Up

Axle Wagon Wheel Squats to Pads (27”)
26x15
116x2
166x2
221x3
221x3
221x3
221x3
221x3

12” Log Clean and Push Presses (one clean)
2 second pauses
87x2
107x2
EMOM
127x2
127x2
127x2
No pauses
153x2
153x2
153x2

Sled Drags/Prowler Pushes (60 seconds rest)
195x75’/195x75’
195x75’/195x75’
195x75’/195x75’
195x75’/195x75’
195x75’/195x75’

Stretching

Comments: Besides having workouts hopefully taper and go smooth, the idea has been to deload on the stress and hopefully be feeling loosey goosey by next week. I don’t feel like mentally I’m stressing at this point but I can tell I’m holding a good deal of tension in my shoulders. Monday had not been ideal with my left shoulder getting sore on me at the start but it has pretty much evaporated as of today. Which is good since plan is to touch log one last time haha. Work is thankfully tapering down as well so shouldn’t be that bad hopefully for the two days I got next week. Plan being Monday session of just moving around with my dynamic warm ups and some extras added with stretching and then walking Tuesday and then packing/traveling Wednesday. Walked Thursday with soft tissue work and then just worked on stuff to prep for travel as well as try and figure things out with plan getting back with training. My plan today was to go out to the gym to do this last session but I was tired and the things I was to do the night before didn’t happen and I eventually figured out I could do everything at home and would rather save myself the hassle and stress of driving. So eventually got on to getting ready. Foam rolling stuff felt fine here. Need more on the right side for the calves compared to left but they both needed it a good deal at odd spots. Quads tend to be tight but they seemed even this time around and not as much as they’ve needed previously. Upper back I needed it today as well. Neck rehab protocol felt good and needed. Nothing felt off here thankfully. Glute activation I’m still trouble shooting some things here but good and mobility stuff felt fine. Dead hang felt fine and not feeling tension in the left shoulder like I did at the beginning of the week. So there is that. Today would be last touches of anything weight related and for three of the seven events. With first up being axle squats to boxes. I’ve been doing these at the gym with actually having boxes to use. The setup takes a bit even there but once setup, the weight loading is convenient for the most part. I’ve also not really thought it would work at home but apparently I could’ve based off what I was able to setup with the wooden spool “tables” I had. I think part of me was also leery just with how bad my knees were hurting the last time I did squats at home. Plan here was to work up to about 50% of my max on this and do 5x3 with 2 minutes rest. Ground is a little uneven unfortunately but either this weight or the sturdiness of the “boxes” made this not so bad. I think knowing that a wider stance and more gm style of hip loading has me taxing my time with the setup and feeling more solid if not fast on the movement is best. Knees a little achy but was moving well and felt powerful/strong as I went. Granted, this is like 50% and I’m wearing full gear to compete so it should be moving easy. But that is the point. Right hamstring a little tight. So this part of things done and it was on to next thing, log. I know, I said I moved “event” pressing to this day so that I would be doing stuff in a gym with a bit more temperature control and an even floor (I’ve busted up the concrete from doing axle in the past unfortunately) but this is light and needed. I did do heavy strict log on Monday but I want to make sure that I’m doing the actual movement and fluidly for that matter with the competition coming up. Strength should be there. It does seem that this will be something I need to work on. The clean doesn’t appear to be an issue here, I seem to have that figured out. It is finding what actually is a good base to press from and being stable. Narrow I feel like stuff feels solid but then if I misgroove, I can’t muscle it out through the sticking point while wider I can do that but it feels not as strong with my lower body drive. A little too late now. Anyways, the plan here was to do 3x2 with 50% with a pause in the dip and then 3x2 with 60% normal tempo. I decided to make these EMOM style and no rest between the different modalities. I don’t know if it was the floor or just overthinking things with getting setup for the drive for the press but only the clean was consistent on these. This weight is light enough that a bad rep isn’t going to be a miss here. But thankfully, most were good and I seemed to figure it out by the end of each. I had sweated up a good bit by this point and I had one last thing which was going to be a gut/lung buster. Something from Mr. Westerling in that the progression of the deload week being something heavy-ish for upper body, speed work lower body and then something that got you breathing hard and heartrate up to end it that was easy to recover from. Which was often sled pushes and drags with short rest. Since one of the events at world’s has a sled drag and sled push component, felt like a no-brainer to do that to finish things up. Since this is usually it’s own thing with maybe something light beforehand, I did indicate that I would have a range here of 4-5 sets with 60-100’ for down and back. The old me this would be three separate deload sessions for contest but I’ve improved work capacity and I can’t really do anything training week of with travel. I split the difference as that was about enough length of street without inconveniencing any of my neighbors and would keep me mostly in the shade. This got difficult fast and I was immediately regretting my decision to do this on the second set. The uphill drag wasn’t and issue. It was the downhill push as my legs just decided to not work and get full of lactic acid. Mostly my right one. I was breathing hard after the second set here. Progression is usually first set ok and then faster second set and maybe third set but then usually a decrease to what first set was and then a decline until reaching a dramatic one if not recovering well. For this go, about 29 seconds first set, 27 seconds second set, 29 seconds third set and 30 seconds fourth set. I was considering ending it after the fourth set with how my legs were feeling and breathing hard. I can see my conditioning from the beginning of this year’s prep has kind of diminished. But I got back into it and did one final one that took me 44 seconds or so to finish and I was done and absolutely gassed/knackered what have you. Ate a decent lunch (putting three small meals in one) before stretching out. I’ve done what I can to be ready at this point.

August 12, 2026 – Week 18, Day 2

Dynamic Warm Up 

Deadlifts w/ Bands (straps, platform, wagon wheels +20lbs/+75lbs)
135x3
225x2
40 seconds rest
275x1
275x1
275x1
275x1
275x1
275x1
275x1
275x1

Farmer’s Rows/Back Extensions (5ct hold every 5 reps)
95x5/bwx10
95x5/bwx10
95x5/bwx10

ATG Split Squats (6”)/Seated Banded Leg Curls
bwx10/10 -- lb’sx20
bwx10/10 -- lb’sx20
bwx10/10 -- lb’sx20

Stretching

Comments: A little miffed that my left shoulder had gotten sore from log strict work on Monday. I feel achy and very tense and I know that has to do with the peaking and deload and just the stress I’m feeling with the upcoming travel and competing. Doing my best to recover now. Sleep has been so much better on the telework schedule. Been acting as a “floater” on top of my own work this week with upcoming travel. They aren’t really giving me new work of my own since I’ll be out until 9/1/2026 once I leave next week. Walking felt good Tuesday. It is nice to have option to walk at lunch time vs only having after work option. Foam rolling starting things off. Left calf needed it more than the right. Hamstrings fine. Good lord did my quads need it a ton today. Upper back needed a good bit but that expected just with the tension I’m feeling. No issues with neck mobility stuff. It was needed for sure. Glute and mobility stretching for lower body was fine. Added a little razzle dazzle here. Dead hang felt better on some areas vs other areas compared to Monday. Namely the impingement/compress felt better this time around. Then on to weights. Well, maybe not right away. I spaced out a little after work and then a little bit longer after warming up. My intent was to get some stuff setup for the session during lunch break to streamline but that didn’t happen. And then I got a little sidetracked with some options for the rest of the session. The only confirmed thing was to do banded pulls for singles with light weight and short rests. So that was how we were starting things. Same setup I’ve been doing with band pulls with aim at 50% of my 1rm for 6-8 singles with 90 seconds rest. 275lbs was about right and didn’t really want to get too particular here as this was more just pull weight fast and feel good about it as I know that 551lbs is not my max based on how things went. As long as the weight was moving fast and good, I’d do the 8 singles. I was also wearing all I will wear to do this lift at the show so full gear. My knees felt incredibly achy just getting into position at the bar. I can tell I’m in the deload week as that seems to be when I feel achy and have to temper expectations and go with the flow. Some reps went up super good and others just good. I ended up taking closer to 40 seconds rest vs 90 seconds with my pacing. I tend to think speed work and going fast and when I’m feeling a certain way letting that impetus take over. To glorious purpose as it were. Then the more up in the air aspect of the session. Light stuff whatever it was and not to be taxing. I eventually landed on doing the remaining stuff in superset fashion to have my heart rate up a little going back and forth and keeping me moving. The first pairing had something new. I did bent over rows with the farmer’s handles. Like in the stance I would take to pick up and go. Never done this before and I wasn’t really seeing anyone else do them how I was going to. This was just a spur of the moment thing where I wanted to have one last touch of farmer’s as of the events, they’d have the most time away from the implement with how things panned out. This wasn’t very heavy and I only did reps that felt not super taxing here. I could sense my right arm was a bit more tense than the left. This was supersetted with bodyweight back extensions that were having holds every 5 reps on them. Just trying to work positions and get some blood flow. Only taking rests after each series. I took a bit of a break here to clean up space in the garage so that I could do the last two exercises also as a superset. The first part being the  ATG split squat progression with elevated front foot as I’ve been doing. My knees have been feeling better as of late and I can’t say it is only because of these as I’ve done more mobility stuff and increased fish oil intake and adjusted exercises/equipment. But been feeling good and not like it was a month ago on my right knee. Aim was just to get blood pumping here so I had a rep range of 10-15 and ended up with 10 just to keep the RPE down here. The other half of the coin was banded leg curls. Those haven’t really come up and I feel like these have been missing to some degree so I wanted to make sure that my hamstrings and knees were getting some love here too. I’m definitely out of leg curl with bands and high reps shape it would seem. I did these as back to back no rest to keep things exciting as these weren’t too bad to recover from. Put stuff away ate dinner before stretching. Just one more to go.

August 10, 2026 – Week 18, Day 1

Dynamic Warm Up

12” Log Strict Presses 
87x3
117x3
147x3
167x1
187x1
207x1
227x1
(head through on last rep only, 3 seconds hold lockout)
197x3
197x3
197x3

Scap Retraction into Pull ups
bwx3
bw+22x4
bw+22x4
bwx7

Paused 12” Log Floor Presses w/ Bands (+6lbs/+30lbs, 2 seconds)
110x3
160x2
60 seconds rest
200x3
200x3
200x3
200x3
200x3

Band Pullaparts/Band Shoulder Dislocations
mbx15 (overhand)/mbx10
mbx15 (underhand)

Single Arm Band Overhead Triceps Extensions
mbx25/25

Stretching

Comments: The home stretch so to speak. My last planned “heavy” session. I was pretty whooped from Saturday training and I was feeling quite sore in areas that haven’t been sore this cycle. Hips were sore and needed to do trigger point stuff on my left elbow to get stuff to relax and calm down. I utilized Sunday to get sleep and get my shit figured out before work this week. Knowing this is the telework cycle helps in that regard as I tend to recover better. Weight down a little bit but still consistent. I waited until it was later to walk as it was still like 90 degrees (but at least dry and not humid). It was essentially dark when I woke up today due to storm coming through. Depending on weather, I was considering rescheduling the session until tomorrow or modifying it so I could train solely in the garage. Storm went away and sun came out and evaporated all the rain water and then another storm came and that at least passed and mostly dried up by the time work was done. Foam rolling starting things off. Calves and quads were really tight but worked them good. Neck stuff went fine. I figured some stuff would be a bit touchy considering the density of the dumbbell and how many times I lifted it as my left shoulder was quite raw from impact. Lower body activation and mobility stuff felt good. Dead hang to finish things up. I could tell here that thankfully my hands/grip were feeling fine but that my left shoulder was feeling impinged a little. On to the lifting. Log again. Last heavy touch of log with strict press. No bands. Plan was to work up to a top single but not like a true max. Similar to the deadlift in that working up to something that would have me get agitated and tap into that. Something that would make me nervous. No holds working up and initially doing triples and then singles. Things didn’t start out great as my left shoulder decided to become sore immediately. I knew this was a possibility with how much I did with dumbbell and this style of log press. I don’t feel like it affected my strength but I could tell a tendon or something was irritated on the eccentric portion. That is usually when I feel stuff doing tempo work and know I’m pushing things a bit. This has flared up before and I’m only planning on light log push presses Saturday for last session. So a little bit of a damper here but pushing onward. 30lbs on the triples and then 20lbs on the singles. My lower back was a bit stiff and feeling fatigue from the previous week sessions. But still felt fine here. Balance point was a bit of issue I think because I was used to the reps style rather than just going head through. 227lbs was just a hair under what my projected max would be based off reps from 2 weeks ago here. 4.5yrs ago I did 40lbs more than this in prep for a show following essentially this workout. But this is where I am now and I need to get some numbers to know where to go from here after World’s. I didn’t get as psyched up as I did for deadlift last week but this went up well enough and I pleased with that. Down sets I went on the higher end percentage wise. 3x3 with 30lbs less weight. Holds at lockout on last rep and no head through until that rep. I went with 3 seconds mainly because I was trying to not stress my triceps at lockout as much this week considering how my left elbow was feeling just the day before. I altered a few things to be less intense and I probably didn’t need to with how it was feeling today for the most part. Pull ups followed this. I made adjustments with this and initially I was looking at doing just 2 sets with one with weight and one without on the scapular retraction into pull up. With how my left shoulder feeling, I elected to do a few reps with bodyweight first so that perhaps the weight version wouldn’t be such a shock. I don’t know if it really helped here as the bodyweight only felt really good and then adding 22lbs of chains felt like a ton. I had hoped to be good for a set of 6 reps but not happening today. So I decided I’d do another set with weight to match those reps and if feeling good, I’d do another bodyweight set like I had originally planned. I was able to match reps and go to bodyweight. I actually had to slow myself down as I was moving to forcefully and getting a bit of swaying action. I was only going to do 6 reps but decided I’d try for one more here. With pull ups done, back to more banded log floor pressing. The plan was to do the same variation I did the past few weeks with holds at lockout but I switched to pauses on the chest instead to be less stress on my elbow possibly. Aim was to do these as my last “heavy” speed work. These felt pretty good. I was supposed to do 90-120 seconds rest but this ended up almost like EMOM rests instead. I liked doing these this prep though not sure on the carry over to the actual log press event. I’ll have to play with it some more I think. Now the end to the session as originally going to be like last week with superset of rear delt upper back and dumbbell triceps. But I forwent these to do stuff with bands that would potentially be gentler on the left elbow area. I’ve done this before but I had used the micro bands. But they were being used as my band setup for log and I wanted to move things along so I used a mini band instead. 15 pull aparts into 10 band dislocates and then 15 more pull aparts. Overhand pull apart was fine and dandy and the dislocations went good. Underhand grip was a bit more stressful with this band tension. Final thing being band triceps stuff. Did single arm overhead with mini band as well. Aim was 20-30 reps but not going to failure, just a good pump. Right side I stopped at 25 reps so matched that with left side (which felt a little easier). Nothing intense after this session. Put stuff away and stretched before eating dinner. Just two more sessions to go.

August 8, 2026 – Week 17, Day 3

Dynamic Warm Up

Yoke (drop and turn halfway, turf)
235x40’/40’
375x20’/20’
505x20’/20’ 
595x20’/20’ 
685xpick 
685x40’/40’ in 22.34 seconds
735x40’/40’ in 25.77 seconds
660x40’/40’ in 21.73 seconds

Circus Dumbbell Clean and Presses (left side only)
70x4
100x3
137x2
160x1
178x1,0
178x0
178x0
137x1/160x0
137x1/160x1
137x1/160x1
137x1/160x0,1
137x1/160x1
137x1/160x1
3 point pauses (2 seconds in dip, catch and lockout)
EMOM
137x0,1
137x1
137x1
137x1
137x1
137x1

Sled Push, Sprint, Sandbag Carry and Pulls (turf)
266x15’/220x15’/296x15’
266x33’/280x33’/576x33’ in 59.30 seconds
266x33’/300x33’/596x33’ in 57.03 seconds

Stretching

Comments: I really wanted another day rest but I knew I had to kind of push through here so that I can deload to recover in time. I could tell there were some compression symptoms that were back that had arisen after the log session that had me take the rest of the week off that I think kind of went away and I hadn’t noticed until now that I felt they were back. Digestion issues popped up after the last training session and I’m not sure what this all about. Hopefully with having me back on telework option next week and through this last bit of prep will have me feeling better and recovering better. I didn’t walk after work as I felt that sleep and soft tissue work was higher priority to feel good for this last heavy event session. That did seem to be the right call. I woke early enough on my own accord to take care of some things before I took the drive up to the one gym. Ty had indicated he would be there but I guess family had other plans. I’m getting used to the drive but I don’t really see myself making the drive up this frequently unless it is for specialty equipment and if temperature is like it has been this summer. Foam rolling was ok. Back of my knees and calves/hamstring inserts felt odd but thankfully chilled out by the time I was done with warming up. The calves themselves didn’t seem to need much but quads did. Neck rehab stuff was ok as well. Lower body stuff was ok and felt decent. Dead hang after that and as good to go as I was going to be. Starting off with yoke. Yoke and dumbbell had been separate at the start of prep and then merged together for 3 weeks with 2 of those sessions being up here to train. And seeing how different these dumbbells are compared to what is usually contested has made simple linear progressive not as feasible. So this session was to get in the last heavy touches for both and I felt that in order to get that being close to contest weight for both without worrying about one or the other’s performance was to break them up again to focus on the parts. My proficiency with yoke has improved so that is less a worry. The initial plan under coaching had been to do 3 runs of contest setup with 685lbs on the yoke and 160lbs on dumbbell for 1-2 reps. But things changing with going to master’s as well as splitting things up. But it sounded like a good idea to get 2-3 runs of yoke with this being the last session since the previous session had been like a month ago and had not felt good with my knees and such and stress at the time. It showed as hamstring felt tight and my one working up set I started to black out on the first half of the run. I thankfully didn’t have that issue with the first working set though. My hope was even if not necessarily getting contest weight, the turf would be what was making things tougher and it would be less taxing at the show. 685lbs didn’t feel that bad. The notes I had was to actually do 685-725lbs here for the 3 sets with aim of going up 20lbs a set. But I guess I felt that I should just go up and maybe only do 2 sets instead of 3 sets. Like I did with farmer’s walk. I put what I thought was 725lbs but turned out to be 735lbs so accidentally a little over contest weight here. It felt heavy but fine, with only issue being coming back and bumping into one of the many objects I had to move out of the way to even do yoke runs today. I did elect to do another run here but dropped it down to 660lbs which would be 90% of contest weight to just get a little bit faster run. I had some issues with the initial leg of the run but it did move better once I got that sorted. I happy for the most part with how these went as I’d not tried this with the new belt, didn’t feel that far off what I was doing for the AZ show 6 months prior despite lighter weights. The turf definitely makes things harder to move. I’m giving myself at least 30 seconds to get through the dumbbells. Which was next. This went through some changes as initially I was looking at just getting more work on the 160lbs dumbbell to drill heavy technique with 6-10 reps done EMOM style. But then I thought better of it just based on how the event will be doing 2 dumbbells and with master’s, I actually have a shot at both lifts rather than just one. But I figured I’d see how things went and kind of be on the fly with it. Working up had me realize it has been over a month since I’ve done a circus dumbbell. I don’t count those javelin presses as such. Form was off once I got to the inch style dumbbells but I corrected quick enough. I decided to go for the 80kgs dumbbell again and got it on the first try this time. I felt good enough that I did try for a double that was close but not there yet. I imagine if I hadn’t taken 5 weeks away that I’d be better here. I did give it two more shots after that to try and get another rep in some capacity but called it there as I was burning myself out and taking away from the obtainable for the show. Something like reining in my worse impulses here would be helpful with coaching/instruction. So what came next was the intent to do doubles with a rep on the 137lbs dumbbell, followed by the 160lbs dumbbell. And start out from under the yoke to work transitions. Initially wanting to do these as an EMOM but with the first attempt not going great (missing the 160lbs twice), I scrapped that and went with just rest as needed and try to get 5 good sets. I need more work on the 160lbs dumbbell as I was having about an even ratio of misses/bad/good reps and want that to not be the case. This is definitely something that needs more work in the future if this comes up as an event for me as some reps the clean feels effortless and others if feels like it saps my arms and back. I then decided I still wanted to do EMOM singles to ingrain things in and went with the 137lbs dumbbell to do iso-holds at 3 points vs 2 points like I had been doing. Reason being that these dumbbells are really unwieldy at lockout compared to other circus dumbbells. I must have misremembered how heavy I had done paused reps like this as I initially missed the first rep attempt on the catch. But I did manage to clean things up and it was going quite sold by the end and feeling automatic. I could tell that I had pushed it here today as my forearms were sore and so was my right elbow (in a musculature way, not joint pain). I swapped in a fresh shirt as I was covered in rust and sweat and ate a rice Krispie treat. This break between things wasn’t going to take nearly as long as last week having make an implement first but I did want to try and recover before finishing out the day. Last thing was the push and pull medley. Like circus bell, it has been over a month since I did this and last time had been the first time doing it with any sandbag weight. Hope I think with prep had been that doing the pick and carries of keg and sandbag would build for this until closer than then worry about. For master’s the weight is a good bit lighter on the push and pull but sandbag is the same weight. Plan was to do 2-3 runs here since no longer doing the 1st medley right before this to kind of warm up things. With heavier sandbag but lighter weights, I had to get creative for the drag by putting a plastic plyo box on it so that the loading pin didn’t puncture the bag. I was definitely feeling everything I did on Thursday and the session by this point. I did half the course or so to warm up as I didn’t want to do a full run as I was having a nagging feeling that the sandbag portion was going to suck. Aim was to do 280-300lbs for the sets here and I was honestly not feeling super confident in this today after how tough the 300lbs sandbag was last week to pick up. So went with 280lbs the first set for the sandbag, which meant. I had meant to add another 10lbs on the sled for the push portion but it feels like busy work rather than an actual implement at this weight. The 280lbs sandbag wasn’t too bad but where I screwed up was the drag. I fumbled big time with getting the handles and the other blunder was I forgot to tighten my shoe laces so my feet were loose in my shoes with pulling this weight on the turf like that. Barely under a minute here. I felt I had to do 300lbs and hopefully not make those unforced errors this run. Better but man was the pick up of the sandbag rough. Similar to last week with how I was on my second run with the sandbag to finish the medley. This may end up being how it goes at the show. I did manage to be a little faster despite that. I’ve made a note of how this has felt on sandbags this prep to address it during offseason. Put stuff away after I downed my shake and made it home well enough. I kind of needed to just chill for a bit when I got home and finally get something to eat and stretched out afterwards. I knew I’d be tired but have issues actually getting myself to settle down for bed. One more week.

August 6, 2026 – Week 17, Day 2

Dynamic Warm Up 

Deadlifts (straps, platform, wagon wheels)
135x5
225x2
275x2
315x2
365x1
405x1
455x1
495x1
551x1
Cluster reps (15 seconds)
482x1+1+1
Pauses (3 seconds with 5 second cluster)
408x1+1
408x1+1

Paused Inverted Ring Rows (2 seconds)
bwx3
bw+20x3
bw+37x8
bwx12

ATG Split Squats (6”)/ Copenhagen Planks
bwx12/12 -- bwx25--25 seconds
bwx12/12 -- bwx25--25 seconds
bwx12/12

Stretching

Comments: I did not have the same level of soreness after the first session this week like last week. Probably from not being detrained compared to last time. Also like last week, this session ened up having some changes from the initial plan during the session as well as right beforehand. I had added stuff last week to it from how last week went and then thought better on it as this session came up and just considering logistics with some exercises and recovery for these last few heavy sessions. Walking had felt good after the previous session. It has been quite humid with rain happening now. I ran the fans in the garage more so for air flow and to hopefully dry out some of the dampness. The big focus today was going to be the last heavy deadlift session. And that is one of those things that takes a bit out of me. So starting the order of operations here with getting ready with foam rolling. Calves didn’t feel like they needed as much but I am trying to put more pressure on them to see if that gets them feeling better and if that lessens time needed to get ready. Hamstrings fine. Quads were tense but manageable. Upper back I needed but perhaps not as much as Day 1 session. But I could tell things were being worked hard as of late. Neck mobility stuff was feeling pretty good today. Glute and mobility stretching for lower body was fine and followed up with dead hang. On to the heavy deadlifts. The plan was always on this one to work up to a top single that was not quite a max. But something that felt like “danger” and would require me to get excited and hyped for it rather than just pull it low key. What I wasn’t sure on was after that bit as this was the most important thing. If not for the competition it would give me a working max to gauge things for off season and planning purposes. My lower back was not feeling the freshest and understandable with having done heavy farmer’s the week before, my heaviest squat of the prep on Sunday as well as doing the heaviest load and carry medley of the prep. So I wasn’t sure how this would go. Aim was to do 545-551lbs here. I figured I had to be good for at least 545lbs with how 537lbs had gone about a month and a half ago and then with me being able to do 8 singles with 525lbs. The problem or issue is that at this point in deadlift training, everything feels slow and heavy off the floor. But I feel that getting 537lbs was a breakthrough in getting my deadlift going that it will just feel like a bunch of suck but it will go up. The many singles kind of reinforced that for me. So 40-50lbs jumps just like when I worked up to 537lbs. With how things were going, I was not feeling super confident in things but I decided I’d put the pressure on here and go for 551lbs or 250kgs. This had been the aim in my mind for the top single I’d need if I wanted to have a chance of not zeroing the deadlift in the open class (260kgs). Now that weight is the 3rd lift in the series so it is less about bombing and being competitive. I got really hyped up mentally for this with the music on. If I missed, it would take so much out of me and be quite devastating but if it went up… well that is seemed worth the risk here. I got set and yanked the bastard and I knew it was going up. Let out a good shout after I put it down. Such relief that I’m on I’m on the half way point between 500lbs and 600lbs for a floor pull once again. Hands were shaking after this one and the thing is that I maybe had that 10kgs more in me today. But aim was not the true max but to have something that was enough that it made me go into the realm of needing that true max strength to do it. Everything after this was just gravy really. Initially, the plan was to do the top single and then do 2 paused doubles. Then I thought about with now doing master’s, I may be able to do more than just the opening lift here. So I adjusted to doing a cluster triple with about the weight of the first rep on the deadlift. Walk up and strap in and do a rep and then rest about 15 seconds and do it again and then one more time. This did feel a bit wonky compared to the set and go pulls I was doing leading up to it and I could tell I had put in a bit effort on my brace on that top single as it was a struggle bus now. I had actually thought of doing two doubles this cluster style but went with just a triple so I didn’t have to another set of the nonsense. Dropped off some more weight to do the paused reps. 3 seconds just breaking off the floor. These felt better. I stayed strapped in and took like 5 seconds rest between reps. I don’t know how quickly the weights will get added each rep and I may be better staying in the groove vs going away and coming back, depending on time and such. Want to prep for both outcomes really. The rest of the workout was light stuff. I had liked the combo of rows into jeffersons and was going to do that with a different row variation but then figuring out setup logistics wise had me reconsider it and just do the row since I was going to be not getting 2 days rest after this for my last heavy event session. It has been a good bit since I’ve done the inverted ring rows. And old standby that feels good. Plan was pauses here (really trying to work to get the clean feeling better on log as well as working on holding stuff to the body well) with plan working up to a top set of 8 reps (2RIR) and then doing a set of 12-15 (3-4RIR) after that. Pauses were to be 1-2 seconds. It has been a bit here and I know that holds and such really bring down the numbers I can do on rows so I had to do some testing working up. I’m glad these felt good on my body. The top set went as it should. The down set I just went with bodyweight as I knew it would be tough getting those reps and leaving that many RIR on it. Nice and tidy finishing here. chest supported dumbbell rows and then some stuff for my knees as separate exercises. Finishing up the session like I did last week with offset superset of ATG split squat progression with elevated front foot and Copenhagen planks. These had been a bit rougher than I was expecting them to be last week and my joints were not happy about it initially. This time around, things seemed to be better. I only persisted as things had actually felt good after the session and the following days. For this time around, doing 3x12 on the ATGs and 2x25 seconds on the holds. No adjusting of the height as I used 6” for the whole thing here. Felt pretty good. Keeping an eye on things that feel achy or off when doing the ATG stuff. The holds were fine and I think I was ready for them this go around. Kind of hoping these don’t sap me too bad for my last heavy gym session. Put away stuff and ate dinner before stretching.

August 4, 2026 – Week 17, Day 1

Dynamic Warm Up

12” Log Strict Presses w/ bands (+14lbs/+28llbs, head through on last rep only, 5 seconds hold)
87x3
107x3
127x3
147x3
60 seconds rest
167x3
167x3
167x3
167x3
167x3

Scap Retraction into Pull ups
bw+11x6
bw+11x6
bw+11x6

Paused 12” Log Floor Presses w/ Bands (+6lbs/+30lbs, 3 seconds lockout)
140x3
180x2
220x1
255x3
225x3
225x3
225x3

Paused Incline Bench Dumbbell Rear Delt Flyes (3 seconds)/Single Arm Dumbbell Overhead Triceps Extensions (0-1-0-1 tempo)
11’sx8 -- 22x15/15
11’sx8 -- 22x15/15
11’sx8

Stretching

Comments: Well the rain issue ended up being a nonissue as seems all the bluster decided to hit Sunday afternoon and evening. So nice out Monday and Today. I didn’t realize that the storm Sunday caused two more branches to fall. I didn’t realize the one in the front yard until I was leaving for work Monday and the one in the back yard not until today when I was warming up. I needed the rest and I was feeling a good bit of soreness in my ribs and midsection. I’m going to have to assume that is just from the heavy medley as this isn’t really anything different from the squats and log pressing I’ve been doing. Cautious with my biceps as they were feeling Sunday session and I know that sometimes if I work stuff hard like that, I can get some cramping doing stuff like mobility work. I did feel a little underwhelmed with how rough things were after the fact but I can’t dwell on that and realize this right now is just getting the boxes checked for the big show and I can ruminate on things after all is said and done to work on the plan for the next season. Foam rolling starting things off. Really trying to focus on more pressure on the calves as mentioned to try and get them not so tense as there may be a nerve component connected to my back issues. I’d say sides were about even today. Hamstrings were fine (surprised they weren’t super tight) and quads needed a good bit as well. Upper back felt nice and needed. Neck stuff went fine. Chest a little tight but nothing like it was last week at times. No issues with glute activation or lower body mobility. Dead hang to finish things up. On to the weights. As kind of explained last time, Day 1 is more overhead event assistance focused and upper body and saving event stuff for the most part on Day 3 sessions with some temperature control and not working about finishing up to go to work early. Log being the focus. So last week had been work up heavy with the lean back and only putting head through on last reps of sets and holding that on the last rep. Same this time but doing with band tension and for triples. Ideally with short rests as well. Plan was like with deadlift having 10-15% of 1rm for the band tension and going for about 72.5% of estimated max single on this strict style press. I had to retest band tension setups as I wanted to make sure it was right and the previous setup was a little less due to bands aging so I went with an older setup with multiple bands that did the trick. I wasn’t used to the bands at the start but eventually did. Short rests didn’t make things so easy and I’m still finding my form on these again. Last set I feel was the best consistent form. From there it was on to the pull up variation I did last week. The one starting at dead hang into scap retract into dead hang and then pull up. As I mentioned, I was a bit surprised I got 3x6 with bw last time. Not that that is amazing but I was surprised it happened on the first session and not needing to get my body used to it. So I decided to add 11lbs to my upper body with draping a chain around my neck, which would hopefully add more resistance to the retraction aspect rather than hang from my waist (though the traction/decompress could be nice). This was the one I was worried that my biceps would be really sore and cramp up on me just getting into position. It has happened before after heavy stones. Thankfully, no issues like that here. I didn’t even have that bad a bruise from kegs on the right lower biceps or any really from log cleans either. Last set was a bit rough with an iffy last rep but I already know I’m reducing stuff for next week with that being the deload week. After that, more time with bands and the log. Banded log floor pressing with the holds at lockout. Dropping the slam ball portion as wanting to hit more triceps on something else and cut back on that movement as finishing up prep. Borrowing from the same plan as the log strict pressing with doing up to a top triple and then dropping down 12.5% for 3x3. The RPE here was higher but the caveat was that had to be moving fast and not grinding like how a good log press should go up. I had setup planned jumps here depending on how I felt as I felt that the range could be large here depending on how I felt on the day. Sometimes the unrack feels terrible and other times like nothing is in my hands. The top end I was hoping to be 250-270lbs. Warming up the first weight felt like a joke but then the second weight felt a little off and right shoulder not feeling great so lowered the next jump and that one felt bad all around. I was really considering do the lowest end here as that could be a max effort but I know that sometimes I undersell. I did add 5lbs to it. And of course that set felt near perfect and leaving 5-10lbs on the table here. Oh well. Down sets felt ok, I could tell I was getting a workout in my pressing. Into the garage for the offset superset (that’s what I’m calling it I guess when uneven set pairing). I did the paused rear delt stuff by itself last week but squeezing in tempo triceps stuff. Three sets vs two sets. Light weights but very tough here. Left elbow was a bit achy but seemed to warm up on the extensions eventually. This was good work here with these light weights. Put stuff away as heated up dinner. Stretched afterwards.

August 2, 2026 – Week 16, Day 3

Dynamic Warm Up

Axle Wagon Wheel Squats to Pads (27”)
35x15
125x2
191x2
257x2
301x1
345.5x1
389x1
422.5x2
2 seconds pauses
312x2
312x2

Log Clean and Push Presses (one clean)
12” Pitbull 
86x5
116x3
146x2
13” Beast Metals
176.5x1
198.5x1
220.5x1
242.5x1
clean every rep
215x2
215x2
215x5 in 60 seconds

Keg/Sandbag/Keg/Sandbag Carry and Loads (52”)
240x26’/255x19’6”/275x13’/300x6’6” in 48.20 seconds
240x26’/255x19’6”/275x13’/300x6’6” in 48.87 seconds

Stretching

Comments: I meant for this to be a Saturday session but the week got away from me. Day 2 session went later than planned and I was kind of playing catch up on sleep and getting other stuff during the week outside of work. Short of it was ended up not walking Thursday (did do some ankle stuff and a ton of soft tissue work) and then walking late on Friday after the heat had died down followed by loading stuff into my car for this weekend (sandbags and such). I was holding too much stuff in my head and I was worried I’d forget something for write ups on sessions and just planning purposes. A friend had sent me a little information based meme about autistic people and handling stress being similar to someone consuming alcohol. A cumulative effect not felt right away and that did seem to put things in a way I was noticing and understanding. I’m still learning things about myself. I figured it was for the best to just let my body take the sleep and rest it needed and if that ended up being where I was getting up after 9:30AM, I’d reconsider training Saturday. Well about 10:00AM I finally got up and I decided to check weather forecast to see if shuffling days made sense. My normal M-W session would have much higher chance of falling on day with thunderstorms when I’d be training so I decided to take another rest day here and get caught up on everything and hopefully be refreshed for training on Sunday. Raining a bit but that’s fine. Weight has been down since I got back from vacation with family last month but seems to finally bounced back from whatever funk I was in as weight is up 4lbs from last week. Slept well enough and it was definitely a difference from how I felt yesterday vs today. I was still nervous about the session though but not paralyzingly so. Rain seemed to clear up before I headed out to train. Drive wasn’t terrible going out (coming back there was a bit of congestion at spots and it was raining). No there really doing strongman stuff I think. Not really expected being Sunday. So good for me in that what I needed wouldn’t be in use. It was unfortunately humid so I was sweating good bit here. I didn’t miss that haha. I’ve not been to the strongman gym in over a month. Foam rolling stuff felt fine. Need more on the right side for the calves and quads. Upper back I needed it today. My chest had no soreness doing stuff to get the neck and such feeling good so I guess that deep sleep Saturday was good for something. No issues with the other mobility stuff other than feeling like I was going to overheat. Dead hang felt fine and then on to event work. Axle squats to boxes. It has apparently been close to a month this I last did these. My knees had been achy at that time and they had felt even worse doing box squats at home the week the power went out. This was an iffy one as I wasn’t sure how weight on my back would feel on whatever disc symptoms that popped up last week. My knee has been feeling better (well at least back to how it was before last month) so that was at least something. With dropping to masters, I actually have a shot at getting a rep on the mercy weight (190kgs). Things had not been consistent and gone well with other things to give the open mercy weight (230kgs) a chance in hell. Assuming no issues, the mercy weight for masters I should be good for based off training when things have felt good. I was worried that they wouldn’t feel good. The original plan had been to do 415x4x1-2. The change was to have it be a top double leaving 1-2RIR with working up in doubles and then singles. My hope was to hit right around the contest weight here for the double. This would be the last heavy session on squats until show time. Initially, I was trying to do the fast drop with a shoulder width stance to try and get bounce off the pads. But it was feeling like not the way to go to be consistent as there was risk with losing tightness and getting out of position. My last single told me that was the case. This honestly felt like my limit for the day with how that felt but I decided to try a wider stance with more hip focus and control. So less quad dominant. Well, that apparently worked and I was able to get the twofer with something left in the tank. I had been sweating like crazy here and had a big fan on me the whole time. I took off a good bit of weight here for two sets where I paused right at the boxes for 2 seconds each rep in the same stance/style. Those went well enough. No back issues and no knee issues. I feel that I just got to get through a yoke session to know if I’m good to go on everything. With how much I was sweating, I took my time putting stuff away rather than moving on to the next thing and leaving stuff for the end. That next thing was log. I know, I already did log out of the rack strict and with floor pressing against bands this week. And I had done heavy log clean and press the week before that had not been kind to me. But one does what one must. My thinking was that I wanted another heavy touch on log with the movement of a clean and push press (I will do another heavy log session before show time out of rack) for few reasons. One to see if I felt better training inside at gym setup vs at home. Another being trying to get a similar setup to world’s with a heavier empty weight log and higher pad pull height. And finally, to see if I could do a deep lap and feel comfortable with my normal lifting shoes. That would hopefully help with my knees and save me some luggage space. I did some stretching with the log on my thighs to get my ankles and calves to not be so damn tight. I was only feeling ok on these today. I forgot how rough that Beast Metal log is after not using it for a while. My hope was that I could do the mercy weight for master’s here and not have it be an absolute max on this log after squats. The clean was very rough on these but I did manage the rep I needed. I contemplated doing a second rep or going up in weight or doing just cleans with more weight but decided it was best to move on to the next thing with less weight for some reps. Which was apparently a good thing. This I wasn’t too sure with the plan but aim was to either do some sets and then a rep set for time or just do the rep set for time. I figured I needed more reps without a worry about time. It is good I did go down in weight as I eventually figured out how I’m supposed to clean this log on these sets and finally got the press clicking on the last set with doing reps in a minute. I paced myself there and with my setup there wasn’t really any recovering to do another rep if I wanted to as the log came off the pads. I know this will need work this off season. I had already gone through both of my shirts being soaked at this point and tried to dry out the least wet one. I took an intermission here since it would take time to setup the loading medley. But also because I had to build one of the implements. My last show I got a discount code for a purchase from a company that did sandbags and got one of those eventually after it was pretty obvious a replacement 250lbs sandbag was not high on the priorities for the gym. I had filled it to 150lbs and put in my car to finish the job at the gym to hopefully be something to kind of cool down and let me get some food and fluids in. This thankfully was not even close to as bad as stuffing the husabag. A little heavy but that’s fine. This was going to be my last time touching the medley before the show. And I had to bump up the weights considerably. I had found out that the kegs at the other gym had been light. The event does change with it being master’s as each implement is a different weight vs same weight for the two sets on the open. I was initially thinking about doing a lighter set and then a heavier set but decided I’d do what was easiest to setup and closest to contest without going over. The height will be 2” lower so maybe that helps with it being a little light. I was darn sweaty and didn’t have a fresh shirt to chalk up so didn’t bother besides liquid chalk for my hands. I figured this was going to be rough and rude awakening with not doing this in a month and with it being way heavier than what I’ve done. The first keg I figured would have some hiccups with going at it cold. The fabric on the new sandbag offends me but I got over it. Just feels dense. That didn’t feel like it went over as easy as it should so I did slow myself a little on the next keg. I got it upright in one motion but it wasn’t quite all on so I had to shove it to be sure. 300lbs sandbag was a tough pick after all that but I got it up high enough to go over. And then I had to set it up to go again. The first two implements I feel I was moving better and even though the pick on the second keg felt a little more labored, I feel that I was good enough efficiency wise to be on a faster pace than the previous set. Well that was until I got to the 300lbs sandbag. I fumbled a bit with it to get the pick and it wasn’t as secure in my lap to pull it up high. I had to keep adjusting it in the lap and eventually just stood up with it at the bar. And thankfully it didn’t move the yoke and I was able to shove it over. About a half second slower than the first set so I know that if I move like I was doing on the other stuff and not peter out here that I can shave at least 3-5 second off here. Downed a shake before putting everything away and driving home in the rain. Filled up the gas tank before hitting rough traffic near home and finally stretched out. I got to survive 4 more harder workouts and then I should be as ready as I can be.

July 29, 2026 – Week 16, Day 2

Dynamic Warm Up 

Deadlifts w/ Bands (straps, platform, wagon wheels +20lbs/+75lbs)
135x3
225x2
275x1
315x1
365x2
365x2
370x2
370x2
375x2
375x2

Titan Fitness Farmer’s Walks (16” pick)
135x50’
185x25’
225x25’
drop and turn halfway
275x50’/50’ in 23.17 seconds
285x50’/50’ in 24.67 seconds

Paused Chest Supported Dumbbell Rows (3 seconds)/Zercher Jefferson Curls
66’sx5
86’sx5
106’sx8/115x10
106’sx8/115x10
86’sx10

ATG Split Squats/Copenhagen Planks
bwx10-10 (9”)/ bwx20--20 seconds
bwx10-10 (8”)/ bwx20--20 seconds
bwx10-10 (7”)/ bwx20--20 seconds
bwx10/10 (6”)

Stretching

Comments: I’m not sure exactly what caused it but I was incredibly sore in my chest and upper back after the last training session. I’m leaning more towards the lean back strict presses as far as my chest but it could very well be the holds on the log floor presses as well. Upper back I’m sure is from doing those pull ups after not doing them a good while and those holds on the rear delt flyes. I think I’m surprised how much DOMS I had as I didn’t think that two weeks of not much besides the one not so good session the week prior had me so detrained to movement. I think it is more so that I just haven’t been hitting those areas that hard with what I’ve been doing as of late. I had time for the chest soreness before I’d need to do that again but I wasn’t sure on the upper back stuff as I was going to need them in a lifting and stabilizing capacity for this next session. I had survived my first session of training on my own and there is always that worry of not having essentially the bumper lanes on this bowling alley setup as I may overdo it. This session actually ended up with quite a few changes before I actually had the barebones settled here and even then, I made changes during the session as I went. Foam rolling starting things off with trying to put more emphasis on the calves to get things not be so tense. Right tends to need it more. I was a surprised I had some soreness in my quads from the previous session as well. Upper back definitely needed this today. The stuff sore from the previous session was tender but appreciated the mobility and stuff I do for my neck. Glute and mobility stretching for lower body was fine. Dead hang was less for spine decompression and more getting a good stretch in the pecs and lats. Then on to weights. Banded pulls for doubles with same band tension I used last time. I wasn’t sure how “into it” I wanted to be. What I mean is that should I get into the neoprene shorts or just wear casual wear kind of focus. I didn’t wear them to do the log pressing since no clean involved but I did wear the knee sleeves then. I eventually decided that I should so as to keep that intent and focus. The plan here was work up to 365-375lbs for 6x2. Just stick to 40-50lbs jumps after the initial 90lbs jump. This was more going by ease of loading and feel. I wasn’t trying to just push things as this was more to get things primed as next week is my proposed last heavy deadlift session and trying to get myself to hit the bare minimums with less touches on stuff so that I feel I’m at least somewhat ready for the different events. I’ve done more reps and volume with this weight this prep. I could tell that I was still feeling a bit of wear and tear on my body from this month so I wasn’t feeling like lower back was 100% here. It was good no issues picking up any weight (so first hurdle cleared there). I was feeling a good bit of pressure on my body with the first set (I went with 365lbs). I didn’t stick to a strict time rest like last time (60 seconds) and I thought I was doing more like a 90-120 rest but ended up being more like 60-75 rest. Second set felt a lot better so I decided I’d add 5lbs every two sets and that seemed to finish things off well enough. My only regret with this is that time it takes setting this up. Next week will be the test session to see where I’m at on this setup without bands. The next thing was the main thing to be tested today; farmer’s. This prep had me doing yoke and farmer’s in the same week and moving it to my Day 2 had made the most sense with the higher frequency of volume and touching of implements. But heavy yoke/farmer’s/deadlift/squat every week and something had to give. With recovery kind of tanking on me, it is possible that I’d not do well on this event at the open weight vs masters weight. It is also hard to gauge as I do not like these particular handles and the uphill portion with how my street is makes it very tricky to figure out how strong I’d finish on the second pick up. But with the master’s, I know that I can do that on a bad day and this would be the last session I touched them most likely as I’m more concerned with the other three events being on point. I’ve not yet hit contest weight on the yoke or squat. I’d be seeing how my back handles things and that was key (though will still need to see about weight on back with yoke/squat). Initially, I was looking at having this on Day 3 but it was getting that session a bit too cluttered if intent was to do last heavy touches of 4 events in one day. So kept this here on this day like it was previously done. The initial workout (which was to be reps with 500lbs on deadlift beforehand) was to do 265lbs for 3 sets of contest run. Which I was thinking of doing here as that should be fine to get work in. But I think I wanted to make sure I did stuff closer percentage wise just to be sure. I also wanted to make it so that I was not cooked for last heavy squat session on Day 3 so I made it being 2-3 sets depending on how I was feeling. So 2-3 sets of 265-285lbs is eventually what I landed on. Gauge things on how my last warm up set felt. My knee wasn’t feeling 100% but it seemed to be handling what I was asking of it today well enough. Another thing was this new belt I got with better Velcro wasn’t as stiff compared to other one I had and I’d only used it on log clean and press last week so I wasn’t sure if this would work out well here so this was also testing that. I may look into getting another belt to replace the one I gave to George’s daughter for her powerlifting meet but this will do I think for this contest. So first set I went with 275lbs and that seemed to be decent enough. Rather than dropping right at the line on the way back like I’d been doing, I walked all the way through, just to make sure I wasn’t slowing down. I was feeling like I was moving well on the downhill but the uphill I was feeling it. The sky wasn’t looking inviting and I was worried about getting caught in rain (I did not) so I decided to go for 285lbs (essentially contest weight) for my last run (dropping to 2 due to possible weather). That added weight was noticed immediately and I felt damn slow on the return trip but I got it done. Funny thing is that this was faster than my fastest run with 280lbs last time. But that was also after a log more deadlifting. This did end up taxing me a bit and I had a blister on my left pinkie finger (I do not like these handles). But this was done and another box checked on the prep. Into the garage for the rest of this session. Now I had initially add a plan here but I ended up changing it on the fly. Plan was initially to do some chest supported dumbbell rows and then some stuff for my knees as separate exercises. But I was feeling that I should do some weighted mobility stuff for the back after those heavy ass farmer’s carry sets with how my back has been acting the past two weeks on me so I added in something and then made these supersets so as to not have it take forever. I was not expecting it to have gotten this late this quickly. This deviated from what was the original plan from last week. First pairing was chest supported rows and zercher Jefferson curls, which was what I was doing before. However, I cut the sets of the jeffersons to 2 and the rows I was going with 3 second holds at contraction and then dropping 20lbs for the third set and doing max reps. I’ve not really pushed the rows and definitely not with pauses lately and I wasn’t exactly giving full rest with supersetting. The rows were tough and jeffersons were quite relaxing. The last pairing was something I came up with to hopefully help with my knee issue. The first part being ATG split squat progression with elevated front foot. My left side can do them from the floor no issue but my right side isn’t stable and strong enough right now with issues going on. But I’d been working my way down the past week with sessions. The other aspect was then pairing with Copenhagen planks for inner thigh static strength and knee stabilizing. I recall those being good. So 4 sets of the ATG split squats and 3 sets of holds. Didn’t start off great as my right knee was feeling incredibly achy, which it hasn’t felt doing these the past week sessions. And I decided to lower the box but I didn’t want to go right to 6” from 9” so those in between setups were not stable. Eventually my knee started to feel better as I did them and as I got lower. The Copenhagen stuff was a lot tougher than I remember it. I was starting to shake like crazy on these. I guess another area that has been missed. Eventually got stuff away and had dinner before stretching. This did unfortunately end up being a late session.

July 27, 2026 – Week 16, Day 1

Dynamic Warm Up

12” Log Strict Presses (head through on last rep only, 5 seconds hold lockout)
90x3
110x3
130x3
150x3
170x3
190x3
210x3
180x5
180x5

Scap Retraction into Pull ups
bwx6
bwx6
bwx6

Paused 12” Log Floor Presses w/ Bands (+6lbs/+30lbs, 3 seconds lockout)/Med Ball Slams
180x3
225x5 – 10x12
225x5 – 10x12
230x5 – 10x12
230x5 – 10x12

Paused Incline Bench Dumbbell Rear Delt Flyes (3 seconds)
10’sx10
10’sx10
10’sx10

Stretching

Comments: Compared to last week, I was having a bit more energy and pep I feel. Still dealing with knee issue on the right side but I feel like I have a good plan of approach to work around and through it for now until World’s is done and then if still in not the best way, off season work. It is also possible that some of the stress with having coaching and programming and not having it laid out before me is gone with me doing my own thing but obviously that has its own issues to go with benefits. Foam rolling starting things off. Trying to work the calves a bit more here with pressure. Nothing really to say about other stuff other than just the usual. Neck stuff went fine. Glutes I could tell there was some detraining there and needing more time in stretch with the lower body mobility. Dead hang to finish things up. I was kind of hoping that would get any kinks out of my back (as feeling a little bit in the left side). And then it was time for training with the weights. Log again. But not how I was doing it previously. This would be the strict style with lean back. My thinking here was that I could work upper body and not nearly as much stress on my knees compared to clean and push press. It would likely be less weight as well and I was feeling like I need to work on my shoulder strength here. The other part of it is I’ve been not enjoying doing event overhead stuff on the patio with how things have been and I’ve noticed that for a while now. Doing overhead event work on Saturday at the gym has felt better to me and that is less contingent on the weather whims (besides heat). I’ll flesh things out better hopefully as I go. Dealer’s choice right? So plan was to do something I did before when I felt like my log press was feeling strong (and I mean within the last 5yrs, not all time) was doing strict pressing with log in the lean back style and with holds at lockout. May not have necessarily expressed it the best at the show but this had felt strong and this would give me another opportunity to deal with problems in lower body drive. Plan being work up in triples to a top set leaving 1-2RIR on that set. Then take off 12.5-15% off for 2x5. Lean back with no head through until that last rep and hold for 5 seconds. I think last time I did these I only did the hold on the top set and down sets. I did that for all of them this time. I wasn’t too sure how this would go. I just knew my pressing on log/axle is down from when I’ve done stuff and made the assumption I was probably at about 85% of my best. With how things panned out, that seemed to be about right. Mentally, I had a feeling that this wasn’t going to go well just based on vibes from the last time I did these and was having issues. I did fine the first time and then the next time it was rough. 20lbs jumps here and that built up a good bit of volume and confidence. I did get a little unstable on the last set before going for last rep. I also switched back to my regular lifting shoes as worried that the oly shoes were stressing the knees. While helpful with getting ankle mobility for the lap, feeling like hampering other areas with stabilizing my base to press. I’ll have to see if I can shake it on clean and press. Would save me some luggage space with just two pairs as opposed to three. After this was done, moving on to something that was to be done as part of my programmed sessions last week (but not on this session). Pull up variation where I was to start from dead hang (I tend to jump the gun), do a scapular retraction, go back into dead hang and then pull up. That being one rep. The plan would be see how I feel but aim being 3x3-6 on these. These did feel better than I was expecting so I did 6 reps for all three sets. I wasn’t expecting them to be that easy after not doing any pull ups for a bit there. I was kind of hoping these would last me out until the competition. Got to think on whether I want to add reps here or just add weight and aim for same range again. It might end up being something on the day. And just because I’m not doing programming with coaching, doesn’t mean that I didn’t think there was good stuff in it. The next thing was something I was to do last week as well, superset of banded log floor pressing and slam ball. This time the pressing was to hold at lockout for 3 second each rep and try to be forceful with it. 4x5 on the pressing and 4x12 on the slams. I actually ended up using a little more weight than originally planned as I was feeling pretty good here. I added 5lbs after two sets as well. Slam ball stuff was pretty exhausting. I think I forgot these also hit triceps besides lats with the ROM and the slam. Put stuff away as I got ready for upper back/rear delt stuff. The raises have been fine but I figured I’d do some that use less weight and hit the spot hard with the hold position I need for carrying the sandbags and kegs and for the clean on log. Lying on incline bench and holding the contraction for 3 seconds. These get tough quick. I took a bit longer with rests as I was putting stuff away and getting dinner ready as well as figuring out some more stuff. I got done at decent hour here and ate dinner before stretching. Hopefully things continue to go my way and be on the up and up here.

Training Update for July

 Last week had not been great for me. This month has on a whole been not great either. I’ve not handled stress well compared to last year this same time. There are changes besides my age from then with work stuff. The power outage thing at the beginning of the month messed with me quite a bit. The sleeping with no air potentially had me recalling a similar unpleasant time almost exactly 6yrs ago. But I had to take a step back from something last week and figure out what I’m doing. Last week had been the first time where I’d truly felt old and not just in a jokey way. Couldn’t really stop work (already took off two days from the power stuff and then a 6 day for trip) with another trip coming up (assuming I was still going) so training stopped, at least what was programmed. I spent the week catching up on work and sleep and researching to see if there were things I could do to get my knee feeling better. I was saving the weekend to really sit down and figure out what I was going to do going forward. Some of the things I worked on before the weekend was figuring out the knee issue and it potentially is nerve issues with back besides joint issues as nerve glides for sciatica increased my ROM with ankle dorsiflexion. That week had been doing protocols from the Knees Over Toes guy. I’m also having issues with my strength in my right calf that I noticed while on vacation at the beach and I’m not sure if that is something I can fully fix by competition time, I’m doing what I can and will try to figure that out in off season. Speaking of competition, I also reached out to the organizers for World’s to see if I could do Master’s instead of Open’s. With how things were going, I wasn’t progressing well enough I was potentially looking at zeroing 3 of the 7 events at the pace I was at. Dropping training for one or two wasn’t going to realistically give me a shot to move that energy to the one and have it be there 100%. I’ve essentially hit the weights on everything minus a few things for Master’s while I’ve only done part of one event to Open’s standard. I didn’t think I’d be going Master’s route like this but it is the only way I can see this competition being a viable one for me, assuming that training goes well enough that I can compete. I did get approved but the issue is that Master’s compete a day earlier so essentially I’m arriving in Scotland Thursday and compete Friday doing 5 events and then 2 events the next day. It will be rough but plan in place to try and make the best of that. The main one is trying to fall asleep on the first 6hrs of flight time so not being where I’m up for almost 2 days non stop then competing. Another thing is seeing if increasing fish oil intake back to what I was taking before (I had cut in half a few months back) would help with the joint issues and it does seem like it is helping in some regard but not sure if that is just placebo here. The meat of Saturday and Sunday was figuring out training. It was causing me a ton of stress as of late and has not been great in July. I’ve learned a ton working with Ms. Funk but I’ve felt like there are times where things were feeling too much for me to recover. I want to do the work but I was just not holding up. The switch to alternating sessions seemed to get me feeling energized and spry again but then kind of reverted back to heavy everything with contest getting closer and having to kind of take 2 steps back and then a step forward approach with things. So I needed to determine if I could put together something to finish out this prep that wouldn’t cause me to spiral and feel like nothing would work. If I could do that and feel comfortable with that decision, I’d forgo further coaching and do my own thing. The task wasn’t certainly going to be more manageable once it was clear I could go Master’s instead of Open with rotating stuff with overlap and hopefully getting things feeling right for me. If only to find out where I am and stop backsliding and figure out how to progress and go forward from here.

July 20, 2026 – Week 15, Day 1

Dynamic Warm Up

Superman Holds (5 seconds)
PVCx3
PVCx3
PVCx3

Chest Supported Dumbbell I/T’s
12’sx10/10
12’sx10/10

12” Log Clean and Push Presses (1 clean)
90x5
120x4
150x3
180x2
210x1
235x1
255x1
255x0
235x2
235x1 (missed second)

Comments: This month has not been kind to me. Highlight had been hitting 176lbs circus dumbbell on 7/4 and it has kind of been downhill since. Power outage stuff messed things up royally for a few days and then family beach trip that was planned I never felt like I was able to relax despite my best efforts. Mostly I think because my right knee was bothering me coming off that first week of July and with the place we were staying out having a ton of stairs, didn’t really help. I went for a long beach walk and spent time in the pool doing walks and swimming to see if that helped and to burn off nervous energy. I will say that I at least didn’t have a back issue acting up coming into this trip this year like last year. But I think I had a plan at least while I was there to keep me busy and then be back home. But I guess I need to reevaluate how things go if I’m going to continue to aim at doing big competitions at the end of summer and knowing that I’ll have the flow interrupted. The world had other plans as the Thursday through Saturday air quality was real poor from forest fires up north so was kind of left to own devices and also getting ready for shift back to commuting schedule. I was unfortunately feeling anxious and little tired still even after having a week vacation. I would’ve liked to have another day rest to prepare but weather forecast was indicating a lot of storms the following day and I lack the flexibility to move stuff around with commuting schedule vs telework schedule. So training it was after work. Foam rolling was needed but not a crazy amount. Neck rehab stuff was ok and felt about how it should so that was good. Glute activation was ok and lower body stretches followed by a dead hang to decompress. Knee was feeling better with being home and sleeping in own bed. Nothing to really say about the warming up stuff of the PVC superman holds or the raises. These aren’t really an indicator of the session. With taking off a week with vacation, I was expecting this to be a heavier session for the log. This week looked to be heavier with notes indicating pushing it the next few weeks with the show being a month away now. With log, there were two options. One was work up to 255lbs for 1-2 singles and then do 235lbs for 3x2 and this was if I was feeling good. The other option was to not do the singles and just do 235lbs for 4x2 instead. With how I was feeling mentally and just how log has been feeling on me, I’ve not really been thrilled with anything over 210lbs in any capacity. Starting to loathe it like axle now. Trying out my new belt since the other one had the Velcro popping off an inopportune times. I felt an urgency with needing to get 255lbs if I wanted there to be any shot I get the mercy weight at worlds. 235lbs had just felt ok. Log for whatever reason has not been feeling comfortable with getting stable and pressing. Like a wider stance feels weird on my knees and I don’t feel like I got power but I’m stable to press through sticking point whereas a narrower stance it feels lighter and moves but I tend to misgroove and I can’t recover. I had to take allergy meds over the weekend due to the air so I knew there was a risk of me getting lightheaded with a heavy log on my chest. 235lbs went up easy according to the camera but it didn’t feel like something I felt that the second rep would’ve gone up well though with how I was feeling. I decided to be dumb and go with ego and aim to do the harder option on the workout sheet. I somehow got 255lbs up and then immediately had to set it down and collapse to the ground from convulsing. And rather than walk away from that and go on with the session to the next thing with goal achieved. I figured I’d try it again with the hope that it would be smoother as I’d be used to the weight on my chest and hopefully get in again. This did not happen. It felt lighter but it misgrooved and went way too far out in front of me. So attempted to salvage things and tell myself this was fine (it wasn’t) and dropped down to 235lbs for 3x2. That first double was rough and ended up being the only successful double I’d get on the day. I called the session there. My knee was bothering me now and I just felt embarrassed in myself. I ended up talking with my dad about things and trying to figure out where I’m going from here. But not likely I’m training rest of the  week with getting my work caught up from being out and finding time to organize my thoughts.

July 10, 2026 – Week 13, Day 2

Dynamic Warm Up 

Deadlifts (straps, platform, wagon wheels)
135x5
225x3
275x2
315x1
365x1
405x1
455x1
500x2
507.5x2
515x2

18” Axle Box Squats
46x10
96x6
136x5
186x4
226x3
276x2
316x5
316x5
316x5
316x5
316x5

Sandbag Carries (EMOM)
225x50’
225x50’
225x50’
225x50’
225x50’
225x50’
225x50’
225x50’

Chest Supported Dumbbell Rows/Zercher Jefferson Curls
96’sx12 – 115x8
96’sx12 – 115x8
96’sx12 – 115x8

Stretching

Comments: This had become quite the mess. Best laid plans of mice and men. Going from 3 days to 2 days and then consolidating. Also not ideal week to recover with the electric issue for a few days and then it just being damn humid on top of that. I did not feel powerful last workout. The air just was having me feel drained and the number of shirts I had to swap kind of made the point. I’ve not had to really switch that many times even earlier this year. Just each shirt getting drenched. Wednesday became quite a late night and I knew that Thursday I’d have to try and do as much as I could with work and then my free time would be getting caught up on workout videos and write ups as well as soft tissue work. The weather Thursday didn’t really make it that difficult to not go for a walk with it raining most the time. My thinking being I will have plenty of opportunities to walk at the beach coming up and I did want to see if my knees and other joints would settle down. Allergies seemed to act up too and not sure if stress related. A shitty start to week and then the stress of getting ready to take a trip mixed with everything else. The new annoying thing with my allergies/stress is my gums getting sore and having to be careful eating foods. Thankfully that part of things did clear up after just one day. My sleep got all off kilter and I didn’t end up getting to sleep until after 1:30AM. I think partly because I was doing so much that Thursday and I knew I was off Friday. All I had to really do was delegate stuff for the trip and do my training session. But me going to bed so late meant I was going to wake up pretty late too. Thankfully before noon but still not great as less time to do stuff and likely have to pitch more food that won’t keep while I’m away that barely survived the power outage crap. I did eventually get to doing this session as it looked like chance of thunderstorm again and I did have some stuff that required the street. Such is the nature of consolidating things into two sessions. These weren’t going to be ideal sessions and Day 1 had been quite rough and Day 2 was also going to be rough. So kind of counting of not doing anything really for 10 days after this. I had been lazy with putting stuff away Wednesday and didn’t get around to it Thursday so that was something I had to do today. But first soft tissue foam rolling. Odd but expected. Right calf needed a good bit in the lower section while the left upper calf needed a good bit. Hamstrings ok and quads/thighs were kind of how they’ve been with the right needing twice the attention. Nothing really to say with the upper back. Neck rehab stuff followed. Chest felt pretty tight on the stretching related stuff and it felt good. Right side feeling a bit tight in the chest/shoulders/arms. Glute activation and lower body stretching was fine and finished up with a dead hang. Then put away some of the stuff from Day 1. But not all of it as I did need to pace things so not getting rained out. On to the session. Initially I had just three fans but did bring in the fourth. Lights in the garage on the fritz due to the recent heavy rain so had the garage open to try and get some more light on the subject. Heavy deadlift day. Not as heavy as last week as less weight and less volume but still a heavy session. I wasn’t really expecting this but I felt I could tolerate it (hopefully) and then be good having over a week to rest from it. Plan was to work up to 3x2 with weight range of 500-510lbs. I must’ve misread it as I thought it was up to 515lbs. Typical quarter/plate jumps once I got to 2 plates here. Learning about myself that slow start on lift doesn’t mean it won’t go. But ideally not having a lot of grinding lifts as it takes a toll. I had noticed that last session that the humidity and just stress of things had affected me with feeling a lot more “pressure” on my body. It was quite apparent on yoke as it felt like I was being crushed and straining vs the week before where it had felt heavy but I didn’t feel like I was straining in the face to do it. So I was kind of expecting that nonsense today as it seemed to be even more humid today. Plan was just the minimum numbers of 500lbs and that if I felt like I could push it, add a little each set. Things didn’t feel amazing today but I’m back to doing reps from the floor on normal bar of 500lbs or more. I knew regardless of weight that the first set was going to feel rough. And it did. Especially going for a second rep. With this setup being on the wheels, the weight isn’t all nice and stopping and even. It is quite jarring as I go up in weight. So I had to kind of deal with that as well just the pressure on my body. As I had thought that my top range was 515lbs, I figured I’d facilicate things so that I could do half the jump between that on the second set. I felt stronger on the second set but I didn’t do myself any favors as I got out of position at the start as I was fiddling around with my bar placement. I managed to get 515lbs for a double and that was pretty rough going. I do feel like I’d need the next session a good deal lighter if I wasn’t taking a vacation break here or I fear I’d start grinding myself down. A change to things here was putting the axle squats next. I probably have a way to setup the squat to boxes but it would’ve probably been a janky ass setup and dangerous with what I have available so the notes indicated to just do box squats with the axle instead. It has been a bit since I’ve done box squats and I’ve never done them with an axle nor with the neoprene shorts and the thicker knee sleeves. My right knee was not having a fun week at this point from last week but I figured with the lighter weight and time off coming up that I should be able to have things recover by the next time I need to call upon them. The axle squats to box have not been having me go into a full squat or really a squat breaking parallel so notes were to do 5x5 with 315-325lbs. My plan was the lower range like deadlift and see how things were with the hope that it would feel good and easy and like speed work. It did not. I was very surprised how heavy the weight felt on the first working set after the last working up set. It did feel lighter on my back after that first set but these didn’t feel easy or moving fast in anyway. The movement felt awkward and disjointed somehow. This could also be from keeping an eye on my right knee as well as just being beat from heavy yoke two days earlier and heavy deadlifts right before this. But I got through them. I had sweated through two shirts and was on to a third at this point. The thing that I needed to do outside in the street and was hoping to avoid getting caught in a downpour was next. And that was sandbag carries. Plan being 225lbs for 8x50’. Which isn’t too bad. The issue was more that it was EMOM style so short rests and being incredibly sweaty. I could make it easier on myself if I got my grip set before each run as the running with it isn’t the issue. The pick is. Even though I intend to wear a hard belt for the medleys with this at show, I elected just soft belt since this was lighter and I generally have been doing these without. I went with not setting my grip so that it was like I just came up to the sandbag as it will be at the show. As noted, my street is slanted so one way is downhill and the other uphill. I was consistent here for the most part but could tell I was breathing hard on the second half to catch my breath between sets. Only the last set did I have a fumble with getting my grip on the bag secure before picking it up and going. The last thing would be a relaxing end to the session compared to what had come before. I was able to at least slow things down at this point after I safely got the sandbag back in garage before rain happened. I also put away the stuff I had neglected the previous session and put away. So the finished was the superset of chest supported dumbbell rows and zercher Jeffersons. Same weight on the rows but increasing to 12 reps whereas weight increasing on the Jefferson curls and reps decreasing to 8. Only was to be 5lbs more but I just went with 10lbs since reps were almost cut in half here and it was less hassle with loading the weight. I had found I could go right into this after the last thing last week without a real warming up so I did that here. As expected, the rows were a bit tougher with the extra reps. Zercher stuff felt fine but the added weight was noticed here. This was the one exercise I didn’t need to put on a fresh shirt for. Ended up eating an earlier dinner as I had to get stuff ready for leaving tomorrow and getting up earlier so as to finish with what I didn’t get done tonight. Stretched out afterwards.

July 8, 2026 – Week 13, Day 1

Dynamic Warm Up

Superman Holds (5 seconds)
PVCx3
PVCx3
PVCx3

Chest Supported Dumbbell I/T’s
12’sx10/10
12’sx10/10

12” Log Clean and Push Presses (clean once, 0-1-0-1 tempo)
90x5
120x4
150x3
180x2
210x1
240x1
240x1
245x1 (initially missed the press)
247x1

Yoke (drop and turn halfway)
260x40’/40’
400x40’
490x20’/20’
580x40’
670x40’/40’ in 23.77 seconds
670x40’/40’ in 23.93 seconds

Javelin Thrusters
65x3/3
95x6/6
95x6/6
95x6/6

12” Log Floor Presses w/ Bands (+6lbs/+30lbs)/Med Ball Slams
180x3
220x6 – 10x12
220x6 – 10x12
220x6 – 10x12

Seated Dumbbell Rear Delt Flyes
22’sx20
22’sx20
22’sx20

Stretching

Comments: Suffice it to say that the power outage didn’t get resolved quickly. Power was out from Saturday at 6:45PM and then it came back Tuesday at 7:50PM. I couldn’t tolerate the heat. Two storms hit back to back and about 210,000 people lost power. A tornado actually touched down on Sunday evening. I couldn’t sleep Saturday or Sunday night as too uncomfortable and took ibuprofien to try and get myself to sleep. Maybe 8hrs total sleep this weekend. Monday power came back for my parents so I was able to sleep there. Much better but still not great sleep. I ended up taking off work Monday and Tuesday as I wasn’t going to be fit for work with lack of sleep and having to go into office due to the power outage issues. But I was finally able to get sleep Tuesday. Trying to salvage the week here as I was going to try and get three sessions in but that became a no go with not being able to really recover at all and leaving Saturday for family trip. So condensing into two sessions this week. I was not feeling recovered even as of today but it didn’t seem smart to take off two weeks when at like the last block of prep for worlds. I was not even 30 minutes into my shift and my power went out again and indication was it could be out again until Thursday. So I had to relocate to the office so that added annoyance to having missed two days of scheduled work and now having two days to do stuff before being out 6 days. Work wasn’t bad but a lot to catch up on being inadvertently out. But it can bring out how tired I feel being there and I was seriously lacking motivation to then come home and train a long session. My power did get restored about the time I was on lunch so that was at least a positive there. Came home to annoyances that I had planned to resolve with power earlier so I was quite irritable having to take care of that. I ended up not getting to my actual training (not the warming up stuff) at like 7PM. So not great. Foam rolling was needed but not a crazy amount. Neck rehab stuff was ok and felt about how it should so that was good. Glute activation was ok and lower body stretches (I did double here) followed by a dead hang to decompress. Was feeling aches in my knees and right elbow and just kind of feeling a bit worn through and through. Last week I had missed doing the warming up type exercises as they weren’t on the rough draft I got initially for the first session. But I was to do them and they were here this week so I did them. Nothing to really say about them. My left hamstring wanted to cramp on the PVC superman holds and my left elbow ache was present on the I portion of the raises. You can’t really mess up these exercises and it was more the rest of the session that could be an issue. I knew this would be the heavier week and I was expecting it to be just singles. And I was right but notes indicated paused. So I wasn’t expecting heavy paused work on log, as usually lighter stuff due to the necessity of it. So notes said 4x1 with 240-255lbs weight range. I’ve been consistent at least with 240lbs on log so I figured that would be where I aim with how I’m feeling and obviously if that feels super duper, go up a little. I assumed the pauses were to be like last week. So just one clean on my warming up. For whatever reason, the left side felt heavier on the pick until I got up to my working weight. It was weird. Wasn’t like it felt off balanced when cleaning or the pressing. The thicker knee sleeves did seem to mitigate the knee aches. I was trying to not be nervous on these. 240lbs didn’t go great. I misgrooved it pretty bad so it was a strugglebus of a lift. I guess not going up in weight. I kept my knee sleeves on but took other stuff off after spending more time in the sleeves with squats. I didn’t want to fully take off as I was sweating quite a bit. The second lift at 240lbs went up like it should and was comfortable. I decided I’d add 5lbs. I’m a bit self-conscious about where my pressing is at and feel it is in the same boat as the squat for me at this point. 245lbs I felt like it went up into the rack smooth and I felt like it was not bad on my shoulders and in the dip. But I guess I let it drift out and I had no power to push it through sticking point. So some panic there. But then I was able to collect myself and go again. That had been a gamble as usually if I miss and try again from the shoulders, it is a no go. It was another grinding rep so not ideal but I didn’t feel discouraged. If I can get it right, this went up easy. But I didn’t feel 5lbs more confident here. So I added 2lbs. Told myself I had just done this and went for it. I was so pissed in the moment when as I’m getting the log up to the shoulders that the damn belt Velcro came undone on me. I think my brace on this was motivated purely by spite. I was able to make this a better rep I think then the others. I’m going to have to consider getting new belt as this is happening more and more with no rhyme or reason. As these sessions are condensed, change up here with going out to do yoke in the street. This is a bit different but this is kind of how I remember the world’s prep with it having me do axle followed by the damned zercher yoke and sandbag medley. This was going to be a pain. The yoke I have is quite wobbly and apparently we are making some aggressive increases on this one weekly. It has been only 5 days since I did yoke and that was about 30lbs less than what I was going to do. No circus dumbbell thrown in the mix. The slant in the street is quite egregious so I have to have the pick a little lower to compensate for that so I’m not dragging the yoke or hitting into the street. My right hamstring was feeling a bit tight. My knees and back were not enjoying this today. I tried to warm up as efficiently as I could and not be destroyed by it. Only two runs thankfully. I knew this wasn’t going to be fast or great. The humidity and just the stress of things was making this tougher. Especially with the side to side sway. But I do feel that I’ve gotten better with controlling my movement on yoke. Pick felt slow and I didn’t feel like I could go right off the mark. Repick a bit slower because lower pick and just making sure I was controlled. I got through these no worse for wear. I left this out behind my car with intent to put away later as I had essentially the rest of my usual Day 1 session to complete. The javelin thrusters were next. Same as last week with more reps but the same rep range. Only 3 sets but 6 reps per set. A little leery about this with my knees and my left elbow. Knee thankfully were ok. Elbow wasn’t too thrilled but seemed to eventually shut up. Outdoor light sensor didn’t seem to want to work here. Next was banded log floor pressing and medicine ball slams. 220lbs on log for 3x6 and the medicine ball tossing only 3x12. My left elbow and shoulder were not feeling it on the warm up set but thankfully not an issue for the working sets. Felt quite strong on these actually. The slams I was noticing I was tired doing them and quite sweaty. I actually had gone through three shirts by this point in the session. Last thing was rear delt dumbbell raises. No banded triceps this time with it. Notes were same weight as it had been but for 3x20. The lift wasn’t too bad but I know these take a bit to recover so I used the rests to put stuff away from the previous stuff as well as get dinner ready. I was finally done and able to eat and stretch. Still stuff to deal with later but that will be later. Just one more day of work and then I can relax.

July 4, 2026 – Week 12, Day 3

Dynamic Warm Up

Axle Wagon Wheel Squats to Pads (27”)
90x8
150x6
200x5
250x4
300x3
350x3
350x3
350x3
350x3
350x3

Yoke (drop and turn halfway, turf)/Circus Dumbbell Clean and Presses (left side only)
235x40’/40’ – 70x4
375x40’ – 100x3
465x20’/20’ – 137x2
555x40’ – 160x1
645xpick – 176x0,0
176x1
645x40’/40’ – 160x1 in 40.86 seconds
645x40’/40’ – 160x0,1 (ugly) in 55.60 seconds
645x40’/40’ – 160x1 (ugly) in 41.23 seconds

Keg/Sandbag/Keg/Sandbag Carry and Loads (52”, turf)
202x26’/220x19’/235x13’/250x6’6” in 44.57 seconds
202x26’/220x19’/235x13’/250x6’6” in 40.80 seconds

Sled Push, Sprint, Sandbag Carry and Pulls (turf)
351x30’/220x30’/551x30’ in 46.67 seconds
351x30’/220x30’/551x30’ in 44.03 seconds

Stretching

Comments: The heat had been brutal as expected. I did not do any walking Thursday or Friday as just not worth it. Saturday was still hot but not quite up to that level at least when I got up. Since the gym closer by has no AC, I ended up going to the gym I was at last Saturday. I had fully planned on being there again but was thinking more along the following week at the earliest or sometime in the last block before competition (just to get another touch or two on those dumbbells). I got up at about the same time as I didn’t want to be too early as apparently the one room I was in has a class usually early in the morning. Maybe because I did the drive just last week and the weather was a bit better, it didn’t feel like that rough a drive once I got off the highway. I had been debating going Friday (off work) and today and relied on my father’s knowledge the there would be less traffic on the fourth rather than the day before. I actually was looking forward to the more windy roads as that would get me out of the direct sunlight. I was a little concerned I might get sunburn via windshield. No issues with the drive out. Ty wasn’t there as he was on a camping trip with his family. I must’ve misheard him last week as I thought that was going to be the following week. But I guess this week. So just me. I was expecting Chase and Calvin at some point but I guess they also had other plans. Which was fine. I’d likely slow myself down to talk to someone. I didn’t really notice anyone that was the same as when I was in last week. I kind of get used to seeing “regulars” at the other gym. My left elbow was feeling achy for some reason and it only felt off as of today. Right knee also feeling a bit achy. Foam rolling was ok, nothing really felt that tense thankfully. Neck rehab stuff was ok as well. Lower body stuff was ok as well. Dead hang after that. Then on to Axle squats. Lighter session. Notes indicated work up to 350x5x3 but keep the rests 2-3 minutes long. I figure I was probably taking longer rests as I’d been stripping off the belts and wraps and pulling down the thick knee sleeves between sets. I didn’t really have a good gauge of things so I figured I’d keep everything on the whole time and just worry about the wrist wraps. My knees were feeling pretty achy today which hasn’t been the case in a good bit. I knew that there would be some issues here with having done heavy deadlifts and farmer’s. I did get to have an extra day of rest and a day off work so I was definitely going to be more rested coming into this compared to last week. It was also about 10 degrees hotter than last week so even with the A/C, I was sweating a good bit. My rests ended up being about 90 seconds on these after the fact. Squats and log are iffy at this point if I’ll have a chance at the mercy weights. From there, it was on to the dumbbell into yoke. Things had been following a heavy/light rotation but that seems to be more a guideline. Ms. Funk had indicated that the medleys the intensity would be increasing. I had assumed that was more the keg/sandbag and sled stuff. But I guess not. The other part being more focusing on the likelihood of getting a dumbbell after the yoke with where I’m at currently and where I could be. So this was to be 30lbs heavier on the yoke and then doing 1 instead of 2 dumbbells with suggested weight 5-10lbs more than last week. I wanted to stick with the inch style dumbbells so it was going to be either 160lbs or 176lbs. I was about 50/50 with the 160lbs dumbbell last time and I knew I’d need more practice on this. I had an idea with warming up. Yoke, since some stuff was moved, I was able to do it fully on the turf. I felt that made the most sense with things rather than half and half it. The knee achiness wasn’t helping here on yoke. I also didn’t want to have it be like last week where I didn’t realize not able to pick up speed and the top set feeling heavy. I just told myself that I can handle this and that the turf is going to make things tougher. So nothing really to say about yoke besides it being work. Dumbbell I was feeling surprisingly good. I was worried with my left elbow feeling a little off/achy here but didn’t seem to be an issue. I got 160lbs clean in my warm up and decided that I’d give the 176lbs a shot. This would be the weight of the first dumbbell at the show after the yoke. It would be a PR for me on this style dumbbell to get it. I felt good first attempt at it but my damn 3-ply belt with Velcro popped off from my bracing and I lost tightness. It felt similar to how 160lbs was last week so I knew it was there but it was a technique and skill issue. Second attempt was not close so I took a bit more of break like I did last time and came back at it. I’m actually surprised I got it this time as my first dip it felt off and I had to pause and rebrace. But it was good to hit this. Now I got to do that after carrying over 800lbs some 80’ first. I went with 160lbs for the actual working sets just to make sure as yoke took a bit out of me last time and I figured might be similar this week. Slow and steady on the yoke and took my time to get myself ready. I was shocked how easily 160lbs went up that first set. I had to double check and make sure I hadn’t rolled 137lbs out by mistake. So that had felt good. I told myself that if it felt that good the next set, I’d switch in the 176lbs one for the last set. Yoke felt about the same and I came for the dumbbell and it was in the rack how I thought it was to be but it didn’t get in the right spot and I went for it again. This ended up being a not pretty rep. I wasn’t going to be killing myself on this today. I do feel like I need to do more sets of singles like EMOM or something with this dumbbell to drill this in as I feel like I got regular circus dumbbell figured out but not this. Third run it was another ok run with yoke and then got ugly rep on the dumbbell. I didn’t need two attempts to get it this time at least. So only the first run being one that was good in my book. I also picked up the 176lbs dumbbell with one hand both sides (right was a lot more convincing vs left) before I was done with stuff in this room and move on to the other area to do the medley stuff.  I swapped in a fresh shirt (I didn’t have to do that last week lol) and ate a rice Krispie treat. I had brought up an old keg to add to the small collection here. It used to be Mike Jenkins’ and had been with a friend and then became mine like 11yrs ago. But it has just be collecting dust and spiders for like the last decade now so I brought it up with me. My plan had been to bring my plateloaded keg up here but I didn’t end up back in Lancaster to get it so this is what I had. Reason even bothering with it was that the plan was to do the same thing as last week but with heavier keg at the start. The actual plan had been 225lbs for first two implements and then 250lbs for the last two. Which is possible at Lancaster (I have a new 250lbs bag to leave there). So I set things up as best I could with what I thought was 215lbs keg, 220lbs sandbag, 250lbs keg and 250lbs sandbag. No real warm up besides setting everything up and going at it. With the second set being faster than the first. My handtruck made moving stuff around much smoother compared to the dolly. The dolly was also being used to hold a heavy weight stand so also a good thing I brought it with me. I felt good but I was having a nagging suspicion about the kegs so I weighed them. Turns out the 200lbs keg was 198lbs (so close at least) but my 215lbs keg was only 202lbs and the 250lbs keg was only 235lbs. So that is a bit annoying. I know that if I’m doing this medley up here, I need my plate loaded keg. Last thing was the push and pull medley. Adding in the sandbag portion to this. This was also geared more towards being at the Lancaster gym with weights but I made it work. Only the 220lbs sandbag here. 45lbs added to the push portion and 25lbs added to the drag portion. It would be interesting to see how my shoes work here. I’ve been doing this without my hard belt but I figured I may need it to not be so beat going into the farmer’s walk event at end of Day 1 so I wore it here. The sandbag carry felt like the most awkward of things doing this. Push felt strong on the first set and made it through the sandbag and drag. Second set I was feeling stronger but I hit some kind of snag near the end on the turf with the push. No issues with the other parts after that. Put stuff away after I downed my shake and made it home just in time to beat a violent storm which promptly knocked my power out. I ended up stretching kind of hoping power would be back shortly but it wasn’t. Luckily my folks had been cooking chili all day so I was able to eat something hot for dinner. Hopefully the power issue gets resolved soon.