'Welcome to team elitefts, buddy!"

I never thought I would hear those words, but my friend, roommate, and teammate now, Zach Gallman kindly interrupted my workout to tell me the good news!

I woke up as if it were any other morning, and Zach asked me what time I was training (we're roommates), like he normally does if he's not too tired from lifting cars and women. I didn't think anything of it until he threw a drawstring bag at me that evening at 5:30 that contained such an amazing and life-changing invitation. I got misty eyed, and I knew everyone could tell. Emotions are a powerful thing to utilize during training, and they should not be these demons you need to swallow away. I am proud, and I am happy for this opportunity, and I am extremely thankful.

The entire gym clapped for me, and my good friends all congratulated me. However, I really want to emphasize the importance of an environment like this. I train at Beyond Limits Training in downtown Columbus; a gym occupied by many competitive young adults trying to be the best at whatever they do. This ranges from powerlifting, bodybuilding, figure, physique, and just training for life in general.

If you EVER have an opportunity to train with like minded people, who are BETTER than you, do it! This is a sure fire way to stay passionate, and want to become better than you were the day before. I'm forever grateful for these people, and the place I train.

Well, I guess I should get into the actual training! I am currently working with my friend and well-established coach, Thomas Neal, because I like to pay a man for programming that feels like it will either make me superhuman or kill me.

This block is dedicated to work capacity, and making me less terrible at utilizing my cardiovascular system. It's composed of beltless work, for higher reps, with very short rest times. Essentially everything every powerlifter sucks at.

A. Beltless Front Squats 60 second rest

435x10

435x10

435x8

These will make a man out of you. Front squats are an integral part of my training for so many reasons. Quad work, core work, and overall badassery.

 B. Single Leg RDL

135x15/side

135x15/side

135x15/side

135x15/side

These seem like a weird exercise to do, with little carryover to the main competition lift. BUT, these are great for a work capacity and "building up" block, because they really help cue the glute and hamstring to work in conjunction with one another, and they even seem to help me with my patella tracking, and keep my knee pain to a minimum.

(numbers after same letters indicate superset or tri set for the following exercises, i.e. D1, D2, ...)

C1. Back Extension on GHR

AMRAP 38

AMRAP 30

AMRAP 26

C2. Full Body Tension Plank

30 sec

30 sec

30 sec

If you haven't noticed the theme of work capacity, you haven't been paying attention. These training sessions are not "heavy" relative to my maxes, but I'm sucking wind and dripping sweat by the end of them. It's all a part of the plan, and I'm sure when I'm in the realization phase 5 weeks away from June 26th and the Chicago Fit Expo, I'll be missing them!

Then I called my dad, he started crying, and it still felt surreal I was going to be a part of something so much larger than myself.