I will be competing at The Odd Haugen Northern California Strongman Challenge and Visegrip Viking Challenge on May 21 and 22, 2016. I am thrilled to be back to competing in strongman and finding my passion to train once again. My return to strongman isn't just about getting back into event training. It's also my return to dropping weight, becoming athletic once again, maintaining solid nutrition AND figuring out how to incorporate and maintain grip training in the mix. In the past that has not been possible and I generally go out in a big ball of flames. This time I'm optimistic.
A perfect storm is brewing and many different components of who I am as an athlete are changing and improving. Part of this process is reflecting on where I have been in order to catch you all up while continuing the inner strength to rebuild and compete at my best.
You can catch up on the first two installments of background information here,
Rebuilding: The Fat Doctor & Inevitable Decline
There is more to come on this entire process and more background and I hope you find value in some of the lessons and struggles I have experienced. Keep your eyes peeled for the third installment. Who knew I really had that much to say?
From 3/24
I am seeing LOTS of improvement! It's fun when sets of planks are becoming easy and recovery between sets of everything is dramatically improving. I am so grateful for these improvements and they are enough to keep stoking that internal fire of domination.
Rolling
Warm Up
Planks - 3x45 sec
SquatGuide - 3x5
SSB Squats
SSB - 3x10
170 - 2x10
170, 2x8
Recovery on these is improving dramatically although I had to reset the pins cuz I was pretty sure I was going to pass out. The fabulous news here is the speed and depth are not an issue at all. Whoop!
Walking Lunges W/8 Lb DB
2x10
These still aren't very pretty they got done as much as I can do them. It's still improvement, just some nagging issues with my right leg getting down all the way.
Stiff Legged DL
This is when the texts to Mattie started flying. They went something like, "Why are you trying to kill me?" No response.
So I upped my game, "Why am I DL two times per week? I'm really not a fan and am positive you're trying to kill me."
Response, "Your hamstrings suck."
About that time he arrived at the gym. My mind was in spasms fearing 50 more reps of this nonsense and trying to talk myself off the ledge. I may have over reacted a bit. He kindly pointed out the program said 2x5. "Oh. That's easy," and I went and banged them out double overhand no problem. I totally could have done sets of 10 if I really had to but thankfully didn't. WHEW.
260, 2x5
Rolling Thunder
115, 6x3
The fun thing about all these reps is I am finally getting a handle on the idea of relying heavily on my lats to stand with the weight, rather than "pulling" it. So these are feeling great and am so thankful for that new perspective.
Grippers
.5, 3x10
1, 3x10
Prowler - 3x100 ft
All three sets with the "heavy" prowler that was sitting there.
Story Time
The other morning we woke up late and as I barely hopped up, Mattie started making the bed. It was a whole lotta awkward when this baggie flew out from my side of the covers.
The synopsis of our conversation went something like this,
Yes, it's chicken.
Yes, it's mine.
No, it's from this morning.
Yes, I might have gotten up early because I was starving to death.
Yes, I fell asleep with chicken in my mouth.
Yes, my life insurance is current.
Truthfully I remember waking up and being hungry. That's about it. I cannot be held responsible for anything that happened after that and am blaming the dog. He's sneaky like that.
It's always a fun ride in the Wattles house!