Strongman under construction

[Steve Gardener]

Some photos here. Tell me what ones are of you (I know how to copy them even when the page says no).

www.everybodysmile.biz/christaylorphotography//events.html

[Vinny Brown]

322, 323, and 362 Steve.

At least they are of the one event which almost went my way.

[Vinny Brown]

Happy New Year everyone.

Its been a while since i posted anything in my log, I think its more through embarrassment and depression as things were not going so well with training, however things are on the up. I have found that training more like a bodybuilder is what suits me best even for strength and for the last two months have got back training with my old training partner who I trained with for bodybuilding comps. The results have been great so far and i am getting stronger every week. I guess after all the years bodybuilding suddenly changing my whole approach to training thinking it would help strongman was a bad idea as i didnt get on well at all.

At least now i know im doing whats right for me.

Today was the first day back training this year, the gym has been shut for the new year or closing early before i finish work. So I thought I would start off with a new PB.

300kg Deadlift popped up easy as pie, no suit, just my belt, so i have a big old grin on at the mo. ;D the best bit is there is plenty more in the tank. What the hell was in my mums turkey this christmas?

The rest of the workout was
Chins 4 set of 10-12reps

Close grip pulldowns 4 sets of 10 with the stack

shrugs 4 sets of 10-12 working up to 260k

Got my eye on a few comps this year just waiting for some dates to be posted up, in the meantime I'm just going to keep working on my weak points and stay injury free. Right now i am loving it and feel like i have found training again.

[Vinny Brown]

Yesterday was chest day

worked up to 200k for one on the flat bench. Another new PB. ;D

incline smith machine
4sets working up to 160-8

decline smith
4 sets working up to 160-9

crossovers
3 sets 15-20reps 32.5



Today was arm day

pushdowns warm up

4 sets 10-20reps working up to 60

skull crushers

4 sets 10 up to 90k

rope pushdowns 2 sets 15

Barbel curls

4 sets 10 reps up to 90k

single arm hammer preacher dumbbell curls

4 sets of 10m reps up to 24k

alternate dumbbell curls

2 sets light weights to force some more blood into the muscle

great fun but need tomorrow off.

[Steve Gardener]

10k more on the bench than me...damn!

[Vinny Brown]

It was a good day mate. Not sure i could do it every week.

Leg day today was not what i planned. I had it in mind to go for a 320k squat but thanks to domestic trouble over the last few days i haven't slept much so felt a bit too fragile to go heavy.

Worked up to 260 on the squat but figured it would be best to leave it there this week. It was easy but I have learned from experience I tend to hurt myself when im run down. Live to fight another day.

followed this with 3 sets of Karlsen squats up 300k-10reps

finished with a superset of leg extensions and leg curls
3 cycles of 20 reps on each using the stack on extensions and about three quarters of the stack on curls.

Sitting typing out this I'm thinking i should have had the day off and gone for it tomorrow. Oh well I'm gonna have to go for it next week instead.

[Steve Gardener]

Unless you get ruin over between now and then you'll be ok.

[Vinny Brown]

I will try to not let that happen mate.

Just been looking at some gym equipment with my training partner with the idea of putting together our own hardcore gym. More so that we have our own decent place to train than a money making enterprise. Its looking like it could be spot on, the one limiting factor is the venue which we should have a bit more of an idea of tonight. It will beat doing stones and log in the garden and running up and down the alley with farmers or yolk.

[Vinny Brown]

Still not been hit by that bus thank heavens

Fri 9th

military press 5 sets worked up to 120k

seated smith press 4 sets up to 140k-10reps

couldn't do any laterals due to forearm injury

Sat 10th

deadlift 6 sets working up to 260-5
chins 4sets 10reps
close grip pulldowns 3 sets 10 with stack
shrugs 4 sets up 260-10


Sun had some bad news about my training partners dad passing away just as i left for the gym. As a result i kind of went through the motions on my own.

Incline smith 4 sets up to 140k-10
crossovers 4 sets up to the stack for 8 reps
seated machine 3 sets of 15-20 reps with stack

Monday
cardio lunchtime intervals on treadmill, rower, cross trainer

triceps pushdows warmed up on crossover machine as i couldn't get on the pulldown machine and go heavy 3sets 10-15 stack

skull crushers worked up to 90k left triceps popped and i went home with an ice pack again.

Wednesday

squats 6 sets up to 260-5
karlsen squat 4 sets up to 300k-10
leg extensions 3 sets 20reps with stack
Couldn't get on the other leg machines due to an influx of new years drop outs give em another week and it will be back to normal. Its not all bad some make the scenery more attractive

Friday

smith shoulder press, hmm yes with my lovely now concrete triceps. worked up to 150 -5 very slow and careful reps

Seated side laterals with the back of the bench up to keep it very strict, 5 sets working up to 22k-8 forearm felt better but still only 70%

Military press 4 sets up to 100k-5 reps triceps twanging all the way.

Saturday

Deadlift 6 sets up to 260k-5 reps, time to go up a little next week

Chins 4 sets 15-8 reps

Single arm pulldown 4 sets of 10 up to 60 never done them before and it made a nice change and got a good pump

Shrugs 4 sets of 10 up to 300k

not sure about training chest today maybe a cardio session instead. Right on cue as i wrote this i had a call from the sports therapist and im going to get treatment on my arm later. I doubt i will be told its ok to train it today. Treadmill for me today

[Vinny Brown]

I'm back on line, been having computer problems.

Training is going OK, now the weather is improving i will be able to throw in some event training now too. I am not lucky enough to have my events kit indoors in a gym its all in the garden and any events which involve any distance work have to be done in the alley i.e. farmers or yoke. Obviously in the winter its hard to fit events around the weather for safety's sake.

Aches and pains are not too bad at the mo so hope to continue my run of improvements which i started the year with. I need to work on my overhead pressing so any advice would be good. Being from a bodybuilding background I'm used to building delts not worrying so much about the weight I'm launching into the air.

Leg day tomorrow so better get an early night and a protein drink

[Vinny Brown]

Wednesday I trained in top body gym Gorleston I'm not so familiar with the stuff there and so stayed a little lighter and done some reps.
Worked up to 220-10 real deep squats
then steadily filled the leg press and banged it out for 20 reps easy, I think this will have to be a finishing exercise from now on.
finished with a few hacks and extensions but didn't break any records just stayed light for some nice controlled sets of 10-12

As it was half term i missed Friday's usual shoulder session and threw in some log press on Saturday instead. its the first time i have pressed a log in months and was pleased to feel quite steady under it. I strongly believe it is due to an increase in core work over recent weeks. Worked mainly on the technique so i didn't go heavy, plus i was on my own in the garden in the dark as the outside light decided to stop working. Was nice to get back to some event training.

Was taxi driver for a hen night last night and probably got about 4 hours sleep last night so my back session later could be a struggle.