Journey As A Strongman

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

I decided to start a new training log since the previous one was titled CUBE Method Vegetarian Strongman Style, and I am no longer a vegetarian. It's a bit of a mindf*ck to be honest, eating meat again (just chicken and fish so far, no red meat), so I needed to get away from that title and just start a new thread...

Current stats:
Height 6'5"
Weight 310lb
Age 32 (33 this month)



My journey as a strongman has been an interesting one. Began in 2009 and having had zero experience with half the events at the contest I decided to compete in my first contest in 2009 as well, resulting in a ride to the ER and having chunks of 2 discs removed from my spine in a surgery that rendered me useless with a wheel chair, then a walker, then a cane, learning everything I thought I knew (about life, not just training) all over again... I had to do this when I began training over a decade ago with 2 shoulder surgeries as well.

Rehab followed and unfortunately I chose to disregard my therapists insistence on my NOT training right away again, and I began training... This resulted in another herniated disc which I chose to not have corrected though years later (today) it impedes my every lift.

Fast forward to 2012 when I began pulling fire trucks in my hometown (Foxboro MA home of the New England Patriots) for charity. This breathed new life into my journey as a strongman and I decided to run with it and begin training and competing again.

March 2013 I took 3rd in a class of 19 athletes, this gave me hope but I knew I was still a long way from being in the position to compete as a 300+ athlete for North American Strongman.

This log will begin mid way through my following The CUBE Method, however I am taking 1-3 weeks off of the Cube to try and decompress my spine, give it a break, a downside to severe spine injuries is this bullsh*t that goes along with it.

I know these forums are tough to get into, that becoming a new member of the brotherhood is to be earned and not expected. I promise to bring a quality log to you all, and post as frequently as I am able.

Thank you for reading, I look forward to growing within these forum threads and getting to know you all!

-Justin

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Just ordered my next 44 pack ANIMAL PAK, and effective today am swapping my pill times from morning to taking them before bed, anyone else have feedback on that decision? When do you all take your PAK?

Today's session was arms and shoulders (no pressing this week as I PR'd on overhead log press last week, giving CNS a week of recovery).

Alternating Dumbbell Curls 60x10, 55x10, 50x10, 45x10, 40x10
Hammer Curls Against Body (against upper torso each rep) 35x10,10,10,10,10
Cable Bicep Curls (focus on peak at top) 60x10,10,10,10,10

Overhead Tricep Vbar Extensions 60x25,25,25 warmup
Vbar Pressdowns 100x10,10,10,10,10
Unilateral Pressdowns 42.5x10,8. 35x10,10,10

Dumbbell Lateral Raises 35x20, 35x20, 35x15,15,15.
Front Dumbbell Raises 35x10,10,10. 50x10,10.

Face Pulls 80x10,10,10,10,10.

Not my typical workout, like I mentioned before I follow the CUBE, just taking a few weeks off the beaten path to give my system a chance to recover and reboot, I can feel that I need it.

Also feel like I'm dealing with a back injury (I know there's a herniated disc from post surgery that I never got fixed up, I'm thinking it's since gotten worse), I'm going to get a series of MRI's done on my back and right shoulder to get a look at what I'm dealing with here. Do NOT plan on getting any surgery done at all, but by knowing what I have going on as far as injuries will allow me to try and recover and repair without going under the knife. I would rather be under the bar than under the knife anyday, this will help me make sure that's the case!

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

No training today, worked from 6:30am until 10:30pm, just enough time to jump on the forums for a few, eat, take my Pak, shower my stanky ass and get some sleep.

I'll tell you, since bringing chicken and fish back into my diet a few weeks ago I'm feeling a lot better, less stomach aches and more energy/strength, was losing strength as a vegetarian for sure.

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Farmers Carry PR this morning as well as an axle deadlift PR.

Farmers Carry (zero warm up, just went for it cold) 320/hand, 640lb/total weight for 40'/turn/40' back.

Axle deadlift on tires with chains
658x1 on a 2" axle bar, may have had 2 in me, felt good!

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

2" Axle Overhead Push Press
110/10
200/5
250/5
270/3
292/2 (just missed lockout on first rep, reset for a moment and hit it easy rep 2) PR

Hammer Strength Overhead Press
290x10,10,10
310x10

Dumbbell Lateral Raise
35/12,12,12,12

Unilateral Modified T-Bar Row Mount Barbell "Press"
2 plates 10/10
3 plates 10/10
3 plates 8/8

Incline Barbell Press
225/10,8,6,6

Explosive Speed Incline Press w/2 sec pause at bottom
135/10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10

[HIGA MONSTER]

You got a Strongman contest that you are shooting for?

I will be in New Jersey in late April helping out with a NAS show that Mattman is promoting.

HIGA MONSTER

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

You got a Strongman contest that you are shooting for?

I will be in New Jersey in late April helping out with a NAS show that Mattman is promoting.

HIGA MONSTER

What up Higa Monster, I have a few I'm eye balling but they all require travel, so it's process of elimination as far as which one I choose.

Central Maine in April
Battle of the Thunder Gods in May (Connecticut)
White Mountain in June (New Hampshire)
Granite State (July, New Hampshire)

I checked out the event you'll be at and the HW weights are all good, issue I am having is getting my right elbow under the bar for my cleans to press (right rotator is torn so my ROM is a joke trying to get under the bar). Entries are being accepted until April 12th so I will test out my ROM the next few weeks and see if I can get under the bar to press!

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Isolated Bicep/Tricep work, not my usual forte but why not!

V-Bar Pressdown 150/25,20,15,15
Unilateral Pressdown 80/5, 70/8, 60/10, 50/12
DB Overhead Extensions 35/10,10,10

Alternate Dumbbell Curls (30-45 second rest periods)
70/10
60/10
50/10
45/10
40/10
35/10
30/10,10,10

[HIGA MONSTER]

What up Higa Monster, I have a few I'm eye balling but they all require travel, so it's process of elimination as far as which one I choose.

Central Maine in April
Battle of the Thunder Gods in May (Connecticut)
White Mountain in June (New Hampshire)
Granite State (July, New Hampshire)

I checked out the event you'll be at and the HW weights are all good, issue I am having is getting my right elbow under the bar for my cleans to press (right rotator is torn so my ROM is a joke trying to get under the bar). Entries are being accepted until April 12th so I will test out my ROM the next few weeks and see if I can get under the bar to press!
Cool man.

We are having an ABC in Delaware/Philly area the day after the Strongman contest in Jersey.
Check the Philly Gathering ABC thread for more details. Maybe you can make that!

HIGA MONSTER

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Cool man.

We are having an ABC in Delaware/Philly area the day after the Strongman contest in Jersey.
Check the Philly Gathering ABC thread for more details. Maybe you can make that!

HIGA MONSTER

If I'm able to get to NJ for the event I would definitely be staying for the ABC!

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

BIG day training today, feeling good despite a failed PR attempt, well sort of.

Yoke Carry 80'
155
335
425
495

Yoke Carry 40'
585
675
PR ATTEMPT 805lb (only got 7' or so)
PR ATTEMPT 755lb (moved another 5' or so, CNS was spent)
Finished the walk with 705 for the rest of the 30' or so. I shouldn't have attempted the 800lb today but I got ahead of myself. Other than some beating up on my CNS I walked out of the attempt without injury, for that I am grateful and I will continue to work towards my year goal of 800/40' and lifetime goal of 1,000/40'.

Sled Push/Pull 80'
385
500
570
705
795
PR ATTEMPT 1,000 WAS GOOD!!! Lost traction on the push after about 8' so I spun it around and made myself pull the 1,000lb sled 80' for a 190lb PR!!

SS Yoke Bar Box Squats
80/10
170/10
260/5
280/5
300/5
300/5
280/5
260/5
260/5

Blob Lift
PR ATTEMPT of the notoriously near damn impossible 50lb Blob was GOOD!! L & R hand!! I felt damn proud of this, this was my first ever attempt to pick a weighted wide Blob and I got it!! 50lb is good, but I'll be happy at the 60-80lb mark!

2" Axle Bar Static Holds (double overhand grip)
350/15 seconds
300/15 seconds

Mounted Wrist Roller (1 way extensor muscles, 1 way flexor muscles each lift)
50lb
95lb
120lb
127lb
127lb

Mounted Wrist Roller (2 pulls extensor, 2 pulls flexor each lift)
95lb
75lb

Very pleased with today's workout!

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Overhead training with the primary focus being to overload the triceps

Seated Rack Lockout Press (6" press to lockout)
112/20
202/20
252/10
292/10
342/5
382/5
402/5
Dropped to a 10-12" press to lockout for the following:
292/10
292/7
252/13
202/15
202/10

V Bar Pressdown
140/10/10
100/12/10

Single Rope Pressdown
30/10
25/10/10

Single Rope OH Extension
20/10
25/10
20/10

Facepulls
65/12/12/12

Great session with some heavy ass lockout work, felt it today that's for sure!

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Been getting it in at the gym this last week, just haven't been posting my workouts up on here.

General gist of things:
-back under 120lb dumbbells for easy sets of 10-12 on incline dumbbell, my shoulders been preventing this for some time, so I'm very please with this.
-pulled a Blob50 off the ground with each hand on my first attempt, that's a grip feat of strength believe it or not.
-my left heel is still all inflamed from that 658lb pull barefoot on concrete a few weeks back which sucks, I gave it time off, back to deadlifting this weekend.
-no pump upper thigh measurement finally exceeded 30" which is nice, though still look narrow as all hell because I'm so damn tall (6'5")
-began eating meat again, chicken, fish, turkey, beef, it's all in there.

Hitting a big session today, can't wait to break these new Inzer knee sleeves in!

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Hell of a session yesterday, a modified version of Wraths old back routine combined with the Cube Method STRONGMAN.

Deadlifts (speed pulls)
135/10
225/10
315/10
405/5

Wide Pulldowns 3/10
Narrow Pulldowns 3/10
DB Rows 2/8
Bent Over Barbell Rows 3/6-8
EZ Bar Curls 3/10
DB Alternating Curls 3/10

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Overhead Yoke Press
155/15
205/5
205/5
255/smashed my chin with the yoke, busted open, bit a chunk outta my tongue, bloody as all hell, moved onto next event

Yoke Carry/Hydrant Carry Medley
525/50', 185lb hydrant 50' back
615/50', 185lb hydrant 50' back
800/5'. Can't get the 800lb yoke more than 5' before it sways forward and my lower back gives out on the effort.
800/1' and my lower back was spent. Done with yoke until April 19th at Derek Poundstone's gym in CT.
255 yoke carried back inside to save a few trips, 200' total. /yoke.

Log Clean/no press today.
240/1
290/1
310/1
330/1 for a PR!!
350/1 for a NEW PR!! Hitting 2 PR's in a day with blood on my face made me happy. Damn yoke press, stupid damn event.

SS Yoke Bar Box Squats
Bar/5
260/5
310/5
350/5
350/5
350/5
310/5
260/5
260/5

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Training this morning was some event training for a contest I have mid June in New Hampshire.

Log Clean and Press
90(empty)/10
180/10
230/8
270/5 <--- contest weight
280/3

Farmers Carry
300/45'/13sec <--- contest weight
300/45'/13sec

Headed back tonight after the rush quiets down to get into the rest of my days training.

[TheVegetarianStrongman]

Last nights training was a motherf*cker, that's for sure!

Front Squats
bar/10
bar/10
135/10
225/10
315/3
315/3
225/5

Unilateral Leg Extension
105/10/10/10/10

Hammer Strength MTS Uni-Hamstring Curl
90/10/10, 80/10/10, 70/10/10, 60/10/10, 50/10/10

Between the faerms and log work yesterday and last nights legs my body was trashed this morning, good.