7/9/11 Grandfather Mountain Games, Banner Elk, NC

Open Stone (16lbs) - 39'+, 44'+, 44'+ (4th)
56 WFD - 39'+, 41'+, 41'+ (4th)
28 WFD - foul, 76'+, 83'+ (2nd)
22 Hammer - 95'+, 98'+, 103'+ (5th)
Caber - (2nd)
56 WOB - 16' (1st)

Overall - 3rd

Well, coming off of a big game last week I was afraid this was going to happen. I pretty much sucked all around. My body feels pretty beat up (knees, hips, low back), and I've competed 7 of the last 8 weeks, and this was 4 in a row. I think for me that's just too much. The good news is that I've now got a 3 week break to recover and get ready for the second half of the season.

Stone - Awful. This stone might be one of the worst stones in the games if you were never a shot putter, which I most certainly wasn't. It is big and round, almost like a bowling ball and tucking/putting is quite difficult.

Weights - Meh.

Hammer - Just couldn't find the groove. I think if I would have had another throw or two, I've been ok.

Caber - 21'+ stick, very tough. Timing was just a little off.

WOB - Hit 16' easy, and had some really good pulls at 17', especially my last one. Happy with this.

Pretty standard I assume? You should bounce back huge with a break.

Yep, in my long, distinguished career as a highland games coach, I also think you will bounce back after a break.

Next we will give you pointers on caber technique. I can see Scotland from my bedroom window after all.

Indeed. You guys are the best coaches.

If I start to need help, I may have you swim over there for some instruction.

I would strongly suggest you do not do this. Long distance swimming is highly catabolic, and you would undoubtedly lose an unacceptable amount of weight in the process.

He's having his coach do the swimming jdock, so everything will be fine

Rest is good sometimes.

G4S, good season so far, keep up the good work and gl in the 2nd half of the season.

ty sir.

7/14/11

Push Press - 240lbs, 12x2 for speed - 12/12
(Best was 3.77ft/s, 1227W)

Pushdowns
Facepulls

I think push pressing this cycle will be good, although the weight isn't really heavy it felt good to actually put something decent overhead. I think it will also help me get some confidence back in my push press since I haven't been able to really do it since the knee incident/surgery.

Used 90% of test max, got all 24 reps, weight will increase next workout.

Also felt good to do a couple accessory exercises, and get a little swole on.

Bros gonna bro obv.

Good to hear you're getting even heavier stuff over your head of late. I'm sure it'll come in handy if you ever have to put a log with an awkward grip over your head in the near future. Or help on, you know, everything else as well.

I like to look good too!

Thanks, I won't go back to any heavy weight til October, but it's a nicer mental feeling. And ya, you never know when that will come in handy...

Shave (might take a while) and tan imo. Then enter bodybuilding contest.

Wife helps with the shaving, ez game.

Tbh, I can't imagine what I would need to weigh to be confident enough to diet down and step on a stage (assuming that I actually felt like entering a beauty pageant). Even at 300+lbs (and near 250lbs of LBM) I still don't feel big. And ya, I know, I have issues.

7/18/11

High Pulls (hang) - triples up to:

1559W @ 315lbs, 3.65 ft/s
1547W @ 335lbs, 3.41 ft/s
1592W @ 345lbs, 3.40 ft/s
1639W @ 355lbs, 3.40 ft/s

Was going to keep going until I dropped under 1 m/s, but just ran out of gas.

Did some pullups too.

I'm sore.