Nine months of strongman preparation all boils down to one weekend. Past wins, PR's, and personal achievements no longer matter. If you can't execute in these six events, you go home feeling like you have been run over by a bus, and start the process all over. For me, it will be three months of strictly training powerlifting (squat, bench, and deadlift), with occasional strongman events thrown in for good measure. The return to event training will coincide with my first contest of 2015.
I went into this year's competition with much higher expectations of myself, after spending most of 2014 gaining strength in my basic lifts, and working on various event fundamentals. But as it turns out, I made several small mistakes that dropped me to the back of the pack early. On the very first event, the press medley, I attempted the light, 125lb, keg clean and press on a slight downhill. I successfully wasted precious time by throwing myself backward three times...finishing the lift on the third attempt, and leaving myself very little time to get reps on the mini-circus dumbell. I was able to lock out two reps, but my judge did not allow the second one at the buzzer. However, one rep still gets points, and keeps you in the game.
Event #2 was a 500lb yoke for sixty feet. This is one event I had drilled myself with in training, and had no doubt that I could post a solid time. Well, that did not happen. I struggled out of the gate, and did not get my shit together until close to the half way point. My struggle to control the yoke took its toll, and my fatigued body decided dropping the yoke prior to the finish line was a good idea. Just for the record...it's not. I finished the event with a less than stellar time, which more than tripled the time of my practice runs. In the coming year, I will continue to increase the weight and my speed on this event, so I do not repeat this performance. However, as a side note, at Nationals last year, I made it about eight feet with the same weight...so, I consider sixty feet quite an improvement.
Event #3 was a nightmare-ish carry medley. Many women were looking forward to this event...I was part of the minority. My hands pay a hefty price with any carry event, so they are definitely not on my top ten list. With a sixty foot keg carry at a reduced 150lbs, a forty foot farmers that was no where near the planned 200lbs per hand, and twenty feet of a 225lb duckwalk, I crossed the finish line by bunny hopping the duck walk implement over the line. Nightmare over. I am planing to practice heavy kettlebell swings for next season, and launch that damn duck walk implement versus having to walk with it. Trust me, if it was legal, I would absolutely do it.
The final event of day one was the car deadlift...and a big fat zero on my score sheet. If I had to pick one event to zero, it would not have been this one. Dumbell, yes...deadlift, no. I don't use straps often, but for this event, it was a given. However, I failed to strap my left hand in tight, and paid the price for it. After such a long day of events, my legs felt solid, but with each attempt, my left strap would slide, and I no longer had a grip on the bar. At the time, I was pretty pissed off with myself; but deep down, I knew it was a simple mistake that could be fixed. But I won't lie...it was not easy going to bed that night knowing my goal of a top five finish was officially over...not that it wasn't prior to this event, but a zero pretty much solidified it.
The twelve hour, four event, competition day had drained almost everything out of my body...mentally, physically, and emotionally; but just as it ended, day two began. As the two-event final day kicked off, I knew climbing out of a hole was not possible against the best of the best at Nationals. What I did not know, is that the first event would be my best of the weekend. The sixty foot, 1150lb wheelbarrow pick-up and push was a bit of an untested event...I mean, how many people have 500lb steel wheelbarrows laying around? I knew the keys would be getting off the starting line quickly, controlling the implement, and not letting go. Grip was not an issue, I could have held on for a trip around the block. I guess spending a few dollars on the Iron Mind expand your hand bands after cracking my thumb was worth every penny. My initial pick up of the weight was a bit slow, but once in motion, I had no control problems, and finished in just over fourteen seconds.
The final event of the competition was throwing, or rather "placing" three kegs of increasing weight over a bar. The weight of the kegs was dropped by 25lbs a piece to 100, 125, and 150, but the bar was raised to 54". I was given a nice little tip before the event to turn the handles to the side, allowing for a quicker pick-up. It definitely saved me a few valuable seconds. The first two kegs went over in about ten seconds, but the final keg and I battled it out for an additional twenty seconds. Those little mistakes cost me yet again.
The long two day event to crown America's Strongest was over. I ended my weekend with two pretty solid performances, going out on a much higher note than the previous day. My final ranking was fifteen out of twenty-six middle-weights. There is always so much to think about after a competition like this...but honestly, I am just happy to be able to be among those twenty-six strongwomen. It was an incredible group of competitors this year. There are not many times where you can find over fifty women in competition with each other, sharing a small competition space, sharing pain, sharing laughs, that have just one single thing in common...but that is strongman...or, should I say, strongwoman.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Supplement This
Through 25+ years of excessive beer and alcohol consumption, I must now rely on a handful of drugs to get me through a day. Where I was once a big believer in "sucking it up" at all costs, I now believe getting through and enjoying each day is more important. If various prescribed medications are required, then so be it.
[On a side note, I actually grew up with an aversion to swallowing pills, and a fear of the effects of medication. Located above our kitchen sink was the equivalent of a small pharmacy. My mom was on countless medications throughout her life. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when I was in high school, and years prior to that was a human guinea pig for doctors trying to discover the cause of all of her symptoms. Every morning she would choke down countless pills, some with horrible side effects...and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with anything doctor or pill related.]
Back to the subject at hand, supplements. I have been critiqued for my muscularity since junior high. With the amount of steroids I have been accused of taking in my life, I should be dead, broke...or dead-broke. Since getting back in shape, and strength gains occurring regularly, of course, I must now be back on 'roids, HGH, or just good ole testosterone supplements. Not quite. For me, it is all about sweat your ass off hard work. I have already destroyed my body with one substance, I sure as hell don't need help in that department...nor would I waste my Big Red and cookie money on something I don't need. But, if you really want to know, here is what I do take on a daily basis...
#1: Effexor
Here is my what you need to know about anti-depressants: when you find one that works, stick with it. These drugs require a tedious trial and error process, and typically several weeks to take effect. If it does not work, then the process of getting it out of your system begins. It is a serious pain in the ass. If I am not mistaken, I had to repeat this process about four times.
#2: Amphetamine Salts
Like the rest of the world, I am ADHD...of course, mine was not diagnosed until after I stopped drinking. With meds, I can plan my day, prioritize things, formulate one single thought. Without meds, there are a million unfinished, varying thoughts and ideas that will pop in my head at any given moment. I am unable to finish a single task, which quickly leads to frustration, followed by anger, followed by all hell breaking loose.
#3: Krill Oil
My daily Omega-3. I always hated fish oil...the fishy taste alone was enough for me to throw them in the trash. Krill oil provides the same benefits in one pill, with zero fishy taste.
#4: Digestive Enzymes
I have wrecked my body's ability to properly digest many types of foods. Without sounding like a high school science book, I basically destroyed the enzymes required to break down the nutrients in food. Thus, I have to take an enzyme supplement prior eating any size-able meal or snack.
#5: Aleve
Every athlete's best friend. During the latter part of the strongman season, this becomes a daily supplement in order to minimize the swelling in my joints. I only take one, first thing in the morning. In college, I found myself relying on a much higher dosage of anti-inflammatories, and subsequently ended up with some very memorable stomach issues...thus the reason I keep these to a bare minimum.
#6: Carbohydrates
No, this is not a joke. I eat an enormous amount of carbs, and most for a reason. The short of it...it has to do with low serotonin levels. I learned the hard way that without carbs throughout the day, which will result in a drop in serotonin levels, I am negatively affected with enough aggression to destroy four aisles of a store in a matter of minutes. And yes, that did happen, and I did clean it up.
If you are an athlete, you are probably thinking...what about protein? At this point in my life, I rely on my meals for protein, eggs and meats, no shakes. When I first got back into shape, I had a hard time keeping weight on, so I did rely on shakes as an extra supplement. Now, I do not see/feel the benefit of protein shakes as much, so I cut them out of my diet. And in a nutshell, this is how I live each day.
This is not a recommendation, or a "what you should go out and buy" list. This is what works for me, and me only. It has been a learning process spanning two and a half years, as well as an adaptation to the changes that have occurred since giving up booze. Finding the right mix of meds is not an easy thing to do for an alcoholic, and many give up too soon. Picking up the bottle again was never really an option for me personally, but initially, I did face a lot of frustration and anger. Ultimately, being hard headed about staying on track finally paid off.
[On a side note, I actually grew up with an aversion to swallowing pills, and a fear of the effects of medication. Located above our kitchen sink was the equivalent of a small pharmacy. My mom was on countless medications throughout her life. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when I was in high school, and years prior to that was a human guinea pig for doctors trying to discover the cause of all of her symptoms. Every morning she would choke down countless pills, some with horrible side effects...and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with anything doctor or pill related.]
Back to the subject at hand, supplements. I have been critiqued for my muscularity since junior high. With the amount of steroids I have been accused of taking in my life, I should be dead, broke...or dead-broke. Since getting back in shape, and strength gains occurring regularly, of course, I must now be back on 'roids, HGH, or just good ole testosterone supplements. Not quite. For me, it is all about sweat your ass off hard work. I have already destroyed my body with one substance, I sure as hell don't need help in that department...nor would I waste my Big Red and cookie money on something I don't need. But, if you really want to know, here is what I do take on a daily basis...
#1: Effexor
Here is my what you need to know about anti-depressants: when you find one that works, stick with it. These drugs require a tedious trial and error process, and typically several weeks to take effect. If it does not work, then the process of getting it out of your system begins. It is a serious pain in the ass. If I am not mistaken, I had to repeat this process about four times.
#2: Amphetamine Salts
Like the rest of the world, I am ADHD...of course, mine was not diagnosed until after I stopped drinking. With meds, I can plan my day, prioritize things, formulate one single thought. Without meds, there are a million unfinished, varying thoughts and ideas that will pop in my head at any given moment. I am unable to finish a single task, which quickly leads to frustration, followed by anger, followed by all hell breaking loose.
#3: Krill Oil
My daily Omega-3. I always hated fish oil...the fishy taste alone was enough for me to throw them in the trash. Krill oil provides the same benefits in one pill, with zero fishy taste.
#4: Digestive Enzymes
I have wrecked my body's ability to properly digest many types of foods. Without sounding like a high school science book, I basically destroyed the enzymes required to break down the nutrients in food. Thus, I have to take an enzyme supplement prior eating any size-able meal or snack.
#5: Aleve
Every athlete's best friend. During the latter part of the strongman season, this becomes a daily supplement in order to minimize the swelling in my joints. I only take one, first thing in the morning. In college, I found myself relying on a much higher dosage of anti-inflammatories, and subsequently ended up with some very memorable stomach issues...thus the reason I keep these to a bare minimum.
#6: Carbohydrates
No, this is not a joke. I eat an enormous amount of carbs, and most for a reason. The short of it...it has to do with low serotonin levels. I learned the hard way that without carbs throughout the day, which will result in a drop in serotonin levels, I am negatively affected with enough aggression to destroy four aisles of a store in a matter of minutes. And yes, that did happen, and I did clean it up.
If you are an athlete, you are probably thinking...what about protein? At this point in my life, I rely on my meals for protein, eggs and meats, no shakes. When I first got back into shape, I had a hard time keeping weight on, so I did rely on shakes as an extra supplement. Now, I do not see/feel the benefit of protein shakes as much, so I cut them out of my diet. And in a nutshell, this is how I live each day.
This is not a recommendation, or a "what you should go out and buy" list. This is what works for me, and me only. It has been a learning process spanning two and a half years, as well as an adaptation to the changes that have occurred since giving up booze. Finding the right mix of meds is not an easy thing to do for an alcoholic, and many give up too soon. Picking up the bottle again was never really an option for me personally, but initially, I did face a lot of frustration and anger. Ultimately, being hard headed about staying on track finally paid off.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Unrelenting
Unrelenting: 1. Used to describe someone who does something in a constant and determined way without stopping or becoming less forceful. 2. Not yielding in strength, severity, or determination.
There was a time, not so long ago, when I thought I had finally done just enough to destroy my life; mentally, physically, emotionally...and every other "ally" word you can think of. But with help, I made a huge change in my life...and I can officially say, I have taken my life back.
This year has been absolutely amazing, and I apologize for not keeping my blog up to date in recent months...especially to those interested in learning what an addict is capable of...if and when they decide to clean up their life. And yes, it is possible to be successful in recovery. It is an undefined process of self-discovery, which will redefine everything you once knew.
The biggest key to my success has been finding various hobbies in which I never lose interest. Strongman and powerlifting have effectively filled that role, with the addition of various creative pursuits geared for down time at home. From lifting, to writing, to fixing and building things, to drawing, they all share one thing in common...there is no absolute, final end result. Meaning there are in infinite number of weights to lift, techniques to learn in building and drawing, and subjects to write about.
Up until age 14, I spent hours in the evenings, after it was too dark to play outside, doing creative projects. I traded my coloring books for a drawing tablet, and sketched whatever came to mind. One of my favorites to this day is a black and white of Bill Laimbeer, that I replicated from an ad for shaving cream (could have been razors?). And remember the good old science/social studies fair, in which everyone's mom stayed up late "helping" to finish the project. Not mine. I did my project on Abraham Lincoln's assassination. At age 12-13, I built from scratch...wait for it.......a replica of the scaffolding in which the four individuals charged with the assassination were hung. I am fairly sure this would not be allowed on school grounds in this day and age, and I would be tagged as a potential serial killer. But I went into great detail by wrapping my G.I. Joe's in pieces of black trash bag, and using small pieces of twine to hang each one...literally. To this day, I don't understand why I didn't win. ;)
As I entered my high school years, I abandoned these "outlets". Although, I am not sure if the increase in the volume of alcohol caused me to lose interest, or I lost interest and then turned to increasing my alcohol. Who knows?! But my creative side has definitely returned. Since arthritis, and a broken thumb, continues to decrease the functionality of my hands, I find it increasingly difficult to write, much less draw. I have, however, found its replacement in a little thing called Photoshop...the touch screen version.
I also love to research (real research, not wikipedia) various topics that catch my interest, especially those with historical significance. After college, I never thought the word "research" would come out of my mouth again. But since sobering up, my desire to learn has gone into overdrive. Filled with so much useless knowledge, I would be an all-star on a high school debate team. However, as Thomas Jefferson said, "...knolege is power, ...knolege is safety, and...knolege is happiness." (Quick note: the word "knowledge" is intentionally spelled "knolege").
There was a time, not so long ago, when I thought I had finally done just enough to destroy my life; mentally, physically, emotionally...and every other "ally" word you can think of. But with help, I made a huge change in my life...and I can officially say, I have taken my life back.
This year has been absolutely amazing, and I apologize for not keeping my blog up to date in recent months...especially to those interested in learning what an addict is capable of...if and when they decide to clean up their life. And yes, it is possible to be successful in recovery. It is an undefined process of self-discovery, which will redefine everything you once knew.
The biggest key to my success has been finding various hobbies in which I never lose interest. Strongman and powerlifting have effectively filled that role, with the addition of various creative pursuits geared for down time at home. From lifting, to writing, to fixing and building things, to drawing, they all share one thing in common...there is no absolute, final end result. Meaning there are in infinite number of weights to lift, techniques to learn in building and drawing, and subjects to write about.
Up until age 14, I spent hours in the evenings, after it was too dark to play outside, doing creative projects. I traded my coloring books for a drawing tablet, and sketched whatever came to mind. One of my favorites to this day is a black and white of Bill Laimbeer, that I replicated from an ad for shaving cream (could have been razors?). And remember the good old science/social studies fair, in which everyone's mom stayed up late "helping" to finish the project. Not mine. I did my project on Abraham Lincoln's assassination. At age 12-13, I built from scratch...wait for it.......a replica of the scaffolding in which the four individuals charged with the assassination were hung. I am fairly sure this would not be allowed on school grounds in this day and age, and I would be tagged as a potential serial killer. But I went into great detail by wrapping my G.I. Joe's in pieces of black trash bag, and using small pieces of twine to hang each one...literally. To this day, I don't understand why I didn't win. ;)
As I entered my high school years, I abandoned these "outlets". Although, I am not sure if the increase in the volume of alcohol caused me to lose interest, or I lost interest and then turned to increasing my alcohol. Who knows?! But my creative side has definitely returned. Since arthritis, and a broken thumb, continues to decrease the functionality of my hands, I find it increasingly difficult to write, much less draw. I have, however, found its replacement in a little thing called Photoshop...the touch screen version.
I also love to research (real research, not wikipedia) various topics that catch my interest, especially those with historical significance. After college, I never thought the word "research" would come out of my mouth again. But since sobering up, my desire to learn has gone into overdrive. Filled with so much useless knowledge, I would be an all-star on a high school debate team. However, as Thomas Jefferson said, "...knolege is power, ...knolege is safety, and...knolege is happiness." (Quick note: the word "knowledge" is intentionally spelled "knolege").
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Walk Away?
I have mentioned quite a few times that I walked away from CrossFit shortly after the 2010 Regional competition. There are a multitude of reasons, including being a drunk, recurring injuries, a loss in confidence, and the missing "fun" element. These factors, in turn, helped develop a a fat, drunk, depressed, should have been dead months ago, version of me. But since that is a "me" you can already read about, I want to turn to the less talked about subject, the dilution of CrossFit in general. It was, without a doubt, the final straw to my ever growing "perfect storm", leading to walking away.
When I joined CrossFit in 2008, I found a small group of people in an even smaller gym (aka box) that shared a passion for being fit. We had the college football player, the globo gym meathead, the diet/nutrition gurus, the military, the homemaker, and the police. Individuals would come and go, some because they hated it, others were military families that simply moved away. But at that time, there was a core group of us that worked out together, learned together, and grew together. We became close friends, and even a family of sorts. And most important, we had a ton of fun.
The San Antonio CrossFit community followed a similar pattern. Gyms began hosting various competitions: outdoor WOD's at Lulu Lemon, Fight Gone Bad, Barbells for Boobs, and the Open WODs. All of these events brought the athletes closer, and resulted in shared training ideas, insights into different techniques, and new friendships. Then it happened. In what seemed like a matter of days, someone would open their own gym...and another...and another. At that time, all of the new gyms were a direct result of the love of Crossfit. There was only one gym that opened based on greed and a love for the almighty dollar. Funny thing is...anyone within a sixty mile radius knew about this person, and what she truly stood for...so, lets just say, her gym was not known for its success rate.
This once budding city-wide CrossFit community quickly became saturated with gyms, which sent owners into survival mode, and caused athletes to retreat behind the doors of their respective gym. One of the first examples of this came in the second season of the CrossFit Open. One year prior, gyms around the city hosted the open WODs...together. Each WOD was held at a different gym, and athletes from the majority of competing gyms would attend. It was always a fun atmosphere and truly showed a community spirit as coaches and athletes supported competitors from all gyms. By the time season two of the Open began, fewer athletes were in attendance, gym owners couldn't agree on locations, and everyone turned to completing the workouts in the comfort of their home gym. Done deal. For several years, the San Antonio CrossFit community also gathered for an anual Fight Gone Bad event. The final year of this event was held in large parking lot, located in a prime location on Loop 410. It was a huge success with most of the area gyms in attendance. There were close to two dozen tents set up, including one that housed kegs of beer...which made for a great after party. Of course, San Antonio crossfitters, including myself, were pretty well known for epic after parties.
Since the good ole years, CrossFit has sold their soul to Reebok, the number of "certified" coaches has surpassed the reproduction rate of rabbits, and gyms have popped up on every street corner...the latter two causing an epic dilution in the quality of CrossFit across the city. There are very knowledgable and caring coaches, and programmers that have opened gyms post-Reebok. But sadly, the good is outweighed by the bad...those that have the expendable income, but do not posses the knowledge to teach, much less correct a basic squat.
We have also seen the closing of two of the original gyms, including the one that started my CrossFit journey. The old days of WODing with athletes from other gyms, joining forces to create fun competitve environments, and simply chillin' with San Antonio crossfitters, with very few exceptions, has come to a grinding hault. With growth, there has come separation. With separation, there has become a dividing line. A line that dictates your learning curve, your trainging regimen, your social network, and your support system. And in a lot of cases, if you cross that line, don't bother looking back...you are no longer welcome.
I am the type of person, athlete, and former CrossFit coach that enjoyed and appreciated the comradery that existed across the city. At competitions, I could be found discussing strategy with any coach or hanging out with "rivals" within the confines of their tent. If I needed help with a movement or access to specific equipment, I would never hesitate to contact someone else in the community...outside of my gym. Although I am much more of an outsider now, choosing to compete in strongman and powerlifting, I will still attend Regionals in order to support the best athletes in San Antonio and their quest for the Games. And as athletes are huddled up with their safety net of coaches and supporters, sporting t-shirts in the gym colors, I will happily step across the line, sit down, and catch up with old friends....more than likely wearing my neutral black colored Afro Brutality gear.
When I joined CrossFit in 2008, I found a small group of people in an even smaller gym (aka box) that shared a passion for being fit. We had the college football player, the globo gym meathead, the diet/nutrition gurus, the military, the homemaker, and the police. Individuals would come and go, some because they hated it, others were military families that simply moved away. But at that time, there was a core group of us that worked out together, learned together, and grew together. We became close friends, and even a family of sorts. And most important, we had a ton of fun.
The San Antonio CrossFit community followed a similar pattern. Gyms began hosting various competitions: outdoor WOD's at Lulu Lemon, Fight Gone Bad, Barbells for Boobs, and the Open WODs. All of these events brought the athletes closer, and resulted in shared training ideas, insights into different techniques, and new friendships. Then it happened. In what seemed like a matter of days, someone would open their own gym...and another...and another. At that time, all of the new gyms were a direct result of the love of Crossfit. There was only one gym that opened based on greed and a love for the almighty dollar. Funny thing is...anyone within a sixty mile radius knew about this person, and what she truly stood for...so, lets just say, her gym was not known for its success rate.
This once budding city-wide CrossFit community quickly became saturated with gyms, which sent owners into survival mode, and caused athletes to retreat behind the doors of their respective gym. One of the first examples of this came in the second season of the CrossFit Open. One year prior, gyms around the city hosted the open WODs...together. Each WOD was held at a different gym, and athletes from the majority of competing gyms would attend. It was always a fun atmosphere and truly showed a community spirit as coaches and athletes supported competitors from all gyms. By the time season two of the Open began, fewer athletes were in attendance, gym owners couldn't agree on locations, and everyone turned to completing the workouts in the comfort of their home gym. Done deal. For several years, the San Antonio CrossFit community also gathered for an anual Fight Gone Bad event. The final year of this event was held in large parking lot, located in a prime location on Loop 410. It was a huge success with most of the area gyms in attendance. There were close to two dozen tents set up, including one that housed kegs of beer...which made for a great after party. Of course, San Antonio crossfitters, including myself, were pretty well known for epic after parties.
Since the good ole years, CrossFit has sold their soul to Reebok, the number of "certified" coaches has surpassed the reproduction rate of rabbits, and gyms have popped up on every street corner...the latter two causing an epic dilution in the quality of CrossFit across the city. There are very knowledgable and caring coaches, and programmers that have opened gyms post-Reebok. But sadly, the good is outweighed by the bad...those that have the expendable income, but do not posses the knowledge to teach, much less correct a basic squat.
We have also seen the closing of two of the original gyms, including the one that started my CrossFit journey. The old days of WODing with athletes from other gyms, joining forces to create fun competitve environments, and simply chillin' with San Antonio crossfitters, with very few exceptions, has come to a grinding hault. With growth, there has come separation. With separation, there has become a dividing line. A line that dictates your learning curve, your trainging regimen, your social network, and your support system. And in a lot of cases, if you cross that line, don't bother looking back...you are no longer welcome.
I am the type of person, athlete, and former CrossFit coach that enjoyed and appreciated the comradery that existed across the city. At competitions, I could be found discussing strategy with any coach or hanging out with "rivals" within the confines of their tent. If I needed help with a movement or access to specific equipment, I would never hesitate to contact someone else in the community...outside of my gym. Although I am much more of an outsider now, choosing to compete in strongman and powerlifting, I will still attend Regionals in order to support the best athletes in San Antonio and their quest for the Games. And as athletes are huddled up with their safety net of coaches and supporters, sporting t-shirts in the gym colors, I will happily step across the line, sit down, and catch up with old friends....more than likely wearing my neutral black colored Afro Brutality gear.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Women of Strength
It was an EPIC weekend!
Jill Mills, my coach, and legendary strongwoman and powerlifter, hosted a womens only, two day strength clinic. It was the culmination of decades of knowledge, and one person willing to share her experiences, successful lifting techniques, and strategies to nine women with a passion for strength based sports. If you are one of those athletes that think you have it all figured out...well, you were not invited anyway. But if, like me, you constantly strive to be better and desire to increase your knowledge at any given chance, this clinic was the place to be.
Yes, I spend three, sometimes four days a week training the fundamental lifts and strongman events with Jill. But passing up a learning opportunity like this would just be plain stupid. It would be like telling Pat Summit or Martina Navratilova, I don't think I could really gain anything from your years of experience and success. I know there are plenty of athletes and coaches that have that mind-set, but I am not one of them.
The weekend provided a unique opportunity to not only receive instructional tips, but also observe various teaching techniques geared toward experienced lifters and newbies alike. How to make simple corrections, to what to look for in technique flaws and how to correct them, it was all available right in my own training facilities...and for once I was not the only test dummy.
Our first day was spent at Olympic Gym breaking down technique on the major lifts in powerlifting as well as an introduction to accessory exercises. Every athlete in attendance was provided the opportunity to have their lifts critiqued and corrected. We also covered Jill's programming, which I can personally attest to its success rate. But the best part of day one was simply getting to know the other women. Jill pointed out the comradery that exists within the women's strength community...and without a doubt, she is absolutely correct. In my short time in competition, the extended strongwoman family has proven to be a loving, caring, and a giving community.
On day two, we all made the road trip south of San Antonio to the barn. Home of the best collection of strongman equipment with more space than we had at last years national competition. Not to mention, my favorite place to escape to on sunday nights and throw around heavy objects. We tackled every major strongman event, and then some, with Jill providing the details on everything including grip, footwork, speed, bar placement...you name it.
By the end of the weekend, some found confidence in lifting heavy, others new techniques to work on, but we all went home with new members to add to our strongwoman family, and a ton of knowledge that only a legend could provide. As exhausted as I was by sunday night, I would have done it all over again starting monday morning. Yes, it was that good.
Jill Mills, my coach, and legendary strongwoman and powerlifter, hosted a womens only, two day strength clinic. It was the culmination of decades of knowledge, and one person willing to share her experiences, successful lifting techniques, and strategies to nine women with a passion for strength based sports. If you are one of those athletes that think you have it all figured out...well, you were not invited anyway. But if, like me, you constantly strive to be better and desire to increase your knowledge at any given chance, this clinic was the place to be.
Yes, I spend three, sometimes four days a week training the fundamental lifts and strongman events with Jill. But passing up a learning opportunity like this would just be plain stupid. It would be like telling Pat Summit or Martina Navratilova, I don't think I could really gain anything from your years of experience and success. I know there are plenty of athletes and coaches that have that mind-set, but I am not one of them.
The weekend provided a unique opportunity to not only receive instructional tips, but also observe various teaching techniques geared toward experienced lifters and newbies alike. How to make simple corrections, to what to look for in technique flaws and how to correct them, it was all available right in my own training facilities...and for once I was not the only test dummy.
Our first day was spent at Olympic Gym breaking down technique on the major lifts in powerlifting as well as an introduction to accessory exercises. Every athlete in attendance was provided the opportunity to have their lifts critiqued and corrected. We also covered Jill's programming, which I can personally attest to its success rate. But the best part of day one was simply getting to know the other women. Jill pointed out the comradery that exists within the women's strength community...and without a doubt, she is absolutely correct. In my short time in competition, the extended strongwoman family has proven to be a loving, caring, and a giving community.
On day two, we all made the road trip south of San Antonio to the barn. Home of the best collection of strongman equipment with more space than we had at last years national competition. Not to mention, my favorite place to escape to on sunday nights and throw around heavy objects. We tackled every major strongman event, and then some, with Jill providing the details on everything including grip, footwork, speed, bar placement...you name it.
By the end of the weekend, some found confidence in lifting heavy, others new techniques to work on, but we all went home with new members to add to our strongwoman family, and a ton of knowledge that only a legend could provide. As exhausted as I was by sunday night, I would have done it all over again starting monday morning. Yes, it was that good.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Arthritis
I beat the hell out of my body in college. My roommate and I used to jokingly bet on who would be in a wheelchair first, as we would pop handfuls of anti-inflamatories after a game. I am proud to say that neither one of us has the bragging rights just yet.
I played small college sports, no scholarships, just bust your ass because you love your sport. And that I did. I escaped college with only two "major" injuries...a broken wrist and a scratched cornea. If you don't think the latter is a "major" injury, you have obviously never experienced it. I would take multiple broken bones any day rather than having to experience that again.
I was an aggressive player. I was the player that would dive, fall, or run into a brick wall for a loose ball. And when you play three different competitive sports, concentrated in the fall semester, your body pays a huge price. In addition, most of my years were spent playing basketball on concrete floors. Wood floors were a novelty in the late 80's and early 90's, and I did not get to consistently play on one until I transferred to Dallas in the mid 90's. Imagine hitting the pavement eight to ten times a day for ten years. I cringe just thinking about it now days.
During my final season at Dallas, I had my hand x-rayed because of a swollen and badly bruised finger. Although my finger was in one piece, the doctor noticed that I was already showing signs of arthritis in my hand. At the time, that meant absolutely nothing to me. All I cared about was playing in the upcoming game. My grandfather had always struggled with rheumatoid arthritis, so, I was well aware what it was capable of doing to the body. I just chose to ignore it.
Years after college, I dealt with lots of hip, lower back, and knee pain that I attributed to years of playing ball...and getting older. When I returned from the CrossFit Games in 2009, I could no longer ignore the pain in my left knee and finally went to see an orthopedic. Following a series of x-rays, he informed me what was causing the pain. Osteoarthritis. Basically, the cushioning in my knee had deteriorated to the point where bone spurs were now growing in its place. These friendly jagged little pieces actually think they are helping the situation by increasing the surface area of the knee cap. I hate to break the bad news, but they only cause more problems.
My knee issues only worsened as time wore on. I could no longer even sit on the toilet without one of those damn bone spurs catching and causing pain. And squatting was forever out of the question (or so I thought). I found no relief through the supplementation of glucosamine/chondrition, but low and behold, beer sure did help! So, I drank more to mask the physical pain as well as the emotional. No exercise + a shit ton of alcohol = gaining a ton of weight, which also = more joint pain. Before I knew it, sleeping was even painful...and getting out of bed was worse.
Fast forward to my new sober life, down fifty pounds, and lifting more than ever...how is it all possible with arthritis?! After losing the first twenty pounds and regaining some muscle mass, I began to notice that getting up in the morning was not as big of an issue. With the help of my coach, I learned how to squat correctly, gained strength around the area causing the majority of the problem, and bone spurs or not, the pain has subsided and is much more manageable on a daily basis. My beat up hands have followed suit. Although my job is pretty demanding on my hands, the increase in strength through lifting has proved as effective, if not more effective, than relying on pain meds.
My hips are a slightly different story. It has been the slowest of slow climbs to gain hip strength. Although I no longer sleep in pain, spending too much time laying in bed or sitting on the couch will cause pain. So, don't get offended if I decline your offer to sit down, standing and moving around is much more tolerable.
When people are diagnosed with this, the most common form of arthritis, it becomes a choice as to how you deal with it. Yes, it is painful. But it is almost intolerably painful when you become sedentary. Weight gain or muscle gain is very much a determining factor of the level of pain. And yes, exercise is painful, but the benefits far outweigh the alternative. The term fat and happy does not exist when you throw arthritis into the equation. I have lived both lives, and turned to medicating myself first, which did not work. Exercise does work. It is solely your choice. I choose to battle it head on and live in a lot less pain.
I played small college sports, no scholarships, just bust your ass because you love your sport. And that I did. I escaped college with only two "major" injuries...a broken wrist and a scratched cornea. If you don't think the latter is a "major" injury, you have obviously never experienced it. I would take multiple broken bones any day rather than having to experience that again.
I was an aggressive player. I was the player that would dive, fall, or run into a brick wall for a loose ball. And when you play three different competitive sports, concentrated in the fall semester, your body pays a huge price. In addition, most of my years were spent playing basketball on concrete floors. Wood floors were a novelty in the late 80's and early 90's, and I did not get to consistently play on one until I transferred to Dallas in the mid 90's. Imagine hitting the pavement eight to ten times a day for ten years. I cringe just thinking about it now days.
During my final season at Dallas, I had my hand x-rayed because of a swollen and badly bruised finger. Although my finger was in one piece, the doctor noticed that I was already showing signs of arthritis in my hand. At the time, that meant absolutely nothing to me. All I cared about was playing in the upcoming game. My grandfather had always struggled with rheumatoid arthritis, so, I was well aware what it was capable of doing to the body. I just chose to ignore it.
Years after college, I dealt with lots of hip, lower back, and knee pain that I attributed to years of playing ball...and getting older. When I returned from the CrossFit Games in 2009, I could no longer ignore the pain in my left knee and finally went to see an orthopedic. Following a series of x-rays, he informed me what was causing the pain. Osteoarthritis. Basically, the cushioning in my knee had deteriorated to the point where bone spurs were now growing in its place. These friendly jagged little pieces actually think they are helping the situation by increasing the surface area of the knee cap. I hate to break the bad news, but they only cause more problems.
My knee issues only worsened as time wore on. I could no longer even sit on the toilet without one of those damn bone spurs catching and causing pain. And squatting was forever out of the question (or so I thought). I found no relief through the supplementation of glucosamine/chondrition, but low and behold, beer sure did help! So, I drank more to mask the physical pain as well as the emotional. No exercise + a shit ton of alcohol = gaining a ton of weight, which also = more joint pain. Before I knew it, sleeping was even painful...and getting out of bed was worse.
Fast forward to my new sober life, down fifty pounds, and lifting more than ever...how is it all possible with arthritis?! After losing the first twenty pounds and regaining some muscle mass, I began to notice that getting up in the morning was not as big of an issue. With the help of my coach, I learned how to squat correctly, gained strength around the area causing the majority of the problem, and bone spurs or not, the pain has subsided and is much more manageable on a daily basis. My beat up hands have followed suit. Although my job is pretty demanding on my hands, the increase in strength through lifting has proved as effective, if not more effective, than relying on pain meds.
My hips are a slightly different story. It has been the slowest of slow climbs to gain hip strength. Although I no longer sleep in pain, spending too much time laying in bed or sitting on the couch will cause pain. So, don't get offended if I decline your offer to sit down, standing and moving around is much more tolerable.
When people are diagnosed with this, the most common form of arthritis, it becomes a choice as to how you deal with it. Yes, it is painful. But it is almost intolerably painful when you become sedentary. Weight gain or muscle gain is very much a determining factor of the level of pain. And yes, exercise is painful, but the benefits far outweigh the alternative. The term fat and happy does not exist when you throw arthritis into the equation. I have lived both lives, and turned to medicating myself first, which did not work. Exercise does work. It is solely your choice. I choose to battle it head on and live in a lot less pain.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Working
Whew! My days have been pretty busy lately. Outside of my usual job, working out, and training clients, I have been working on developing my website, creating t-shirt designs, and occassionally adding more to my book. I am not much of a computer person, or I should say sitting in a chair staring at a computer screen is not my thing. If I can sit still for more than fifteen minutes, it is a miracle. So, I am pretty thankful for my mini ipad...without it, I am not sure if I would get any thing accomplished.
As I have said many times, I wasted a lot of opportunities as a drunk. I am determined not to let that happen ever again in the time I have left on earth. My goal is not necessarily leave a legacy or become a household name. I just want to know that I have made a difference. Like most people, if I can help one person avoid the pitfalls of addiction, get in better shape, or simply help someone gain more confidence, then I consider that success!
So, about two days ago I launched an all inclusive website. It is not complete by any means, but the basics are there, and it is a starting point in my journey to make a difference as well as educate. And yes, you can consider this a shameless plug to get a few visitors to the page. And it may not be the last one. Hey, at least I am giving you a heads up on the plugs. :)
Without further ado, and more rambling...here is the link:
www.stronger-than-yesterday.com
As I said, it is a work in progress, and you will see constant changes until I get everything exactly the way I want it...which could be an endless task, because I am sort of a perfectionist when it comes to creative designs. With that being said, feel free to let me know what you think, or if there are specific things you would like to see!
As I have said many times, I wasted a lot of opportunities as a drunk. I am determined not to let that happen ever again in the time I have left on earth. My goal is not necessarily leave a legacy or become a household name. I just want to know that I have made a difference. Like most people, if I can help one person avoid the pitfalls of addiction, get in better shape, or simply help someone gain more confidence, then I consider that success!
So, about two days ago I launched an all inclusive website. It is not complete by any means, but the basics are there, and it is a starting point in my journey to make a difference as well as educate. And yes, you can consider this a shameless plug to get a few visitors to the page. And it may not be the last one. Hey, at least I am giving you a heads up on the plugs. :)
Without further ado, and more rambling...here is the link:
www.stronger-than-yesterday.com
As I said, it is a work in progress, and you will see constant changes until I get everything exactly the way I want it...which could be an endless task, because I am sort of a perfectionist when it comes to creative designs. With that being said, feel free to let me know what you think, or if there are specific things you would like to see!
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