Well, geez.

Posted on August 2, 2012 by tosabarbell

I woke up to two annoyances this morning. The first was something I read on the internet. It seems a bunch of powerlifters; very strong, very well supplemented powerlifters want to take on some CrossFitters at some kind of challenge. The thinking is because they are very strong, they can kick all sorts of ass with minimal training and show those shirtless, board short wearing, 155 pounders who’s boss. Why does this annoy me? I don’t know. Can’t we all just get along? First it’s the chicken sandwich that’s divided America, and now this?

The other annoyance is the fact that I felt I needed to defend CrossFitters. Tell these silly boys (yes boys, anyone who challenges on the internet hasn’t reached enough maturity to actually CALL the group you’re challenging and do it face to face) to go pick on someone your own size? Oh wait, they do. At Powerlifting meets.

Look people, CrossFit has it’s own set of issues and The Couch Thread is full of all kinds of LULZ bringing it all together. But we know, and respect, many CF gym owners who are doing right by their people. Beau and Angie in Maryland; Streeter and Carrie in Seattle; Alex up in Canadia. They, and others take a lot of couch potatoes or weak people and put a barbell in their hands. They open them up to a world of weightlifting (T-Bone down in NC); they get them excited about competition; they tweak diets to help their people feel better on a daily basis. The tomfoolery that we see on the internet doesn’t speak (although unfortunately, it usually represents) to the hard work a lot of people are doing in gyms.

Posturing on the internet is all kinds of badass.  That thinking annoys me the most. Go compete, in many different areas, enjoy it and STFU!  I hope the CrossFitters kick arse. If the competition were closer, I’d go cheer them on. I’d hold a sign; maybe make a t-shirt or something. Well, not really.

There are all sorts of venues to compete in. It’s not up to me to say YOUR venue is worthless therefore I’m going to tell everyone on the internet that I’m going to show up and embarrass you, I rule. It’s dick. And it’s annoying. Think long and hard why you think that’s fun.

On another note, who’d of guessed that some of the biggest drama  coming out of the Olympics revolves around Badminton? Huh.

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Friday Jams

Posted on July 27, 2012 by tosabarbell

It’s been a long day, so I’m in the mood for something different. And Canadian. Eh? The Tragically Hip.

Enjoy the weekend.

“Good intentions are not an excuse for maladministration of this magnitude.”

Jean Chretien

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Training Camp

Posted on July 26, 2012 by tosabarbell

The best part of NFL training camp? Hockey is right around the corner.

This will be the last year the Sioux and Gophers have to hate. It should be a great season.

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PR Mon. PR Tues. PR Wed. PR Thurs…

Posted on July 25, 2012 by tosabarbell

When is a PR a PR? I got into a conversation with a potential new gym member last spring at WFAC about this. He believed that a novice lifter should test their one rep max when they begin training so they can see their improvement right away (and in the process, accept what a good “coach” they have.) I believe this person to be a moron who has no business putting a barbell in anyone’s hands.

The Icelandic wonder boy (seriously, this kid has tiger blood; very athletic and smart parents; and is sweet to boot) above tried to deadlift anything he can get his hands on last year at a Highlander I competed at. How many PR’s is this kid going to hit before it means something?

How is this different than a person brand new to barbell training? Who hasn’t taken time to properly learn the lifts and run some type of linear progression to get stronger? Hell, a first meet is just another training session. The idea we are feeding people is that hitting PR’s as a new lifter is something special, therefore, THEY’RE special. We get to show them how good they are being coached and what a superb athlete they are just because they’re hitting PR’s session after session for their first year.

Uhhh, nope. Hitting “PR’s”  as a new lifter means you’re getting stronger. As you’re supposed to. Because you’re paying your strength coach to help with that process. A PR comes after you spend time in the gym training. Not a month, not two months but a significant enough amount of time that grinding out that PR actually means something.

At the same Highlander last fall, I hit a heavy WFH of 13′. Another strong competitor and I were the last one’s standing. She hit a PR of 13’6″, one she’d been working years to hit. Believe me, she was far more stoked for her 13’6″ than I was for my 13′. Don’t get me wrong, I was very happy and wouldn’t have made it that far without her help (it was my first time competing at a Highlander.) But I didn’t work years for that PR like she did hers. THAT, is what I’m talking about. It’s how I’ll feel when I hit 15′ on the heavy WFH or more than 8′ on the Bremer stone (I hate that thing.)

Training takes time, PR’s will come. Don’t rush them, they’re meaningless when you do. Work your ass off, and savor a hard fought PR.

Wine of the Day:

PENNYWISE Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009

Excellent Cab at it’s price point ($10.99)

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