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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Uhhhhhh, huh?

Posted on July 23, 2012 by tosabarbell

Beyond the blue pull-up he’s wearing…WTF!

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Don’t Jump!

Posted on July 23, 2012 by tosabarbell

I’ve had enough conversations on jumping the last few weeks that it seems worth mentioning. No, not the very cool (that I’ll never do) cliff jumping into beautiful, welcoming waters. But program jumping in strength training.

Look people, you need to find a program and stay the course. The Iron can be boring. Day in, day out, a few pounds more here, a few pounds less there. Some days you feel strong, some days you don’t. Smelly knee sleeves; favorite training shirt almost torn to shreds; shorts that have yet to burst from your ever swelling squat ass; squat shoes that have been resoled at least three times…glamorous we ain’t.

But we are consistent. We all share the goal, get stronger. Be Strongest. But that takes years, not months. It takes a dedication to a program; it takes a dedication to being a beginner…for a while. A long while. Someone placed the redunkulous notion out there that gains come quickly. You flip a tire in boot camp? Whell clearly you’re ready for a strongman contest. You’ve done one powerlifting meet? Whell clearly you’re ready for a new program for the next one.

Ever wonder why people listen to folks like Rip, Wendler, Dan John, or Tommy Suggs? Because the knowledge they’ve accrued has taken them YEARS. Get it? Not a couple, but decades. Agree or disagree with their programming, I don’t care. That’s not the point. The point is that they’ve tweaked their program with years and years of experience watching others succeed (or not) using them over (say it with me ) YEARS, not weeks or months. I’ve just read on someone’s training log how their squats have not progressed in over a year. Looking back at the log, you can see how they’ve switched lifting styles; programming; diet; lack of diet; and anything else vital to an effective strength program. Well DUH! OH! They’ve also jumped coaches, at least four in a year. Huh. Guess what moron, your results reflect exactly what you’ve put into your training.

Find a program, eek out every ounce of strength you can from it. When it’s time to switch things up, pay a few bucks to someone with enough knowledge to recognize that you MUST STAY THE COURSE. As antsy as you are to try the next fad, stay the course. You’ll save years of wasted training.

Or not. At least you’ll have something to bitch about on your training log.

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