I had to find another competition, as the one I was planning on doing will not have enough lifters to make it an Arnold qualifier. The news left me a little gutted and I cant say it felt good to have to start looking elsewhere when I had 6 weeks to go. Both physically and mentally I was preparing and its hard to ramp down when you were just starting to ramp up. Having to push back my goals 4 weeks does not seem like a lot but a 10-12 week training cycle has now been made into a 16 week marathon and the body can only hold on to so much. That being said, I am not complaining but merely explaining the realities of the sport. Sometimes you can be signed up and ready to go but the amount of competitors, location, promoter preferences etc can de-rail you very quickly.

Trouble shooting the issue leaves me with a few paths. I can skip the comp all together and use this strength cycle to get Strongman strong and hit some personal numbers, ramp back down and ramp up to get ready for Kentucky, or have a little fun and maybe do a Powerlifitng meet. I can tell you that although there are 3 options only 2 really make sense, and only one of those two actually charge me up. For the time being I am trying to set my sights on the plat plus happening in Kentucky on May 11th and will try to remain the course. I am going to use the next few weeks to focus on some have singles and push the envelope a little before settling back into a percentages game and fitness. In the meantime, I have been able to get my hands on the Atlas Stone again, Axel clean and press, and focus on a heavy deadlift.

This week I decided to focus on a heavy deadlift off the blocks. I focused on staying belt-less during the deadlift to keep myself honest but also not going beyond my limits. I trust my trunk enough and I had set my mind on 600. Block pulls are always a dance with the devil for me as that position always puts a good strain on my back. They day started off a little slow as preparing to host my own show in 5 weeks has caused some sleepless nights, but would end up with an awesome pull. There was a tangible fear in my belly and it was one I had welcomed back with open arms. Its a feeling in your gut that doesn’t run away until its time to pull, when your wraps are set and the initial strain of the weight is pulling on your bones, attempting to smash them against the floor. I felt it, I could feel it as I approached the Axel, no longer under the comforting hug of a belt and the echoing of my back history ringing loudly in my ears. I cannot hone my courage if I am not fighting for my life against fear. I have written about that once many times and I felt it Tuesday. It was glorious. I felt a rush like no other completing that pull, not because 600 is the heaviest in the world but because it was belt-less, pain free, and damn good fucking form. Blood, sweat and tears man.. it truly is. It is so cliché to say it but when the skin of your shins are falling off the bar, when your notes are blurred by dripping sweat, and when the roar comes from so many nights of holding back tears of doubt and sadness, then yea.. it is blood sweat and tears. Trust me.

Never Stray from The Way

MDLP