If you want to be strong. You MUST incorporate heavy squats into your training plan. No human has gained tremendous strength without the use of squats in their program. Squats set the foundation for everything else. You don’t build a house by starting with the windows.
Another key component to unworldly strength is a team of like-minded individuals to push you beyond limits. This Saturday, May 8 at 5:30pm we are bringing the two elements together. Gary Bess is currently in training for this summers USAPL Raw National meet, where he is primed to set National records. I leave to train with Russian National team members in St. Petersburg in the coming weeks. Tom Hicks is talking of a return to the platform this fall.
If your squat training needs a kick in the ass? You do not want to miss this training day.
Wooster Wellness Expo
Saturday, May 8 at Wooster High School Follis Field will be Wooster, OH first Wellness Expo. Wooster Community Hospital has partnered with every fitness provider in the area in an effort to get people off there backsides and start moving.
http://www.woosterhospital.org/wellnessexpo/
The day will start at 9am and go til 3pm. There will be many fitness providers, including Durniat Strength, answering questions and providing demonstrations of the services offered. Food vendors with healthy eating choices will also be on hand.
An official Punt, Pass & Kick competition will take place on the field. While the track will be open for walker and runners.
I will have kettlebells and grip strength equipment on hand for all to try. 5 training session gift card to all who complete the grip challenge at the event.
Lets Go People. Get Off Your Butt And Move.
Western New York Highlander Challenge
This coming weekend I will be competing in the Western New York Highlander Challenge in Olcott, NY (Buffalo, NY area). This competition is hosted be Mike Landrich, a good friend and seasoned strongman promoter of many years.
The competition will take place near the Lake View Village Shops, Olcott, NY (intersection of Rt 78 and E. Main St). We’ll be the ones lifting logs, throwing stones, running with kegs and flipping trees.
The events will be:
1. 15” log for reps. clean each rep. (HW 200, MW and Masters 180, LW 160, Women 100)
2. Heavy Weight for Height. (HW and MW 56 lbs, LW and Masters 42lbs, Women 28lbs)
3. Seated arm over arm pull (weight and distance TBD)
4. Open Stone
5. Carry and drag (carry sandbag, place on sled, then run back to start line, carry keg, place onto sled, pull sled back. Weights/distance TBD)
6. Caber
Weight Classes are: LW <200, MW 201-250, HW 250+, Masters (1 class) and Women (1 class)
I will be competing in the Middle Weight (MW) category (my bodyweight is currently at 227lbs.)
I replicated each event this past weekend the best I could, trained inside due to a thunderstorm.
I used 204 lbs. on my 12″ log and was good for 6 reps from the floor in 60 seconds.
A break in the storm allowed Spencer and I to go outside and throw weight for height over a tree branch. The branch measured out at just over 13′ which is a good height and my goal for the weekend.
Back inside for the arm over arm pull which we had to do standing. We weighted the sled +140 lbs. and did 3 pulls of 30ft. as fast as possible. The friction between the sled and rubber flooring really made this weight a challenge, but great training none the less.
Next we set up a Carry and Drag course. We used a 200 lbs. sandbag, 236 lbs. keg and started the sled weight at +230 lbs.. The sandbag felt light today and I could practically sprint with it. The keg also was not as much of a problem as I was thinking it would be. The backwards drag felt strong on the first set and after a rest I added an additional 90 lbs. to the sled (+320 lbs. total). This final sled pull was very challenging as I had to did deep and really drive to complete the 50ft. course.
I want to thank my training partner, Spencer Wallace, for motivating and suffering alongside. A good training partner is vital to reach ones goals.
I’ll let everyone know how I do when I return.
