10-04-03 Summer training was hectic, as people returned to / from school, prepared for different competitions, and tested the waters in new weight classes. The university gym was closed, so people split their time between local gyms, Mark Keshishan's place, home gyms, and the ice cream isle at Giant. Now, though, we're back in action, training regularly and bringing on new members.

Today was rainy and cold, but we persevered. Justin and Kevin both had good first experiences with the yoke, and Ismael looked like he was really getting the hang of the thing on his second day out. Andy still puts everyone to shame though, having really found his rhythm on this event.

We followed up with some carries in preparation for the Fall Challenge Strongman Challenge in Waldorf, MD. All the guys looked good carrying first the hydrant, then the full keg. The importance of aiming the hydrant's 3 node-like fittings away from the body (groin) was duly noted.

Next we brought out the tire. Again, the new guys looked good. Mike and Ismael spotted Kevin and Justin during their first-ever attempts with the tire. Ismael managed 4 flips on his second day.

We ended the day with a relay, wicked in it's cruel simplicity and light weights. Runners carried either the 85 lb. sandbag or the 130 lb. atlas stone down the course and back, and then handed the item off to the next runner. Repeat until everyone drops dead. Some people complicated the course by jumping up onto and over the tire, which was still laying out in the parking lot. No one puked, Justin put in a great performance, and Mike was the last man standing. I can't wait until next week, when the course is routed under instead of over the tire.


03-29-03 We started up as normal around 10-10:30 with Allan, Andy, Beka, Billy, Gabe, Jesse, Mike and Von showing up to give it a go. Today, we had a bit of a treat set up as CTN(College Television Network) was coming out to profile our club and video us doing our thing. We started off with some log press using the 8" diameter log and worked up to 245 in preparation for the Azalea Festival several of us are competing in this coming weekend. Then we moved on to the arm over arm pull. We pulled the sled three times each with a top weight of ~400 lbs. with several guys putting up some fast times. The film crew showed up as we began the third round of pulls and I think we gave them a bit of a show. The tire was up next as a good conditioning exercise as it won't be in the next competition, but it looks good for the camera......and don't we all LOVE flipping that tire! We were working for 5 flips as fast as you could and there were some blazing times, especially Andy who did 5 flips in 18 seconds. LUNCH TIME! Andy, Beka and Allan were interviewed by the film crew as Jesse and Gabe did us all a favor and went to get lunch for us all. We all ate, hung around for a while and then on for the second little goodie of the day.....fire truck pulling! We met up at Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department so that we could give a crack at getting those big monster vehicles moving. By the way, a big old thanks to Daphne Fuentevilla for making it all happen! We carted over to U of M parking lot and began to pull like hell. It didn't take us all long to learn that even the smallest of small angles will guarantee that the fire engine will go nowhere. Bear in mind this thing weighs around 40,000 lbs. So we tried the very slight downhill and it made all the difference, it then became an issue of how fast you could go. We then moved on to the ambulance with a slight upgrade slope and pulled on that. A few tiring pulls and couple interviews and a bent caribiner later we were done. We gave the camera one last good look at us as we told everyone why we do this..........BECAUSE WE CAN!!! Then we called it a day. Gotta say, I sure am tired, but it was alot of fun.


03-22-03 Another large turnout at my place! Started out the day with some of the girls shouldering the 85 lb sandbag and running with it. It looked pretty easy, I think I'll have to add some sand in the coming weeks, make it at least an even 100 lbs. Some of the guys were practicing the yoke on the other side of the lot, while some of us (me :) ) decided to sit this one out. The yoke just beats the body up too much to be trained frequently, except for the most robust individuals. Andy repeated Von's yoke feat from last week, making two turns while going across the 25 yrd course twice. Billy Moiles continues to find the front squat yoke walk more comfortable, and took the yoke the distance in this manor. Colin Moshman managed to tear a nice chunck of skin off his back with the yoke. Next was the log press. Billy brought his 12" diameter, very nice, aluminum log bar. The empty weight was estimated at only 35 lbs, so even the girls were toying around with it when empty. Progressive attempts were made, with the top weights for the day reaching 225 lbs. If memory serves, Andy jerked this weight overhead. We also trained a new event this time, the waddle walk. Sort of forgot that this event was going to be in the Mid-Atlantic Strongman Contest April 5th. Worked up to 235 lbs, a bit awkward, but some of the guys were setting blazing times. This event seems really hard on the hips, but maybe it's just because I squat and deadlift with a narrow stance. Colin and Jesse did some stone lifting with my spherical stone, lifting it without tacky. We wrapped things up with some tire flips. Everyone looked good on this event, but Andy is really improving from last season. He is going to be tough competition in the heavies this season. I'm predicting several Maryland Strength Sports placings in the mids as well come the 5th, and I think Billy will do very well in the lightweight category.


03-15-03 Hands down the largest training group I've had at my place yet! 12 people were training the events at the same time. Because of the large number, there were several events going at once. Training started off with the heaviest events, the farmers walk and super yoke. I think there was two firsts on the yoke. Billy Moiles, a guest from the US Naval Academy, tried the yoke for the first time. It was rough going at first when he put the yoke across his back, but then he picked up the technique, he looked fine. But then, he put the yoke across the front of his shoulders, front squatted it up, and took it about 15 feet. The other amazing feat was performed by Von Cresce, the yoke guru. Von took the yoke the length of the 25 yd. course, then made a 180° turn, came back the full length of the course again, then turned with the yoke 180° again before setting it down. Everyone applauded this effort. On the farmers side of the lot, the girls were going hard, carrying more then bodyweight and moving at very quick paces. I did some one-arm farmers, then everyone worked some heavy farmers in turn. Mike, Blake, Jesse and Billy looked good on some heavy farmers. Andy then loaded up the farmers to 335 lbs, taking them about 20 feet. Some seriously heavy sled dragging was also going on. Weights ranging from 200 lbs to 550 lbs were being dragged by everyone. Rich Geidt, a newcomer to the training group, found his niche on this event. The heaviest drag of the day was by Von, with an ~800 lb drag. Everyone trained the tire flip next, starting with warmups of a few flips, then working on maximum flips within 90 second time limit. Andy improved his technique by watching the pros. The fastest times of the day were within one second of each other. Billy picked up the technique quickly. I think he is going to be some tough competition at the Mid-Atlantic. The girls were showing off, shouldering the 85 lb sandbag, then running the 50 yrd course. I'll be looking for a contest with a women's division for sure.
03-08/09-03 First training weekend for 2003! The cold weather and snow this year has certainly delayed our strongman event training this winter, but that didn't stop everyone from getting stronger in the gym. Everyone looked in good form this weekend, and ready to compete in the upcoming April contests. It was an entire weekend full of strength training. Saturday morning Mike ran events training at my place. There was a good turnout, with Mike, Anday, Blake, Jesse, Beka, and Sara all training the events. The guys trained farmers, going up to over 300 lbs / farmer using the extra plates that Jesse brought. Then the guys wedged themselves under the yoke, making some quick passes over the 25 yd course. Everyone looked like they hadn't missed a beat on this one, looking even better than at the end of last season. The tire was next, with the guys testing themselves over a 90 second time limit.

Halfway through the events training I left to make my way for New Jersey, to train with the East Coast Gold weightlifting team. I've never seen so many people lifting so much weight at once. The gym in Moorestown, NJ was great, having a large numer of York and Eleiko competition bars and plates. I've decided to devote my gym training exclusively to olympic weightlifting, while continuing to train events on the weekend.

Finally, on Sunday Von and I hauled out the gear, and did some log pressing and super yoke. Man, that yoke is heavy but we both finished the course three times. Von is still the master of the yoke, he could have turned the yoke at the end of the course and came back!

Overall it was a great weekend, and I'm looking forward to the great weather this upcoming weekend to move some serious weight!

11-09-02 Final training day before the North Carolina's Strongest Man Competition. What a great day! Everyone started off with PR's in the log press, with Mike and myself showing control of the 200 lb log. Mike and Gabe wanted to get some extra work in on the farmers, so they gave it a go for some longer distance walks. We then hauled out the tire to brush up on our technique. Everyone was looking snappy and getting some clean, quick flips. We then headed over to the park for some keg tossing. We met up with Jesse, he got trapping in Maryland's homecoming traffic. Everyone was finding their grove, and these smoother releases resulted in some higher throws (except for me, I keep getting my keg vertical at the top this time). Jesse and Gabe then headed back to my place for some more tire flipping. Good luck to everyone in NC, see you there!

11-07-02 Tonight was great! The "cowboys" brought the truck by again tonight. We were set up a bit better, I got out the thick rope and anchored it to the tire so we could keep ourselves low. Andy, Jesse, Von and me gave the truck our best. Even my roommate Jay came out and gave it a go! Two rounds of pulling a piece. Didn't keep time but I think everyone did better on their second set. Then we each gave it a go twice on the farmers with 210 lbs/hand. I think Jesse and Andy both got 28 seconds or so, excellent. I still need to figure out what you guys are doing on that turn. Overall a good night, and I can't believe I am still up working on this page, I'm passing out now, good night.

11-02-02 Started off chilly this morning, then turned into a beautiful day. Began with the log press for reps. After warming up with 135 and 165 lbs for a few reps, loaded the bar to 200 lbs. Mike push pressed the log nicely for two singles, I was really thrilled to power jerk it twice (my best log lift ever, yeah, what, I suck at pressing, remember :)), but Blake simply amazed us with his strict triple, and he doesn't do overhead work. Von got the log to his chest a few times, he'll be pressing it in no time at all. Jesse then started us off playing around with the keg, toying how to load/ shoulder the monster. We then went to the tire. Everyone is still trying to finalize their style of flip for NC. We each did a round of flips with a 45 second time limit, trying to work on recovery from flip to flip and speed. Then a second round of flipping with a 90 second limit. Everyone continues to improve weekly on this event. Finally it was time for the keg toss for height. After thoroughly freaking out some tennis players in the park, we started our keg tossing. Everyone was pretty beat by this point but I think everyone showed improvement from last week. This was Mike's first time at the toss, and he improved from set to set. Good job today guys, keep up the tough work.

10-31-02 Unsuspected surprise tonight - GOT TO PULL A DUMP TRUCK! Was planning on doing some farmers and sled pulling, but "The Cowboys" from Texas fired up their rig and we hooked up the harness. The truck was an extended dump truck, weighing over 25,000 lbs. Pulling up even the smallest hill was impossible, so the guys turned it around for us and we (Von, me) each gave it a go. Holy crap! We need a bigger sled guys! Better yet - next thursday we have another go with the truck, just got to give the guys a call. Then did a light set of farmers with 195 / hand, Von did two sets. We each finished off with a sprint with the sled - we after that truck it felt like a sprint.


10-26-02 		Good training today - weather cleared up and it was like spring. Andy, Jesse, Blake, Von, and myself (Allan) were out at my place today. Started off with the log, starting with some 135 lb warmups. No problem until the weight got heavy (195+). Von, Andy and Jesse opted out of this event, Blake and me went back and forth, Andy did some continentals with the log. Blake did a very impressive press with 205, I think he'll get a few reps in the NC strongest man if he decides to do it. Next was the stone (~250-275 lbs, spherical) load. Since we don't have a platform we just lifted it and tried to get it as high on the chest as we could. No one got the stone without tacky, but once we broke the tacky out everyone was able to get the stone up. Blake gave us a scare when he fell back and the stone rolled onto his chest - he's ok though! Most everyone should have some nice marks on their forearms for a few days. We also fooled around a bit with one of the kegs. Then for the tire flip. Everyone had a good day, and some PR's! Jesse flipped the tire 8 times in just under the 90 second time limit, Von did the same. Blake gave the tire a good 5 flips, awesome for his first time. I flipped the tire 10 times, the last as time expired, but I made it. We then headed over to the park for some keg tossing. We worked on being explosive, but it was tough to do, we were pretty beat. I love the looks we get from people playing tennis! All in all a good day, time to hit the shower!