Barrels Big 50th

After within a month competing in my two favorite comps of all time Maximum Strength Challenge in Nampa Idaho first then this past weekend Barrels Big 50th in Santa Rosa California I really cant pick which was my favorite! Both for different reasons. Well onto the past weekend.

I've known Doug Carroll pretty much since I started doing this crap and is one of the best people I have met period not just in this sport. So when 10 months ago he posted he will be throwing a show to celebrate his 50th birthday my frst response was "Very cool! Maybe in 10 months I'll be strong, showing up no matter what though." Looking back i think it was very fitting. I was coming off losing a ton of weight and a disappointing performance at nationals as a 175lber. I weighed 180lbs and looking through my training log from that week I hit a 205lb log press which I remember felt pretty heavy, 210 farmers hold for 30 seconds, 350x8 deadlift.  But I didn't let that stop me, I knew what I could get back to and surpass strength levels I had before. Training for such a heavy show and not wanting to embarrass myself when I showed up along with all the help and support Doug and others gave me along the way really made me have to push myself.

OK well onto the show. After the best comp I have ever had by a long shot at Max Strength I had a ton of confidence but also an injured knee from dropping a 270lb log on my ankle. I was a little worried. I tried to down playing it but In between the shows I basically trained 3 times. I jut rested and ate! 2 days out from the show it felt fully healed so I was real happy with that.

Friday morning I loaded everything up in my Wagon which I have never driven more then 20 miles. No radio, A/C and a bunch of wind noise from all the interior not being in= awesome. It really brought me back to being young and riding with my uncle in his 64 Impala to car shows. Including bottoming out the suspension and hitting the frame on the Hiway at 80MPH a few times. Good times.

Got into Santa Rosa, met with Doug weighed in at a disappointing 194lbs wtf? Got a cookies n cream shake at Cold Stone then headed to dinner with my family. It was a pretty amazing place I ate half a chicken and drank probably a gallon of water out of a tiny glass. Just hard to be social and catch up with family when all you want to do is hit big lifts the next day and are in that mood.

OK first event

Log Press for max

1st attempt 240 smoked it but a bit off balance had to dance with my feet a bit, nothing new
2nd 260: even easier felt awesome, 5lb pr
270 Took a bunch of ammonia and attacked it, I had ZERO dip under my jerk wouldn't work and I was pretty much push pressing everything all day. It will happen.

ended up in I think a 3 way tie for 2nd with Ron Strahan and Doug Brownfield, not bad company but I want to kill the damn press, 270 would have been big. Easton won with 280

2nd Event 700lb Yoke for 100ft: My most hated event I swear its making me 5'4 as well. Thanks Nick Best for making it unlimited drops you doubled the amount of time I would be in complete pain. Each step sucked i tried to stay as tight as possible and just take it 1 step at a time. half way through I got a bad shoulder cramp and it cost me some time, I didn't want to push through, ended up 33' of distance I think the longest I was going in training was 15-20ft so its something. Going to really hammer the heavy yoke as I am sure it will be at Nationals. 

Deadlift for max Back to the fun stuff! 

Decided to open at 525, I thought about opening at 500 but figured a few would open at 500 and then hit 525 so I might as well hit it on my 1st attempt to score above them. Plus If I can't pull 525 I deserved to zero the event. Put the pressure on myself. I asked Doug to crack an ammonia for me when I was strapped in.  But I didn't ask him to ammonia rape me! HAHA GOOD TIMES.

I think the picture says it all. 

I seriously never had a head rush like that, I got dizzy and was seeing stars. I probably would have fell over if I wasn't strapped to the bar. So when I first went to pull I almost did. Regrouped myself and i was beat from the first attempt but I couldn't miss. I pulled and it came slow off the ground, started to shake and locked it out. The feeling when it is locked out and the strain is gone after a fight on deadlifts is so great. Plus you make funny faces.

I also broke a chip off one of the small plates I like to think that is what made it light enough for me to get it the second time.

2nd attempt at 550 wasn't happening I kind of blew my wad. I truly believe I am right around the corner from having a 585-600lb deadlift once I fix 1 or 2 weaknesses. I feel my upper back/legs, etc are up to that kind of weight just my low back and abs are holding me back.

320lb farmers walk (each hand) for 100ft

I had gotten close to picking these in training. My farmers/grip has really made the biggest improvement, i used to struggle with 250per hand! Chalked up like mad, pulled and it came right up! walking with this weight was a different story, I took 1 or 2 stumble steps and my right hand gave out. repicked and grip slipped. rechecked took some time and with about 10 seconds Doug kept yelling at me saying I needed to get right here to clear the start line and get points. He then threw a box of ammonia caps down and I picked, lunged forward and crushed them with the weights HAHA. I think I moved them a total of 3-5" but I'll take it! 3 picks and not a zero

Stones.............

4 320 stones loaded to about 50" Oh boy, slathered up in spider tack then the fun of not being able to touch anything until its your turn. I don't think your ass ever itches as much as when your covered in tacky!

I have never loaded a 20" stone, Ive loaded 300+lb 18" stones I just cant get a hold of the bigger stones. I damn near pulled it into my lap twice but I pull it off the ground and it just feels like I can't move. I need to figure out how to roll these damn things in my lap. Still the heaviest stone I have gotten daylight under so its a start.

http://www.nickbestprostrongman.com/barrel.html

This was truly a great Day, I drank probably half a dozen rockstars. Us lowly Amateurs actually competed for a little cash. Plus I don't think a promoter has ever been as invovled and fired up by the people lifting then Doug! Callie and Mick did a great job MCing and the live streaming and recording entire strongman shows like is available on www.nickbestprostrongman.com is just awesome and one of the steps this sport needs to take it to the next level.  Please click the link above and check out the site. There was some amazing lifts and gritty performances that deserve to be seen.

Can't wait for next year!