Great photo

Yours truly pulling 118-kilos (same as my 2011 effort) at the Rolling Thunder event. I like how my forearm looks, the tricep looking fat and the veins on my head bulging with effort.

But without argument the one of Mark pulling an all time record... I can't argue with that. Great effort by Mark and an awesome series of photos by the photographer Zoie Carter-Ingham. Check her work at www.zoie-photography.com and the album on facebook

 

Back for a bit part 3...Grip Dyno

When we were setting up etc on Thursday the guys, Charles and Gary Rinaldi, showed me their Baseline Grip Dynometer (see image). We had a LOT of fun this weekend with it. As well as having visitors to our stand try out their Heavy Grips we got them to test their strength. The little booklet that comes with it suggest that the mean average for all age groups is, in what I assume to be the untrained population, 115lbs or a little over 52kg.

Throughout the three days we had a load of guys, who obviously lift weights, hit 65-kilos or 140lbs. Now I am sure we did not get them to hold it as per how a sports scientist might, nor did we (for the most part) adjust the handles, but 25lbs better than average consistently is a decent enough indicator.

The climbers among the visitors got higher numbers than you'd expect for their relatively light body-weights and also had as good a crush grip number (slow but steady powerful squeeze until then red needle stopped) as they did ballistic (just a snap like pull). Those who did combat got wide differences (weight trainers would get 5-15kg difference, combat athletes 10-30kg spreads). The handful of women that tried also scored (with only one below - but she was a wee lass) above the mean average. Of course we also had some awesome numbers - one was an old mucker of mine from Liverpool who hit numbers very close to mine. We didn't get the chance to test any high level pro strength guys.

I also noticed, just from my own efforts, peaks and troughs through the day. The closer together my efforts and those of others were the worse the drop off. However, my average crush was 100-kilos with lows of 90-kilos and a peak of 120-kilos. My ballistic efforts averaged off the scale (130kilos being the max) with the best going all the way back to zero and a low of 120-kilos. A few visitors were so impressed they videoed these efforts as the needle went so fast. It was even suggested I was using a secret button!!

Much like the arm wrestling tables and boxing machines both guys and yes gals like to test themselves against the big guys and the dyno was a harmless but fun way for them to do so.

Back for a bit part 2...

This weekend, at Bodypower (not band camp he he) I checked out Liquid Grip's 'take the challenge'. I got the most weight for Saturday and picked up £50.00. Here's my report as per my post on Muscletalk:

''In my lunch break. I've been saying that all of the rest of the weekend. Someone told me about their stand on Friday. So on Saturday I looked at it and had a quick go at the starting weigh before anyone was around. I go to our stand and work. Lunchtime I'm given a few quid for food and I go straight over to the Liquid grip stand, with my stands shirt on and exhibitor pass around my neck (so not hiding anything) and ask 'can I have a go?'. Only then do I notice Aaron and he makes a quip about me turning up ha ha.

Sans their product I pull the opening weight and do all the rest to 72? 77?? odd kilos (weights only - no idea what the set up is). He takes my info as 'the best so far' (sorry Aaron ha ha) and I grab a bite and go back to work. Remember I'm closing grippers and doing all my grip stuff before and after all weekend.

I go back again after closing (6pm) and as above do it again for a small crowd, collect and wave my £50.00 note and encourage the guy to sell, as it were, his product with the crowd. I then, no joke, take the crowd with me (6 guys) back to my stand and they buy some grippers. The owner was staying at my hotel so I had a drink and a natter with him and brought myself a rib eye steak dinner and some beers with my winnings :D''

Back for a bit part 1

Hectic but fun weekend at Bodypower. My mind, if not my body, still feels frazzled but I'll try and get something down, if in instalments, over the next few days before I nip off to Essex and the Hercules Olympia. I'll add more soon!

Bodypower... nearly here

I'm nigh on packed and ready to go. I'm working the weekend with Ultimate Grip on stand E2. That's all you need to know so drag your sorry asses over, shake my hand, slip me a fiver... oops and say hi!

Bodypower 2012

Are you coming? Now, in the UK the model by which all other bodybuilding lifestyle expos compare. Numbers, year on year, have grown and with the added extra day, Friday, included I'd expect to see some 40000 over the three days (10k up on last year). In similar set ups industry has focused on the Friday and the retail side on the weekend.

These events are, for me (even with me working there), great fun. They really are what you make of them. So some guys turn up in their tight MMA style shirts, all skin tight on their arms and pecs... so what they're having fun!

The key is to come in and interact. So try testing your strength, pose with model or a pro, try your luck on the challenges and get a full to the brim goody bag! 

I've already said I'm working there but here's a reminder. Come and say hi on the Ultimate Grip stand. I'm piss poor at names so introduce yourselves!!

Sunday 13th May workout

Saturday
Volume work with HG300 followed by Argos catalogue tearing practise and finished with nail bending

Sunday
early for me @ Beefs Gym
Leg press
f/plate x 20 reps, 120-kilos x 20 reps, 240-kilos x 20 reps, 360-kilos x 20 reps, 500-kilos x 10 reps

Leg ext
35-kilos x 15 reps, 80-kilos x 15 reps, 120-kilos / stack 2 x 11 reps

s/s

Leg Curls
35-kilos x 12 reps, 50-kilos x 12 reps, 75-kilos x 9 reps

R/W/Curl
7.5-kilos x 12 reps, 12.5-kilos x 10 reps, 20-kilos x L9/R10 d/s 10-kilos x 10 reps @

Friday 11th May 2012. Last Rolling Thunder workout before Bodypower

Friday
The mind set was that this is one of the last few proper sessions I'll get in over the next 3 weeks and one of the very last before Bodypower - more so for the Rolling Thunder event.

CG Bench Press
bar  x 12 reps, 60-kilos x 8 reps, 80-kilos x 8 reps, 112.5-kilos x 6 reps - d/s 60-kilos x 15 reps = pump
 
LPD
75-kilos x 8 reps, 95-kilos x 8 reps, 125-kilos x 7 rep - d/s 60-kilos x 8 hard pumping reps

DODL
60-kilos x 8 reps, 100-kilos x 6 reps, 140-kilos x 3 reps, 180-kilos x 3 reps, 200-kilos x dizzy/stopped/failed

RT
B/H: 80-kilos x 6 reps @, 100-kilos x 3 reps @, 115-kilos x 1 rep @, 120-kilos x 1 rep @, 130-kilos x 1 rep @ (nice for left hand). 140-kilos x F (right only), dropped to 100-kilos x 8 reps @ (was more there but stopped).

Rolling Thunder at the Bodypower 2012 expo

Hi all, as per last year there will be a pro/am Rolling Thunder event following the strongman competitions on Sunday.

The following was taken from the Bodypower Expo pages:
Sunday @ 2.30*

• Sign up & ref briefing for Amateur Rolling Thunder.
• Followed By: Amateur Rolling Thunder.
• Sign up & briefing for Pro Rolling Thunder
• Pro Rolling Thunder. Last man standing**

** Mark Felix will attempt to break his own world record 301lbs, along with other pros that have been made aware of this competition.

Will you have a go at the amateurs event? Last year 20+ competitors did and in front of between 400 and 600. Feedback from the expo organisers was good and the crowd liked it. the winning weight last year, from memory, was around 90-kilos. Can you better this. In the pro event Mark pulled 123-kilos on an 2011 handle and Brian Shaw and myself, Steve Gardener, tied with 118-kilos. Brian hurt his bicep at the Arnold... will he compete, can I beat him? It should be fun - I must make a note not to overdo al the lifting I'll be doing on the Ultimate Grip stand (come and say hi). 

*subject to running order not changing, alterations etc.

Monday 23rd April workout

Monday

Leg Press

to 500kg x 11 reps
 

Leg Ext

to stack x 14 d/d reps

s/s
 

Leg Curls

to 70kg x 11 d/d reps

RT work

B/H: 60-kilos x 8 reps @, 80-kilos x 3 reps @, 100-kilos x 1 rep @. My lower back was stiff and I spent time loosening it between sets.

L/H: 115-kilos x F then 3 x 1 rep. 117.5-kilos x 1 and then 4 reps.

R/H: 117.5-kilos x 3 x 1 reps, 123.75-kilos x 1 then 2+2 (RP style). 

As before my mind was in Bodypower mode but by golly it took some getting there. ALL of the warm up sets, esp left handed, were hard work. But I got a sort of second wind once in BP mode for the heavy ones. 

Monday 16th April w/out

Monday
Sooo washed our during and after training. This snotty nose thing must be viral. I'm getting better but does it take something out of me or what?

Leg Press
usual then 120kg x 12 reps, 240kg x 12 reps, 360kg x 12 reps, 500kg x 10 reps

Leg Ext
35kg x 15 reps, 80kg x 15 reps, 120kg x 13 reps r/p

Leg Curl
35kg x 12 rep, 45kg x 12 rep, 70kg x 11 d/d reps

RT

B/H: 60kg x 8 reps, 80kg x 3 reps, 100kg x 1 rep,

L/H: 115kg x 3 x 1 reps, 117.5kg x 1, 1, 2 reps

R/H:   117.5kg x 3 x 1 reps, 122.5kg x 3 x 1 reps, 125kg x 1 and then a bomb. Was done in.

Was HARD work with virus. Sufficient to say the gyms music and my wanting to do well at the NEC got me through... just.

On competing again...

Every so often I'm asked if I intend competing again. The short answer is yes. There is, of course, a but or two. Right now, as per a post here and a reply elsewhere my focus is two fold: 1) House - I need to get a place to live before the money sitting in my bank account dwindles away and 2) the upcoming Rolling Thunder event in  May at the Bodypower expo.

After that I do fancy another crack at the 2HP record and or a final British Championships. But the longer these are left the less likely they are. I've stated before that I have no wish to become an also ran, a once was who out stays their welcome by coming back again and again and apparently ignoring my slow but steady slipping back. I used the analogy of many a great champion pro-boxer who eventually ends up punch drunk. Once the top of the bill and star attraction he comes a 2nd or third tier fighter. Occasional flashes of brilliance but mostly a warm up for an up and coming fighter. Bow out gracefully and keep your hand in. Continue lifting and become, if one wishes to stay in, a guy or gal who sets out events and promotes.

That said the competitor in every athlete who's been on the platform and made a name for themselves at the highest level will never completely leave. So don't be too shocked, once I'm set again, if you see me about - chalked hands and lifting belt on.

Other stuff... 1 Bodypower and the Rolling Thunder

It's not that long now until the muscle and fitness fest that is Bodypower 2012. Year on year growth sees aprox 30000 expected over the 3 day weekend (Fri-Sunday). Up a day from last year. It'll be interesting to see if this VAT issue makes for some chatting and a half among the companies attending.

Me? I'm working, as last year, with UltimateGrip (also at Seni later the same month I think). I'll be with the nut job (in a nice way) that is Rod 'Rambo' Lenette as the ''faces'' so expect us to goof about a little to get your interest.

I'm also keen to play my part, as last year, along with Denny Felix over on the strength arena on Sunday afternoon with the 2012 British Rolling Thunder championships. Last year I tied for 2nd with the (as now) World's Strongest Man 2012 winner Brian Shaw. Mark Felix, world record holder, won. Recent efforts of Laine Snook aren't to be sniffed at.

So what am I thinking... assuming I don't knacker myself by squeezing grippers all weekend for pay like last year and still coming 2nd I plan on doing better. In spite of the 'no chalk' rule at Beef's Gym here in Strood where I am temporarily staying (looking for a new home to move to - Wales preferred) I am finally able to get the 2011 Ironmind Rolling Thunder handle a workout. It's well used and I did some BIG numbers on it during the last session. Not quite to Laine's level yet but there's enough time. Fancy winning some goodies in the amateur event? Come on down!!