Blind Vegan Strongman

[Chris Vaughn]

Drug free, vegan, blind... How else can I stack the deck against myself? It really just makes me work harder.

09/05/11:

Warm up:

On the minute perform 5 burpees x 5 minutes. Then go right into on the minute perform 10 alternating lunges x 5 minutes. Then, go right into an upper body movement x 5 minutes. At the end of 20 minutes you’re ready to go and you’ve woken up your nervous system without over doing it.

1) DB Press: work up to competition weight for singles. Did 115 lbs (1-arm) for a bunch of singles. Feels easy. I have a lot of confidence in this. (I have a competition in New Hampshire on September 24th.)

Here's one of the reps with new, improved form:
http://youtu.be/CbJ1ipS4Jek

2) Crucifix: 1 warm up set, 1 set at competition weight. Made it for almost a minute.

3) Axle Ladder:

Using a 135+ pound axle perform a single clean and jerk. Drop the bar from the top and then perform a double with a “touch-n-go” at the bottom. No re-gripping allowed. Drop from the top and then perform a triple with the same “touch-n-go” technique.

After you’ve done the triple go back to the single. Climb back up to the triple and keep repeating this process for 6 minutes.

Single, Double, Triple, Single Double, Triple, etc…x 6 minutes.

The weight should be a minimum of 135. To pick your weight, play with the axle before you start and see how heavy of a triple you can perform without letting go of the bar. Your weight for this workout should be close to that 3RM.

I used 165 and got 4 rounds.

4) Pull Ups Throughout. Probably did about 40.

[Chris Vaughn]

09/07/11

1) Fat Bar Deads: work up to competition weight (405) for sets of 3. This was a lot easier than I remembered. I've been working very hard to put my legs into it rather than the "cat stretch" back lift I'm used to.

2) Stone shouldering (most likely with stone trainer) x 3 rounds:

115 x 4, 145 x 3, 175 x 2, 215 x 1

3 rounds with minimal rest.

Music for this:
http://youtu.be/P3ot-LMuPgs

[Chris Vaughn]

09/08/11

Felt a little burned out. I am at the end of the 3rd training week of this cycle. Didn't do much of anything, but here it is:

1) Bench: worked up to 255 x 1. Haven't done bench in months and months. Felt pretty terrible.
2) Strict Barbell Rows: 2 x 10
3) Shrugs: worked up to 315 x 15.
4) Light biceps and triceps work.
5) Conditioning:

Barbell swings: 5 rounds of 20 reps. It was like a "mini snatch". Rested only long enough for my training partner to do her 20 reps. Good pace, nice and sweaty.

If anybody is interested, here's my a video of my last competition:
http://youtu.be/6frgjPCmzKo

I'm a total cam whore.

Also, if you have Facebook, feel free to add me. Note that I am an opinionated asshole, so...
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1516770613

I'll do my best to update this log, but I work at all times. I'm also trying to turn my lawn into a garden to try to save cash on foods (and not eat GMOs.)

[wannalift]

Nice work. Great videos!

[Lordmuppet]

awesome stuff! will be following along for sure

[JP]

hey nice one with the log!

are you fully blind?

so these comps you are doing, are they in the about 90kg strongman category? I just reffed a 90kg comp here last sunday, the standard was pretty damn good!

db press seems to be in many comps here too - I HATE IT!!! Always when a new comp comes up the dumbell in it seems to be above my PB and i have to work my arse off just to get a rep or two out of it...

[vegan hal]

hey Chris. Welcome. nice log too. where are you from?

this is the best video: eating 6 crackers in 1 min:

[Chris Vaughn]

Really good training today. Here's the info on my next competition; it's in two weeks:
http://www.nastrongman.com/pdf/2011/nh2011.pdf

I'm not sure who reads this, but the novice class is fairly lenient, so if you're anywhere near, consider competing. Let's show the omnis who rules, eh?

1) Farmer's: 200 per hand, 100' with one turn x 2 attempts. First, I struggled a bit with the pick and got 19 seconds, then really focused and got it in just under 16 seconds. Very confident with this event.
2) Tire Flip and Sled Drag- 50’ each way: my weights are 550/550, but I only have a 650 tire, so I used that. i wasn't timing this one; I was concentrating on throwing the tire up in one motion instead. It's "practice" so to speak.
3) Backward sled drag x ? feet. My training partner and I dragged our terribly heavy wooden sled around the neighborhood--taking turns when someone got tired. I would estimate it was at least ten trips @ 75 feet for me. Collapsed near the end.

I weighed in at 196 this morning--the lightest I've been in almost ten years. Getting ready to ROCK the lightweights!

I put some pics on Facebook. Check 'em out!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1516770613

[Chris Vaughn]

are you fully blind?

People tend to think of "blind" as a guy waving around in the dark. That's a very small percentage.

I have some usable eyesight, but it gets really blurry out after about four inches. A lot of times I have people shouting cues at me during shows.

so these comps you are doing, are they in the about 90kg strongman category? I just reffed a 90kg comp here last sunday, the standard was pretty damn good!

Yes Sir. 90kg or thereabout. I was a fat guy in the next class up, but I cut out the crap (including meat) and haven't lost much strength. I think I'll make much more of an impacet now.

db press seems to be in many comps here too - I HATE IT!!! Always when a new comp comes up the dumbell in it seems to be above my PB and i have to work my arse off just to get a rep or two out of it...

Me too!

I fixed the technique in putting it way up and behind my head hoping that it helps. I guess I'll find out on the 24th!

[Chris Vaughn]

I really love this; makes me want to tear up the weights:
http://youtu.be/X5ucw43uIwY

And this!
http://youtu.be/v81osfu1K0o <--

[Chris Vaughn]

This is the last week of actual training (not just prehab/rehab) I have prior to the competition on the 24th.

Today:
1) Axle Deads (from the floor): 9 x 3 reps with half of competition weight; used 200 lbs, no belt, double overhand. All easy.
2) Yoke Walk x 2 Minutes:
Load the yoke with 1.5x to 2x body weight. Zercher Carry it 50 feet, set it down, and carry it back 50 feet. Repeat for 2 minutes for max lengths.

I did 150 lbs per side, 75 lbs bar @ 196 lbs body weight for my second set. My first set was 200 lbs per side and felt like crap. I haven't done Yoke in months.

Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvuPCMQmyaY

Notice the huge shirt. This is one of the remainders of my "fat kid" shirts.

3) 1000 foot Yoke walk; this is great for conditioning and pain tolerance. Here's the video:
This is about 175 lbs total weight. It was more painful for my upper back than anything.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgZgpevr8ME

Dialing it in now. I expect to have a strong placing.

Details:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=225501037496134

VEGAN POWER!

[JP]

how did it go dude?

[baldy]

I have prior to the competition on the 24th.

Good luck and smash it up!

[JP]

LOL ok...

[Frostfire]

this is the best video: eating 6 crackers in 1 min:

That IS the best video! Highlights include "to prove its a real cracker, I'm going to feed it to a parrot" and (speaking to said parrot) "do you want a cracker? Of course you do, how stereotypical of you."

Good luck with the comp this Saturday, I look forward to seeing those vids!