Back to the basement of pain. My home away from home. Today, after being away from this for nearly 5 weeks, I realized that I am most at home under a heavy bar. I am at peace, the world stands still, and for that couple of seconds, nothing else matters but the cold steel, the plates banging together, and the words of your training partners in your ear. It is perhaps the greatest moment in time, and as I get older I have come to enjoy it more and more and wait patiently all week long to get back under the bar.
-Cambered Bar box squats: worked up to 585 x1. Missed it the first attempt. Form was off a bit and I had trouble staying tight on the box and driving up. I got focused, took in a huge breath of air, and smoked it on my second attempt. Everything felt right. Lance is a fucking machine, he did an was 715 x1. Big numbers are coming for Lance and I can't wait to watch him give 1000 a ride drug free!
-Sumo deads: work set 425 x5 no belt. Nice and easy. Next week conventional pulls.
-Rack pulls from below knee caps: 2 quadrupled mini bands on each side of the bar, plus 225 bar weight. 3 sets of doubles. Nice and easy and fast.
-Reverse Hypers: 200 x20, x20, x20.
-Standing abs: 100 x15, x10, x10. My abs are weak again...not for long though!
-Glute-hams: bodyweight x8, x8.
Good workout and a great dive back into the swing of things. 17 weeks to the Iron Horse!! I would like to come in at 220 and hit 800-425-750. Possible? Don't know yet but those are my goals. I do know this, I am going to enjoy the ride with some great friends and some heavy fucking iron!
Here's to 07'! Overall, not a bad year. I competed twice and hit meet prs both times. I went to the beach for a week for the first time since 1995. My wife had surgery and I had surgery. Yet, the song remains the same and I wouldn't change it for the world. We have our ups and our downs, but I keep pushing forward, keep chugging along. I know the fire in my belly is raging hot right now and I have some lofty goals for myself as we roll into 08'. The best part about it is I will get to spend time with my good friends, and that is what this sport is all about. None of this would be possible without them!
So, as we reach out for 2008 I leave you with this: Life ain't about the car you drive, it ain't about your job or your house or how many times you were in Aspen. It is about the people you surround yourself with, the people who encourage you to GO, no matter what. It is about living on your own terms, doing the things that define you and the things you love, no matter what the cost, no matter what "might" happen. Surviving ain't living! So in 2008 my friends and BEYOND STRONG readers, GO GET IT!!
-Rick
That last paragraph is truly inspiring talk Rick!
Go get it! Maybe we should have that on the t-shirts and caps ;)
Nick
Posted by: Nick McKinless | December 31, 2007 at 10:08 AM