Navigation

Portal
Index
Memberlist
Profile
FAQ
Search

November 2009

One Way Strength Forum ::

Strongman General Discussion

Illinois Contests

Circle City Strongest Man

Post a reply

Username

Subject

Message body

x YouTube Dailymotion x px x x px YouTube Dailymotion

Options

HTML is OFF
BBCode is ON
Smilies are ON

	Disable BBCode in this post
	Disable Smilies in this post

Topic review

Author

Message

Dennie Craddock

Sat May 16, 2009 10:07 am

I give credit to anyone who pays their dues and entry, then also has the stones to compete in front of a crowd of people. I've invited people to my house just to try out the sport and they won't even try it. If anyone is competing seriously, then they should also know certain shows fill up quick. I Jtoo don't want to sound like a jerk, but some people don't have as much time or the equipment to train as some people. I keep in mind god has the power to make you stronger or to make your pride your weakness.

Utter Weakling

Thu May 14, 2009 1:35 am

Dr. Jonathan Osterman wrote:

Congrats to Tony!

I got my ass handed to me in my first couple contests. To be honest, I wasn't aware of how competitive people really were with it until I showed up at CSM - a platinum contest. I didn't zero on anything, but I was far from stellar. I like to be humbled from time to time though, just adds fuel to the fire. Maybe that guy will come back some time and put on a better showing in the future.

My point was not to come across as an elitist or a jerk by denigrating anyone for not being good at the game - that happens sometimes. And a lot of people place last because their competitors were very good, or they had an off-day, or coming off an injury. But you can tell if someone is on-the-map strength-wise - if they have some level of strength/athleticism to do the events which are usually advertised ahead of time. E.g. if the average competitor is getting, say, 8 reps on a press or deadlift and you get 2, that's ok. If you don't finish a course for a tire or farmer's but at least get some distance even if most people get time that's ok. And there is no shame in occasionally zeroing an event you are very bad at. All this means you were perhaps honest in your training but not to the level of the competition and need to make more effort to improve - that's what competition is for.

My attitude at the time (which may have been a bit harsh before Tony pointed out the other side of the coin) when I saw this was that when the guy bombed EVERYTHING because he clearly lacked the strength to even move the weights, and I don't mean getting it most of the way and barely missing one rep or something similar, even after the events and weights are known for weeks and he would know if he could or could not do it - I figured he either just didn't care and signed up to say he did a strongman, or he had little regard/respect for what what competitors go through to be competitive a platinum show. After all, if a promoter posts an event, he's assuming people can perform it with some success (perhaps not always true...).

Of course, this is an amateur sport, so nobody pays us for this and everyone places particular importance or lack thereof on their involvement and performance - also there are plenty of meets to go around and they are seldom full, so no big deal. Everyone is well aware that I take it seriously and honor my competitors by fearing them and trying to reach and surpass their previous achievements, and they naturally do the same with others and hopefully one day with me. In this way we all win. It may be about individual achievement, but keeping up with the pack is the best and most efficient way. Not everyone is in it for the same reasons - some want to win, others want to just challenge themselves by seeing if they can lift the stuff at all, etc. - but I cannot see the fulfillment of getting owned by the implements just to 'say' you did a strongman. And if you add, god forbid, 10 or 15 such guys into a meet with, say, a 30-competitor cap, the crowd won't be too impressed, nor would the promoter who could conceivably hand out trophies to guys in particular weight classes ending up with just 1 or 2 points at the end of the day, while sending home many awesome or even record-worthy performances in other classes empty-handed because ten of the best guys in their class happened to show up. Of course that's life in many respects.

Incidentally, when I just started in 2008 it was funny - I actually asked Tony a few months in advance what an average competitor is expected to do on the respective events because I did not wish to have my entry 'deny' a much worthier competitor (if I were well below the average, that is) the right to enter if the meet got full. I've...mellowed out a bit, in some sense.

P.S. Chris, I am ALWAYS humbled by your performance whether I am in the meet or not (other LW's as well). I am lucky so far in that regard.

Surprised

Dr. Jonathan Osterman

Wed May 13, 2009 1:17 pm

Congrats to Tony! I got my ass handed to me in my first couple contests. To be honest, I wasn't aware of how competitive people really were with it until I showed up at CSM - a platinum contest. I didn't zero on anything, but I was far from stellar. I like to be humbled from time to time though, just adds fuel to the fire. Maybe that guy will come back some time and put on a better showing in the future.

Utter Weakling

Tue May 12, 2009 1:51 pm

Admin wrote:

I do not know the name of the person that zeroed at the contest however he does deserve credit. He entered the contest, had the balls to show up and compete and did what he was able to do. No need to be embarrassed by that. It may have been his first meet, maybe just an off day, or he may have even hit some Pr's with the axle deadlift.
Now the only way the guy should be embarrassed is if he was running his mouth on how he'll dominate at the meet. I did not here anything of the sort.
I hope he learns from the experience comes back to do another meet.

Tony

Yeah, I guess it does take guts to show up and continue competing under those circumstances - you're right Tony. I was just ASSUMING he thought he was a strong guy who could do this stuff - that he didn't find out (i.e. learn to RESPECT) what was typical of an average competitor ahead of time and work toward performing like one. But who knows - maybe he knew this and still showed up to try it out. And for all I know he could have spent the last year in a wheelchair and this was his first return to athletics after 6 months.

Under the same circumstances I admit I wouldn't have had the courage to show up. He WAS a bit stiff with me when I went to give him some advice on wrapping his knees, but I can understand why, considering how he must have been out of place. I shouldn't take it personally.

Certainly this must have been his first meet. At least now he knows what it really takes to be a competitive amateur strongman. If he uses this experience to learn respect for what strength level is necessary, does his homework and comes back to another meet having made a serious attempt to prepare, no matter what his final placing is, then there is no shame in that, it would be great for him and a welcome addition to the sport.

Tony Soucie

Tue May 12, 2009 2:38 am

I do not know the name of the person that zeroed at the contest however he does deserve credit. He entered the contest, had the balls to show up and compete and did what he was able to do. No need to be embarrassed by that. It may have been his first meet, maybe just an off day, or he may have even hit some Pr's with the axle deadlift. Now the only way the guy should be embarrassed is if he was running his mouth on how he'll dominate at the meet. I did not here anything of the sort. I hope he learns from the experience comes back to do another meet. Tony