http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOC9lvSkvtM

Video from my average performance on Sat at CSM.

Tire flip turned out to be pretty good!

do you still want me to bring out those filled down grippers for you to try. I have the Trainer, 1, and 2.

Any other grip toys you want to try. I have the hub, a softball gripper, a baseball gripper and a plate curl board I made. Tony pretty much has everything else I have. I can also bring out a few pieces of steel stock if you wana take a shot at bending.

My left arm is still kinda messed up from training the tire by Tony's. I can work through it, but I've ben trying to take it easy so it heals up faster. It's getting better but not fast enough.

So training has just been mediocre the last few weeks. I started a new schedule at work so I'm still getting used to that and the new gym I train at.

Highlights:
Last Sat Ed Vehrs came by to do some event training. I loaded my 265 keg a couple times (after deads) so that was encouraging. Went 60ft with 630 on the yoke nonstop. We also threw a tire...managed 40+ feet there (Full size not the tiny 16lb tire we used at a contest a couple years ago).

Deadlifting is slow...I really need to concentrate on it more. Pulled 405*5 last week and 455*5 this week. I'm hoping for 500+ on the 30th. Probably won't get me a good placing but I'll be satified.

Overhead is been having problems because of the bicep tendon in my left arm. I can press if I'm seated and go slow so that's been my usual lately. I did some jerks today with 225 without too much trouble but still had to lower the weight really slow.

What's really killing me is not being able to do any cleans. That puts way too much pressure on my arm. I'm going to have a real problem with the axle on the 30th.

Arm is still pretty messed up. It was getting better so I tried to some some cleans with my axle and aggravated it with only 165 so needless to say I won't be doing that event next weekend.

Overhead is still trouble. I pressed 205*4 (seated) the other day but couldn't hold 225 correctly to get it overhead while standing.

Pulled 500lbs, no belt, no straps, pretty easily earlier this week so I'll hit my goal next Sat I'm sure.

Keg load should be good. Tire throw technique came back pretty quickly so I should do ok there too. Not sure about the tire, since that's what got me here in the first place.

I'll be out tomorrow looking for a brace or something for support during the lifts I'm having trouble with.

My goal for the 31st is to not place last after taking a "No Lift" on the first event.

Well, at least I made my goal for today.

Axle
Didn't even bother. I would have done even worse for the day then I already did.

Deadlift
495...I was really hoping for 515 but it didn't matter anyway. Corey was relatively low and Ed missed 495 on his 2nd. Jason and Karia were competing for 600+ I think so I took the middle spot.

Tire throw
I did well in practice, but he moved us to a corner to throw from and it kinda threw me off. I took 1st with 50ft but was far from 62ft two years ago. TECHNICALLY, that throw probably should have been disqualified. I threw it, then jumped out to look at where it was going to land...I thought it was going to land out of bounds like my first throw. Tony's rule was not to step across the line until the tire landed. Judge wasn't paying attention though so I probably got lucky.

Carry and Flip
Terrible. I couldn't hold the stone high enough in my left arm so as it continued to slide down, the weight was too far in front of me and my hamstrings couldn't handle it. (Haven't been training much since CSM). Still took 4th though with 30ft or something. Corey couldn't really get the stone up at all.

Keg load
Another poor performance. Only loaded the first two. Two years ago I loaded all four in 25secs or so.

Finished the day in 4th place, only a point or two behind Ed and third place.

I'm almost positive I'm bowing out of the Jakked show, and I'm already teetering on not going to ILSM either until both my arm and myself are in better shape. I'm really hoping to do well in Sept so I may take the next four months to get back where I want to be.

Hope the wrist heals for Keith. No since in abusing it to the point of making it worse.

Thanks for posting that about the tire toss. I'll correct the score sheet.
hahaha. Just kidding. It got past Mike so I'll bust his balls for it.

Tony

Correct the score sheet?!!!
shit, the next time I see Keith I am going to give him the 2nd place sword and take the first place one

psssst, Craig, I'm not going to adjust the scoresheet, shhhhhh.

just giving him shit

(shhhhhh, I know )

Arm is getting better, slow but sure. So much for being injury free this year...

Anyway, did some quick training in the garage today.

Log
Left bicep was a little sore on the way up, but otherwise my arms stay pretty open compared to conventional overhead so it wasn't too bad.
Worked up to 195*5. Providing I don't screw it up, I should be able to handle 225 at ILSM and maybe even set a PR at the Sept show. (I think my best is only 225*5)

Deadlift
Worked up to 405*8
I was planning on going heavier, but it started to cut into nap time. Hitting the garage floor echos through the house and I didn't want to keep the baby up.

I've got some misc lifting scheduled throughout the week and I'm going to try to make it to Tony's on the 19th for some tire and stones training. If all goes well I'll be at ILSM.

Did some quick log work today.
Was just going for speed and form, did a few sets of 175*5.
Then I couldn't resist...
195*1
215*2
My left elbow wasn't really hurting, now it's more into my left bicep completely...which I think is more a combination of babying it AND some of the tendon problems I'm having. I'll bet with some massage and stretching it will finally loosen up. I'm still not going to take my chances with cleans or standing overhead for a while though.

Otherwise I think I'm doing *KINDA* ok maintaining my strength. Squats are terrible, but I DLed a few sets of 405*8, no straps, without much trouble. Slow but ok.

what is going on with all of your injuries? Do you have a case of the Craig's?

Ha, don't jinx me.
I didn't really think this tendon thing was as bad as it turned out to be. It's not pain per se, but it's definitely not 100% and I'm trying not to make it worse. Training is getting better and while I seem to aggravate it slightly everytime I train, the tenderness doesn't linger any more like it used to. I also bought a pair of Inzer Elbow sleeves which is putting support where I need it and making training a lot easier the last few days.

Went down by Tony today to train...

Tire
Just did a bunch of singles, to test the elbow. The more I did it, the better my form got and the easier it was on my arm. Should have no problem by ILSM.

Stone
Did the 225 without tacky. Was ok on the elbow, but hard on the wrist...just tender. I think I'm putting too much pressure on the hardware under my skin. No biggie because I usually wrap my forearms anyway.

Farmers
Can't "bounce" when I try to walk fast with the farmers. The straightening of my arm that fast irritates the tendon (it's always something, isn't it?) Anyway, doesn't matter. With any kind of weight, I won't be walking that fast anyway. Just did a couple of runs with 160ish but then got lazy and started talking to Tony. My grip will be ok for the coming shows. I need to work on stability and foot speed.