IRON & STONE: Adventures of an Amateur Strongman

[mouse]

4/28/2023

Deadlift
605x1, 555x3, 515x3x2

Log Press
275x1, 285x1, 255x3, 235x3x5

Face Pulls
3x20

Y Raises
3x10

It's official were going on the hunt for a log PR in the next couple weeks... let's see if we can push it north of 300...

The little stuff is because a) I was tiring out and b) for the first time I think my weakest spot is stability at the top... namely my left side... which is hurting less but still doesn't feel totally solid or 100%

[mouse]

5/1/2023

Box Squat
385x4x5

Press
205x5x4

Landmine Row
170x8x3

[mouse]

5/2/2023

Incline Bench
325x3, 295x3x2

13" Deadlift
495x4x4

Close Grip Bench
245x8x3

May 12th sounds like a good day to hit max log and max 13" dead...

[mouse]

Woke up at 2am, can't sleep... mind won't shut off...

My truck troubles opened my eyes on just how amazingly bad our 04 Dodge Rotbox also is and how it honestly could go at a moment's notice so we decided to move around some financial goals to be able to procure a 2012 Honda Odyssey...

It's our first non-American vehicle and so far dang, well done to the Japanese...

Big part of why I can't sleep is that truck. Deeply considering cutting my losses and seeing if I can sell it for parts. The freebie trans I'd be putting in has 300k on it, and even as a part-timer it's a full blown money pit with other issues waiting to be fixed...

May have to just send it to heaven and pick up another one in a couple years...

[Hardartery]

Woke up at 2am, can't sleep... mind won't shut off...

My truck troubles opened my eyes on just how amazingly bad our 04 Dodge Rotbox also is and how it honestly could go at a moment's notice so we decided to move around some financial goals to be able to procure a 2012 Honda Odyssey...

It's our first non-American vehicle and so far dang, well done to the Japanese...

Big part of why I can't sleep is that truck. Deeply considering cutting my losses and seeing if I can sell it for parts. The freebie trans I'd be putting in has 300k on it, and even as a part-timer it's a full blown money pit with other issues waiting to be fixed...

May have to just send it to heaven and pick up another one in a couple years...

I have to be honest, I wouldn't even look at American made cars or vans. I swore off of them a long time ago, and I am not going back. I still prefer Big Three pickups, although I have had good experiences with Nissan small trucks. For a full sized p/u that you actually do some work with, Chevy then Dodge (with Cummins), then Ford, then Dodge with gas engine. And I really dislike Ford in general because I haven't owned a good one. I don't like Toyo or Nissan full sized based on my friends' experiences. Toyota Tundra is fine as a toy, but still risky. I don't know what all of the issues are with your truck, but depending on you a Chevy is an easy machine to fix and you can put just about any engine of trans in it you want from most other Chevys, even if you are suspicious that you cannot. LS combos are everywhere in the junkyards, it just depends on how much of a rot bucket it is. Bad frame means time to move on or do a frame off resto, which may or may not make sense but usually does not. Or you can fond an old one and do things piecemeal. I have an easy way to convert to front disc brakes on the old Chevy trucks that came with drums, it's cheap and takes an afternoon or less.

[mouse]

Forgot to add this...

5/4/2023

Bench
345x4, 315x4x2

RDL
375x5x4

Floor Press
245x8x3

[mouse]

Woke up at 2am, can't sleep... mind won't shut off...

My truck troubles opened my eyes on just how amazingly bad our 04 Dodge Rotbox also is and how it honestly could go at a moment's notice so we decided to move around some financial goals to be able to procure a 2012 Honda Odyssey...

It's our first non-American vehicle and so far dang, well done to the Japanese...

Big part of why I can't sleep is that truck. Deeply considering cutting my losses and seeing if I can sell it for parts. The freebie trans I'd be putting in has 300k on it, and even as a part-timer it's a full blown money pit with other issues waiting to be fixed...

May have to just send it to heaven and pick up another one in a couple years...

I have to be honest, I wouldn't even look at American made cars or vans. I swore off of them a long time ago, and I am not going back. I still prefer Big Three pickups, although I have had good experiences with Nissan small trucks. For a full sized p/u that you actually do some work with, Chevy then Dodge (with Cummins), then Ford, then Dodge with gas engine. And I really dislike Ford in general because I haven't owned a good one. I don't like Toyo or Nissan full sized based on my friends' experiences. Toyota Tundra is fine as a toy, but still risky. I don't know what all of the issues are with your truck, but depending on you a Chevy is an easy machine to fix and you can put just about any engine of trans in it you want from most other Chevys, even if you are suspicious that you cannot. LS combos are everywhere in the junkyards, it just depends on how much of a rot bucket it is. Bad frame means time to move on or do a frame off resto, which may or may not make sense but usually does not. Or you can fond an old one and do things piecemeal. I have an easy way to convert to front disc brakes on the old Chevy trucks that came with drums, it's cheap and takes an afternoon or less.

Most of these are either my thoughts or where my current thoughts are going...

On my truck specifically...

She's WNY born and bred so the rot is severe. I can kick the truck is some specific spots and make it a few pounds lighter. Frame has already been patched a couple times, restorations are a fool's errand around here. Half the truck would probably fall apart just stripping it down.

In terms of the issues remaining if I dropped the freebie trans in? Slow coolant leak somewhere, probably need a new radiator... misfire code, constant EVAP shit, one of the fuel lines may have started leaking again, that's just off the top of my head...

My spirit would be strong to keep it running, but my bank account would be very weak...

Time will tell...

[mouse]

5/5/2023

BW: 254

Log Press
275x1, 300x1, 260x3, 235x3x2

13" Deadlift
635x1, 685x1, 600x3, 545x3

Oh god... please don't be an early peak please don't be an early peak...

Hitting 300 is a big confidence builder, but now I'm freaked that I peaked early and should have added 10 lbs hahaha...

[Hardartery]

Most of these are either my thoughts or where my current thoughts are going...

On my truck specifically...

She's WNY born and bred so the rot is severe. I can kick the truck is some specific spots and make it a few pounds lighter. Frame has already been patched a couple times, restorations are a fool's errand around here. Half the truck would probably fall apart just stripping it down.

In terms of the issues remaining if I dropped the freebie trans in? Slow coolant leak somewhere, probably need a new radiator... misfire code, constant EVAP shit, one of the fuel lines may have started leaking again, that's just off the top of my head...

My spirit would be strong to keep it running, but my bank account would be very weak...

Time will tell...

I completely understand, it was same story where I grew up, which is just the other side of the lake from you. The tragic loss of fine automobiles to salt...

[mouse]

Most of these are either my thoughts or where my current thoughts are going...

On my truck specifically...

She's WNY born and bred so the rot is severe. I can kick the truck is some specific spots and make it a few pounds lighter. Frame has already been patched a couple times, restorations are a fool's errand around here. Half the truck would probably fall apart just stripping it down.

In terms of the issues remaining if I dropped the freebie trans in? Slow coolant leak somewhere, probably need a new radiator... misfire code, constant EVAP shit, one of the fuel lines may have started leaking again, that's just off the top of my head...

My spirit would be strong to keep it running, but my bank account would be very weak...

Time will tell...

I completely understand, it was same story where I grew up, which is just the other side of the lake from you. The tragic loss of fine automobiles to salt...

For the first time in my life we have 2 vehicles with decent frames so I'm considering a subscription to the car wash by our Walmart hahaha

[mouse]

5/8/2023

Box Squat
390x4x3

Press
210x5x3

It ain't much...

[EggMcMuffin]

but it's honest work

[mouse]

5/9/2023

Incline Bench
330x3

13" Deadlift
585x1x3

It really ain't much...

Let's see how shit feels Friday...

There was a fair amount of stretching and rolling around after this, something in my lumbar has been locked up all day and bugging me. Didn't bug the deads at all but its fucking nagging. Probably the 25 lb demon that kicked me around the bed all night last night...

[EggMcMuffin]

but it's really honest work

[mouse]

5/12/2023

Log Press
265x1, 290x1, 305x0, 310x0

Tire Deadlift
Called it at 645

My moment was last week... fuck...

305 was 99% there. Ended up taking it for a walk and my elbows kept unlocking so it never really got set. Loaded 310 to go for broke but kept almost blacking out.

My low back was doing real good yesterday but not very good this morning, after missing 305 my heart wasn't in it and 645 told me there wasn't gonna be much past it if anything so I just said fuck it...

Another time, another place...

[mouse]

Once again illness has ravaged our lands and I've felt like dog shit most of the day, wife had it worse so I opted to take the oldest to his doc appt this afternoon instead of starting my new block today...

I assure you it had absolutely nothing to do with my complete lack of planning and unpreparedness...

[mouse]

Back in October I had plans to run a 3-day S/B/D kinda deal but abandoned it a week in to finish the deck... maybe I'll do that with a free-wheeling strongman day on Fridays...

Edit: yeah fuck it that's what we're doing, see how it goes...

Mon: Box Squat, Bench, Rows
Tue: Press, Deads
Thu: Squat, CGB, RDL
Freewheel Friday: an overhead or incline, a deadlift or a load, a carry of some sort, other nonsense...

[mouse]

5/16/2023

Box Squat
355x3x4

Bench
290x3x4

Pendlay Row
185x8x3

Max Push Ups
36x1, 21x1, 16x1

Arms
2x15

Looking at this program I remember some of my skepticism but I'm gonna roll with it anyway and see what happens...

My body sucks... whatever illness that plagued me yesterday seems to have lifted, and in it's place I was gifted this mystery lateral knee pain that I've had on and off.

Google doctors seem to point to some sort of PTFJ related bullshit. Strange because it would come and go throughout the day at work. Sometimes I'd be walking normal and pain free, and then an hour later every step would be painful enough to cause a noticeable limp/shift in my gait.

Playing around I was able to pinpoint a spot right near the top of my fibula that the pain was stemming from. I could aggravate it with pressure from my finger and with some massaging and foot flexion/extension I was able to get it almost completely alleviate. It would come back later but not enough to derail training, and I am gonna try and spend some time with my theragun trying to loosen shit up...

[mouse]

5/17/2023

Press
210x3x4

Deadlift
455x3x4

SLDL
295x8

Pressdowns
3x15

[mouse]

5/19/2023

Paused Squat
285x5x2, 285x8

Close Grip Bench
230x5x2, 230x12

RDL
315x8x3

Curls + Skullcrushers
3x10 + 3x15