2014 Plan

I'll be back later in 2014 after the summer cabin season. My current workout activities are structured around volleyball, water skiing, and mowing. I have big plans for this winter, since I'll turn 39 in October. Welcome Lard!

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In for an overhaul

This past year saw a lot of racquetball.  By late March, this body was just plane worn out.  Late winter, I was diagnosed with arthritis in my left wrist and being left handed, it was a problem.  However, it was developing plantar fasciitis in my left food that put me out of action for 6 weeks.  This is just one of a long list of of injuries this aging body has piled up.  Way back in 9th grade football, I suffered a separated shoulder and partial tear of my rotator cuff.  In my early days of racquetball, I slipped on a wet spot and did the splits and I am occasionally bothered by my right groin/right hip.  My hamstrings have endured several pulls and tears.  Most recently in 2011 when I started to play competitive racquetball.  I had meniscus repair in my right knee in 2010 and in 2012 I was diagnosed with a ruptured disc in my neck (C5/C6) which sometimes affecst my right shoulder and arm.  Finally, I have a nagging arthritic big toe on my left foot I got when I stepped wrong on the court and bent my toe backwards.  This was sometime around 2008.  During the course my training for the US Open, I'm going to address these injuries with specific exercises.    

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Welcome to the Clan!

Big Boys welcomes, 'Lard' to the clan.  While he may be new here, Lard has been around for a long time.  Lard was the instigator for the Power Lift and Body Challenge in 2009.    

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Let the Training Begin...

Man... It's sure dusty in here.  This place needs some cleaning up!
For the 2014 US Open Racquetball Championships this October, I'm going to train for it.  This will be my third year competing at the US Open. 

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Way to go Champ!

Swami won a few racquetball games this weekend.  Good job Mike!!

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2011 1-Rep Max

Its been 2 years since September 8, 2009, the date of my last 1RM session. Since that contest, my workouts grew stale, infrequent, or not at all. However, I was always able to maintain my weight at 185 lbs. Then I started adding 5-10 pounds in the winter, but again, able to shave it off for summer...until this summer. I started the summer of 2011 at 195 lbs and was never able to get back to 185. So I recently started hitting my workouts more frequently and decided to challenge myself (and the Big Boys) to see where we are at individually. I decided to find my 1RM again, and continue my goal from 2009 of lifting a combined 1000 pounds in the Bench, Deadlift, and Squat. I will continue on that goal this winter, but my focus is on a long-term weight goal of 185 lbs. But we all need a starting point, so here is mine.

I went to the gym at 4:45a, my normal routine. Here are the results and any comments:

9/13/11
Bench 250 Just couldn't extend at 270
Dead 330 New personal record
Squat 360 Couldn't get low enough at 380

Total 940 lbs. Previous September 2009 combined weight of 990 lbs. So I'm not that far behind my all-time highs or my 1000 pound goal. Good luck to all!

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