Another week and another three sessions done. This was complimented by three runs earlier in the week. I am finding it hard to juggle everything together, but should be more consistent with my runs next week. All though I am concerned with my schedule mid-April, and how much training I can get done.; I had somewhat regressed due to the back injury, and hope I do not fall into the trap over burning out, or indeed not training enough. Finding balance will be tough, but I have no doubts I will be in safe hands.
Session One :
Tuesday lunchtime is such a beautiful time to train. Sun shining down and the atmosphere is relaxed. I was still a bit ropey after being a bit too good to myself over St. Patrick’s weekend! Nothing that a good chest and back workout with Vinnie couldn’t fix. That is what I am loving about training, whatever mood or however you are feeling, that all goes out the window when you have a bar with plates on the end of it in your hand. Was now real time under tension done today, it was just about getting what needed to be done, done. Once again we went with supersets, chest onto back. Incline chest press into heavy seated rows, followed by decline into heavy lat pull downs and finishing with machine chest press and more heavy rows. My chest has come along a bit, so it was appreciated upping the weights on the back. Along with my legs, I probably neglected my back over the years. Even more pronounced by slouching when standing, almost looking hunch back-esque. I have been trying to work on my posture over the while and getting a stronger back seems integral to that, also helps the man boobs are not as pronounced when standing straight. (The beer belly a bit more evident after Paddy’s Weekend!) Finished up the session by getting out for my second 5k run in as many days, loving the life in that beautiful weather.
Session Two :
The scariest day of the week, always. I was making good strides on legs until my back injury. Obviously we still worked on them in the sessions, but it was lighter loads and different types of exercises. Today was the day to get back into the swing of things. Did a 20 minute cycle before starting to get the legs pumped and blood flowing. On the cards today was working on those quads. Free weight squats, into hack squats, followed by leg press and then the one that broke me for the day, the single leg press. Man, I probably say this every week about one particular set, but this one absolutely floored me. I knew from the very first rep on my right leg that I will be in trouble. The goal for all exercises is high reps, so I had to hit 15, and all that was going in my mind was the word “F*CK!F*UCK!F*UCK!”. When I seen an added 10 kg being put on, I just nervously laughed! The second set went the same as the first, a struggle, but it was done. Come the third set though, my right just went dead. Lee was the instructor today and he decided this was now going to be a drop set! Plates got taken off but my legs were done, by the end I’d say Lee was getting a sweat on helping due to spotting me. Hamstrings and calve raises rounded out the session. My head was so out of it by the end I left my stuff behind and had to walk back up those bastarding steps!
Session Three :
I walked in for my shoulder and arm day, expecting something different, and that is what I got. The log press was what got us started. Its a strongman staple over the years and at its core is a shoulder press. However it will make your quads strong to develop powerful leg drive. Make your clean more explosive, increase your upper back and core strength so the log doesn’t fold you and get used to handling weights on your chest. So there is a lot to it, with many different components, making it difficult. On the first set, I struggled with the many different movements to remember, and Davy gave me a tip of lifting the log and almost shrugging it before going into the squat. This helped tremendously, and to be honest I loved it. Due to the nature of it, you do not have time to think about the exhaustion, you just want to get through it. I loved every second of it. The strongman type of training would be something I would like to explore more. Obviously been a complete novice and with no aspirations of being competitive. It is just a fun new way to train. We went back to something more familiar after with various different shoulder exercises before finishing up on arms. That was Friday and that was my week in training done.
If you want to make a change, you can contact Davy on 0892528904 or email [email protected].
