Topic: Axeman who likes to Olympic Lift training Journal

[Keith Miller]

Cool, what about the Arnold?  I'll look forward to meeting you sometime at one of these meets.  I won't make it to the Nationals meet in April, as I have my rigorous writing this semester (public health law), but I will be at the Arnold. 

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Wow. First time I watched your video of axe work. Amazing stuff! Looks pretty darn tiring!

Thanks Chris.  When I was younger, I could lift and chop/event train on the same day.  But as I've age, that's impossible.  The event work is very tiring.  It's repetitive racing - like a sprint, but with reallllllly sharp objects.  Taxes the CNS wicked tough.  I don't have to do my conditioning work because of my event training - yeah me.      I hate doing "cardio."  But I love making chips.

All the best,
 Arden

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Cool, what about the Arnold?  I'll look forward to meeting you sometime at one of these meets.  I won't make it to the Nationals meet in April, as I have my rigorous writing this semester (public health law), but I will be at the Arnold.

Keith,
  I doubt I will ever lift at the Arnold, but I hope to have Kiara lift there next year.  Columbus is 3 hours from my home, so that shouldn't be an issue.  I've never been to the Arnold but I've had several friends go to the expo and compete in both the Strongman and the OL meet.  A good friend is doing the amateur BB contest this year.  I've been asked to do some chopping demonstrations, but I've never been able to swing it.  If I can get Kiara comfortable on the lifting platform, I say 2011 will be a go for us.

1.22.10

Last deload workout.  And it was a fun one.  Will get the video uploaded when  I get home.  I did this session at 4 a.m. as i had to be in court at 8:30 2 hours from my home.

Snatches:  went 20x3, 40x3, 60x3, 75x3x3 - I lost the last snatch on the last set and went flying backwards, caught it on tape.  Somehow managed to throw the barbell forward as I was off the ground flying backwards.  Awesome.
Cleans: went 70x3, 100x3, 120x3x3
Jerks: went 70x3, 100x3, 120x3x3
Squats: went 135lbx5, 225x5, 315x5, 365x5, 315x5
RDLs: went 120x5, 165x4x5
Abs
More roller and yoga

1.23.10 waterpark in Sevierville, TN - good lord this has been a long day of running up stairs, chasing my 9 year-old, and riding water rides.  I never knew a wave pool could be so debilitating.  Then we went to Magi-quest and completed 10 "quests" in 2 hours - she ran me ragged there too.  Gonna sleep good tonight.

All the best,
 Arden

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

here's the humorous training from friday -

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

I had some epic beefcake tonight.  Lots of PRs.  Deload works.  Even when I suck and miss lifts because I suck.  Not that I don't have the strength, I just suck.  And I'm okay with it because I suck less than I used to.  I believe in degrees of sucking.

Started with yoga and roller.
Then to box power snatch.  Went 20x3, 40x3, 60x3, 75x3, 90x3, 100x3, 100x3, 100x3 - each of the 100x3 were PRs.  I know it leaves a lot to be desired, but i think my barpath is less loopy with the heavier weights?  Still loopy, but less loopy.  Sucks less?  I think?
Then did some tall box drills; 40x2, 60x2, 70x2
Then did some OHS: 75x5, 105x3, 105x3, 105x3, 105x3
Then did some back squats: went 135x5, 225x5, 315x5, 405x5, 500x5 - that 500x5 was the heaviest I've gone in more than 10 years.  I did it for 8 when I was younger and lot stoopider. I actually feel a lot stronger now than I did then.  Look like ****, but oh well - I can deal with it.
Then did snatch pulls: went 100x3, 13http://www.youtube.com/watch0x3x3.
Then did 4 board - 135x5, 225x5, 315x5 - left shoulder wasn't feeling right, so ditched it.
Then did some kb presses - really fixed my shoulder.  it stopped hurting.  Went 16x5RL, 24x5RL, 32x5RL, 40x5RL, 48x2R,1L. 
Then did abs.

highlights:

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Jack]

Hey, great workout Arden, your progress is apparent really. Awesome vids!

I've not followed you Loading-De loading cycle, I hope it works to your satisfaction. For technique prowess, I've had good results with inserting full-lift only -nothing else besides warmup- workouts. 

Sjaak

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Hey, great workout Arden, your progress is apparent really. Awesome vids!

I've not followed you Loading-De loading cycle, I hope it works to your satisfaction. For technique prowess, I've had good results with inserting full-lift only -nothing else besides warmup- workouts. 

Sjaak

Sjaak,
 Thank you so much for the kind words.  At this stage of my training, I'm doing high volume event work twice to three times a week and my old body can't take doing the high volume event work with the full lifts on multiple days.   I can sneak in the tall movements on the power/block days, but that is with substantially reduced weights (less than 75% for doubles). 

  I'll plan on doing a meet this November and I'll give it a good 8 weeks of full lifting as I stop all event training Mid September.  I still compete at contests on the weekends up until Mid October, but my event training will be negligable.  The Big ESPN World event (San Johan, Austria) will be labor day weekend this year.  And the qualifier for it is the previous weekend (at the Oregon State Fair in Portland, I believe) will consume my efforts until then. 

  Thanks again for the kind words.  I love this silly stuff.

All the best,
 Arden

[DAVE PETERSON]

Arden ,

Actually your form or technique is better than you give yourself credit . It's better to lose the lift in training than in a actual meet . A few years ago 3 or 4 of us went to a meet in Indiana and we did end up being quite humorous ourselves . I laughed at my friend who lost his lift and ended up on his butt , but guess what , on my next attempt I did the very same thing ! He asked me , " why did you do the same thing " and I replied , I didn't want you to feel like the Lone Ranger ! Just tell yourself before grabbing the bar , Keep it close -- that is throughout the lift ! When you reach the top of the pull portion -- make sure that your elbows go out to the side of your torso and that little thing will keep the bar closer to you !

Good Training for you ,

Dave Peterson , Michigan LWC

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Arden ,

Actually your form or technique is better than you give yourself credit . It's better to lose the lift in training than in a actual meet . A few years ago 3 or 4 of us went to a meet in Indiana and we did end up being quite humorous ourselves . I laughed at my friend who lost his lift and ended up on his butt , but guess what , on my next attempt I did the very same thing ! He asked me , " why did you do the same thing " and I replied , I didn't want you to feel like the Lone Ranger ! Just tell yourself before grabbing the bar , Keep it close -- that is throughout the lift ! When you reach the top of the pull portion -- make sure that your elbows go out to the side of your torso and that little thing will keep the bar closer to you !

Good Training for you ,

Dave Peterson , Michigan LWC

Thanks so much for sharing. That is an awesome story.  It makes me a feel a lot better. I will work hard on keeping the bar closer.  I don't know why I'm not doing it to date, but I'll get it.

Did some event work on 1.26.10.  Again, high volume.  Feeling it now.  Tomorrow morning should be fun

Here's some highlights:

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.