A week has gone by, the dust has settled and the aches and pains have receded (well almost) so what was it really like to enter my first Strongman competition at the ripe old age of 46? Well, I'll tell you, really a diary of the day as it happened. Hopefully amusing but also a warts and all insight into what you might expect if you want to give it a try (and you really should)
Having missed a previous event due to poor organisation on my part, I was determined not to miss Tamworth's Strongest Man. One of the biggest bugbears of these events for the organisers is when people drop out with no warning and no apology. Obviously some people have genuine reasons, but a call and an apology is not much to ask.
So I had backed myself into a corner and could not 'cry off'. Now I'm not getting the excuses in early, but I hadn't seen the inside of a gym for over 6 weeks and only managed some rudimentary training at home leading up to the event. A mistake I certainly wont make again as it is not fair on myself or the people that supported me and actually in the cold light of day it's disrespectful to the show and the other competitors who had put the yards in.
I entered the competition for a number of reasons, primarily it was to fulfill a personal ambition but also to establish a benchmark as to what standard I was at and what I would need to do to improve. As it turns out there is a huge amount for me to do but more of that later.
I arrived early to a very warm welcome from the organiser Ant Brown. A top bloke and someone I have only ever spoken to via Facebook, I had been to a couple of his events before and was a spectator at this one in 2014 when my daughters told me that I should be doing it in 2015.
I signed in and was handed my shirt "XL for you, alright?"
XL??? Fuck off, No way, I always wear XXL because I think I'm big and strong and people call me 'Big Man' I think I was the only XL there and certainly stood with the other competitors I began to realise that maybe game was up. A feature of all these comps, regardless of standard is the camaraderie between competitors and this was proved early on as we nervously paced around the arena waiting for the briefing from Ant. Plenty of advice, 'enjoy it mate' being the most frequent one.
Briefing was informal, but also made me realise that 'Shit had just got real' Introduced to the judges and explanations of conduct and the individual specifics of the events. We then drew lots for running order, muggins draws 1 to much hilarity from Mr Brown.
- Overhead press 90 Kg for reps in 60 seconds
- Farmers Walk 100Kg in each hand. Pick up, carry 20 metres drop, pick up and return over line, 40 metres total carry
- Loading race 60 Kg Keg, 80Kg Tyre, 80 Kg Sandbag, 100 Kg Keg, 100 Kg keg.
- Deadlift 180Kg for reps 60 seconds
- Top 8 into individual Tug of War
Overhead Press.
Nightmare!!! Not one rep. Nervous, blind panic and weak shoulders. Not much more I can say really, I have been historically weak overhead, but knew this event was coming so should have worked at my weakest point. I would write more but I can hardly remember anything at all, I know my technique went out of the window and how ashamed I felt. I wish the ground could have swallowed me up.
Farmers Walk.
'100 Kg in each hand, can I even lift this?' I'd only ever lifted an 80Kg dumbell with one hand before, so to say I was in uncharted territory is an understatement. The Farmers is without doubt an iconic event in Strongman, up there with the Atlas stones IMHO. I clearly remember standing at the top of the course. "Athletes ready?" A quick nod and countdown.... They're up! I've lifted both off the ground, I can do this, MOVE!!!!!! I was head to head with the eventual winner, a stupidly fit semi-pro Rugby player, but I kept in touch over the first 20 metres.
At the turn you drop, pick up again and return up the course (it was up too, slightly uphill) I lifted them again, YES I've got this. The one thing I have worked hard on is my grip and this was beginning to bear fruit, 10 metres to go, breathing out of my backside now but I've got the crowd, other competitors and even the judges screaming me on. 5 metres to go, disaster, I've dropped them. Line them up, pick them up....again, I've never picked up 100 Kg in 1 hand before and now I'm doing it for the 3rd time. Come on, we're moving again, 1 metre to go, NOOOOOOOOOO, this time I'm down too, a tangle of arms legs and ripped calluses from my hands. All I can hear is people telling me I can do it and that I'm not going to give up. 4th Lift, up again and moving, well over the line and a massive roar from somewhere inside me. YES!
Someone sticks a microphone under my nose and asks how I feel, no words come out. Some didn't complete the course, so I'm not last in this event.
Quick refuel, with glucose tablets and plenty of water as it was a hot day. I had read that peanut butter and jam sandwiches were a good idea throughout the comp, but I could not face any solid food at all. I had made sure that I had eaten well eaten well the previous 48 hours with plenty of carbohydrates and had a good breakfast of 4 eggs, 4 Wholemeal Toast and plenty of water. Through out the day I sipped on a home made concoction of pre-workout, creatine, grapefruit juice, salt and water. I also had 2-4 glucose tablets between events and plenty of water.
I also needed a few running repairs as I had torn the calluses from my hands and needed to tape them up prior to the loading race. Sounds and looks gruesome but the amount of adrenaline running round means it really doesn't hurt.
Well named Mr Brown, well named. A lot of these events are about technique and familiarity with the implements, it may not look like it but actually Strongman is quite a cerebral sport where a clear head and practiced technique will get you extra points.
The object of this was to pick up each of the items , carry it 10 metres, drop go back and pick up the next one etc etc. First keg pretty easy 60 Kg no problem, jog back to the tyre. Learnt from people going before me that standing inside the tyre and carrying like a shrug / trap / hex bar was the way to go, jog back to the 80 Kg sandbag / sack. How does this go up? Never tried it before and that is my downfall. After trying for what seems ages I just bruted it up (I've since learnt the technique) Being bent over for 20+ seconds over the sack I'm gasping for breath and get the sack over the line. Much slower jog back but I have a shadow now, Ant is by my side mic in hand and willing the crowd to cheer me on.
I get to the 100Kg keg with no air going in. Ant is shouting but I'm warming to this Strongman lark and I am starting to think. Stop, arms back and BREATHE, I suck up good lungfuls and then attack the 100Kg keg, slow short steps but I'm getting to the line, apparently I went diagonally so made it more difficult for myself. Time running out as I stagger back to the final keg, I get my hands on it but time's up. Too much time messing with the sandbag, that extra 20 seconds would have made all the difference (that's what she said!) Mic under my nose again "how do feel?" "Old"
More glucose tablets and plenty more water, some oxygen would have been nice.
Deadlift
I am 30 points behind the leader and jokingly say to the other competitors that he is in my sights, they see the funny side. My favourite event the deadlift, grip it and rip it as they say. Seriously knackered now but bash out 13 reps in 60 seconds, try not to bleed too much on the bar and realise that this is the last act. During the last reps I actually see the crowd and my family cheering me on, love this.
This was not meant to be a contest report, suffice to say that this is the 3rd year of this event and it keeps getting better. I wanted to give some insight into what it's like to take part and a few things I've learnt about the sport of Strongman and also myself. I came flat last out of 13 competitors, a guy who retired after 2 events beat me!
- Do it. If you are a gym rat or just like to lift heavy, give it a go you won't regret it.
- Train, Train and Train again. Sounds obvious but plan your training and do yourself justice. There is a huge amount of information on t'internet but lift basic and heavy as you can and keep adding weight, progression is key.
- Technique is vitally important, it can overcome brute strength and give you an advantage, if you have both you are laughing.
- Train for events, find a gym that has stones, farmers, logs, tyres, BLOODY SANDBAGS and axles.
- Conditioning, a lot of the events require conditioning, get the heart and lungs up to scratch, high rep squats, prowler, whatever gets you blowing hard.
- Listen to other people who know what they are doing, take advice, absorb and use what works for you.
- Eat well beforehand and top up throughout the comp. Drink plenty of water, you'll need it.
- Be humble, unless your Brian Shaw there is always someone bigger and stronger out there, compete with them and compete with yourself.
- Enjoy it, everyone had to start their first competition, all the competitors know how you feel and they will all support you as long as you.....
- Give it everything, leave nothing in the tank, however much it hurts or seems impossible, stop when the whistle blows not before. That will earn you respect and allow you to look in the mirror like I did the day afterwards and know you gave it everything.
Last place is not where I want to be, I've caught the bug. Since last week I've rewritten my goals, training and nutrition. I've nursed some injuries and replayed the competition in my head with some pride in spite of my placing. I am trawling the internet for other competitions to enter and I will be back at Tamworth next year.
That XL shirt? One of my most prized possessions, however next year Ant I will need XXL at least......
