Quest for Fire

[Erok]

Tues., 3/12. 227#. Mmmm, corned venison & toaster pastries.

Log C&P: 115x5, 135 x 10,10,11. lost count around rep 5, so I denied myself the benefit of the doubt. The guy watching me was paying better attention.

Wrist Roller: 30x2,2,2,2
Pullups: 3,3,3,2. I get cold while people around me are talking about the latest sweatshirt challenge: you put on your sweatshirt, do 5 pullups, switch to alternate one-hand hang while you take off the sweatshirt, do 5 more pullups, put the shirt back on while alternating one-handed hangs, then do 5 more pullups - no, you never touch the ground. There's a tiny stronggrrl in our gym who did it in 43 seconds.
Wife is hungry and keen to leave, giving me until the end of her documentary to finish, so I bust ass on this next round.

OHP: 142.5 x 5,5,5,5,4.
Chest Suptd Seated Rows: 165x5, 180x5,5,5,5. Gives me an idea for next week, though. Gonna set a timer for 10 minutes.


Shrimp curry with squash.

[Erok]

Fri., 3/15. 225#.

Speed SQ: 45x..., 140x4, EMOM, 5 min: 230 x 2,2,2,2,2,2. Getting a little too explosive with some of these - the bar floating off the shoulders and slamming back down. Making the plates rattle, though.

DL: 225x3, 245x1, 285x1, 330x1, 375x1-hook, 420x1-hook, 450x0,0-straps. I can break it off the ground a couple inches, but that probably doesn't matter because straps.

1-Arm DB Rows: 70 x 25R, 25L, straps-95 x 15R, 16L.

Sandbag Squats: time to try a heavier bag. There's one of those blue Ironmind ones, with two other bags inside. about 125# and really awkward. x10 before I give up, plus there's the carrying it to and from the Smith Machine.

Failed DL reps are the most taxing thing I can do to myself.


Broiled cod with herb butter, pork rinds, eggs, some other stuff, probably a vegetable of some kind.


Tues., 3/19. 227.2#. Go ahead, ask me how many pork rinds I can eat.

Log C&P: 90x..., 115x4, 140x8,8,8. yeesh. cutting it short today. The first two sets are mostly one-move presses, the last set about half.

I'm a non-explosive non-athlete who's chosen to compete in a explosive athletic endeavor. You do the math.

OHP: 147.5 x 5,5,5,5,5.
Chst Suptd Std Rows: 180x5,5, 195x5,10. Not within the 10 minutes I wanted, but whatever. I'm a slug today.


Corned beef & cabbage. Keep it coming.

[Erok]

Wed., 3/20. 225.2#.

Squat: 45x..., 135x5, 185x2, 225x2, 275x1, 315x1, 355x1, 390x1, 425x0. Dissappointing. This had all the markers of a good rep. Then, just started grinding at the sticking point. Figured hey, I'll just keep grinding, it's always worked for me before. And grinding. Aaaand grinding. Then, the legs started to burn, and the hips got all tingly. Still, I persisted. Gravity and I were at a standstill. Like those quiet moments at the OK Corral. Somewhere in the distance, a crow cawed. A burst of dusty wind sent a tumbleweed rolling through the squat rack. Finally, the low back got tired, and that was it. Maybe if I'd cut depth by a half-inch or so. Maybe if I'd eaten more salt. Maybe if I was stronger...


broiled open-faced ruebens.


Fri., 3/22. 224.8#. finished the last of the chicken pot pie. Did I say the last? OH, no, my friends, we haven't seen the last of the chicken pot pie. #cyclicalnatureoftheuniverse #lawofinfinitereturn

SLDL: 135x5,5.

Deficit DL: 135x5, 225x1,2, 275x2, 330x1,1,1,1,1,1-straps. 4" block puts the bar just brushing the top of the shoelaces. That's about as low as I care to get.

BB Row: 150x5, 190x5, 210x5, 235x5, 205x15-straps.


omg, wife made chicken enchilada pie.


Sat., 3/23. 226.2#. Just a light log day.

Log C&P: 90x5, 115x3, 135x3, 155x1, 175x1,1,1,1,1. my slippery shirt betrays me on rep 4.


bacon & egg tacos. Watched Heathers. Still the best high school movie, even if modern society can't handle it anymore.

[Erok]

Mon., 3/25. 228#. The one place that's sure to be open in this Monday Madhouse is the stone platform. I get my arm guards on by myself - I need the practice. Cinch them up tight with some cable ties, and tuck the loose laces into whatever seam they fit. It's like wearing S&M gear - except nobody gets any pleasure.

Stones: 125 - lapx2, 150 - lapx2. 225x0, 175x1,1,1,1,1. The last two reps I finally realize I haven't been getting my chest to the stone properly for the pick. That would have made a difference-more surface area.

Gym Daddy comes by for some chalk, says: "You lifting stones or training falcons? At this point, I tell him, I'd take the falcons.
Then, as I'm cutting my way out of the cable ties, I spy the 200# stone I forgot we had. That's the one I should have been using. It's bigger diameter.

Wrist Rollers: 25x2,3,2.

some wandering around, looking for an empty spot near the dumbbells. None.

Cable machine shoulder & bi & tri stuff. 1 mile walk home.


Bachelor chow with mushrooms & shallots.

Lying in bed awake, going over my stone setup:

1. step up around it like it's a kidney stone I just passed
2. smoosh the hands under it
3. hug it with full chest contact
4. hip hinge it up
5. make a lap above parallel, set arms at about 30-40 degrees latitude
6. crush the chest
7. 'splode 'dose hips.

[Erok]

Thurs., 3/28., 226.6#. I'ma fuck my shit up. Watch dis.

SQ: 45x..., 135x10, 215 x 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10. 4 minute rests.

GHR: 10x3.


Pan-Asian buffett. Glorious, glorious fullness.


Sat., 3/30. 228#. Hold up. I ain't done yet.

OHP: 45x..., 105 x 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 45x10,
-superset-
Cable Rows: 120x 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10.

lay down in the leg press machine, just to stretch the hips & adductors.
some leg extensions, to get some blood in the screamin' teardrops.

some DB light stuff, then out the door on vacation.

Fly to Phoenix, drive up into the Verde Valley (Jerome is a hidden Arizona gem) past Sedona (the Wisconsin Dells/Hill City of the Southwest) through Flagstaff (surprisingly pretty, and Highway 180 is my favorite drive ever) to the Grand Canyon (overwhelming, still processing). Damn glad we did that, damn glad to be back home. According to my phone, we hiked about 17 miles.


Fri., 4/05. 228#. Ha! Drank a beer every night on vacation. That's more beer than I've had in a very long time.

SQ: 45x..., 135x5, 185x4, 225x2, 270x2, 310x2, 350x2.

Speed 3" Deficit DL: 225x5, 315x2, EMOM, 5 min: 350x1,1,1,1,1,1.

Rows: 190 x 5,5,5,5.

Sandbag Rollups: 100x12, 12.


roto chix, green beans & mushrooms. Back in the saddle.

[Erok]

Been telling everyone who asks that I am doing the local strongman comp this year, so I guess I'm doing it. The shirts are cool.

Implement training has been a hassle this year, because everyone who makes decisions in this city is obsessed with tearing down old, cheap buildings and replacing them with new, expensive ones. The lack of space out back of the gym means there's nowhere to even store the tires, sled, or milk cans, let alone train with them. I'm just gonna try to get strong & conditioned, and play with what I can. Maybe make some stuff up; that always works, right?

I'm purposely avoiding planning too much in advance. Just hit the basics, keep tight, don't do anything stupid.

[Erok]

Tues., 4/09. 226#. I saw the word 'deload' written down somewhere...

Log C&P: 90x..., 115x5, 135x3 + an extra press, 155 x 2,2,2.

OHP: 45x..., 115x5, 145x3, 160x5,5,4 - bah, got my breath out of sync. Getting in my head too much.


Venison backstrap steaks in whiskey butter sauce, roasted garlic broccoli, eggs.

[Erok]

Let's face it: most succotash is bullshit. That's why no one likes it, no one eats it, and no one under the age of 40 knows what it is.
I finally made some that's okay. In fact, it's super awesome with chicken & bacon.

Sweet potato
summer squash - yellow & green zuchinni
purple onion/shallots
sweet corn
tomatoes
jalapenos
cilantros
lime juice
salt
pepper
cumin
paprika

Dice everything really small. Roast the sweet potato on a sheet at 350 until you like it.
Mix everything - use more lime juice than you think you need.

Yeah, go ahead - call me a Pagan Northerner. Then make this, and call me back and thank me for giving you the recipe.

[Erok]

There's no real need for a recipe, or for me to even explain how to do this. It's just so damn good, I have to type at you about it.

Slice the backstrap about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick, sprinkle in salt and let it come to room temp.
Get the tallow/lard/retirement grease really smoking hot in the skillet, and sear quickly on both sides in batches. Reserve.

Take your whiskey and dump it in the pan. I don't want you to hesitate here or have to hold back tears, so use the blended sweet stuff you got between paychecks. Or, try the Lagavulin 16, I won't stop you.
Deglaze the pan, let it bubble away. Bonus points if you huff the fumes. Once you've inhaled all the alcohol, drop the butter in and stir it up.

Remove from heat, put the venison back in and coat it. Boom, you're done. Serve with other things that don't matter as much.

[Erok]

Wed., 4/10. 226#.

Speed Squats: 45x15, 135x5, 225x3, EMOM: 270 x 2,2,2,2,2,2. These are getting 'fun'. That minute just speeds by.

DL: 225x3, 275x2, 315x1-doh, no belt, 365x1 - straps&belt - 405x1, 445x0, 405x0. Well, it is what it is. DL programming has been way too simplistic and linear lately, and I guess that just don't work no more. Getting stuck at 2 inches off the floor pretty consistently. Must be all the deficit DLs I've been doing.

Can't think about it too much, though - I gotta go punish myself:

Chocolate milk, pizza with pineapple, ham, and bbq sauce. Sprinkle on some cinnamon, and load it with hot giardiniera, and it's a fitting punishment.