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I just want to finish a competition !!!!

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bigsteviebIconI just want to finish a competition !!!!20-08-2009 @ 09:51 
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Going after a skalp from Mick
Member 701, 58 posts
SQ 290, BP 217.5, DL 350
857.5 kgs @ 137kgs UnEq
Hi All,

Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings.

I'm pretty new to both Sugdens and the sport of strongman so thought this might be a good way to introduce myself to you all and also to help motivate me in my training.

Some 6 years ago now I was training hard and heavy with the goal of entering strongman competitions. My goal as I'm sure it is for lots of people was to enter BSM and give a fair account of myself.

I weighed in at 23stone 11lbs at 6foot tall, in pretty reasonable condition. My best lift was my genuine 360kg deadlift with no straps. The only problems was I didn't have the balls to enter. I always thought that I needed to be both bigger and stronger.

After taking six months off training around the time that I got married I went back into the gym. At the end of the second week I thought I would try some light deadlifts again. I did everything right, stretched, warmed up etc and just kept a light weight (100kgs) for my top set. At the end of my second set something just didn't feel right so I put the bar down and walked away.

The next day I could hardly move. By the end of the following week I could hardly walk. My doctor refused to believe that I had done anything other than pulled a muscle. Anyway, much pain, time off work, money spent at both the osteopath and acupuncturist along with an MRI scan showed that I had two badly prolapsed lumbar discs and damage to my spinal erectors.

By the time I got to see an orthopaedic consultant, thankfully some of the pain and discomfort had died down so he refused to operate saying that he risked causing more damage if he did. The overall conclusion being that I was lucky to still be walking around and working and that I would never lift a weight ever again.

You listen to these people because they know best !! So, I spent the next four and a half years getter smaller, weaker, fatter and more bloody miserable than ever.

Then, around mid 2008 I did something that most people would call stupid. I got thoroughly pissed off with being sat round doing nothing so I got up off my now very fat arse and went to the gym. I was carefull in that I only used very light weights and made sure that I was sat down on a bench with my back supported at all times.

Guess what ... After a few months I started to feel better. Some of the began to melt away, some of my muscle was beginning to come back and more importantly to me some of my strength was coming back too !!

Then, at Christmas 2008 I did something even more stupid. I tried some deadlifting. Don't know what possessed me but I did. First session out I managed 180kg for one hard rep. Not much I know but all things considered pretty good. In fact I was bloody ecstatic !!

Now, call me real stupid but that was it. That 180kg deadlift made something happen. I finally grew a set of balls and decided to enter a strongamn competition. I picked The Barnard Castle Steam Show at the end of May 2009 and set my sights on that.

I worked my way back up to 21 and a half stone (although not in fantastic condition) and finally managed a 300kg pull.

Looking back now I made some huge mistakes in my prep. I didn't train right, I didn't eat as well as I should have done and a whole host of other things as well.

I did the first event (310kg chain drag) and have to say was shocked. Not so much at the weight but at what it takes to actually move with that kind of weight. Also, looking back at some of the pics that I have from the event I made mistakes with my form as well which unfortunately contributed to me tweaking my back again.

I knew that I hadn't damaged it, just hurt it, but I also felt that if I had carried on I would have risked damaging it even more. Perhaps a big part of this was psychological, the fear of ending up like I was five and a half years previously ? I don't know for sure but I ended up pulling out.

To say that I was upset and pissed off would be an understatement. Especially as I really enjoyed the comp. I had got the bug even though in my eyes I had failed badly.

My plan from there was to enter another comp at some point in 2010 but then along came an invite from Bob at Elite Strongman to enter North East's Strongest Man. Well I just couldn't resist !!!

I know a lot of people reading this might be thinking that I shouldn't be entering a competition of this calibre against guys like Dave Mac, Mick Ashurst and BigT and you may indeed be right. Maybe my place should go to someone who is better than me, who perhaps has a shot at these guys but hey. I can only promise you that I will go out there and give it my all. I may not be as big and strong as I once was but I have one thing going for me...... I have finally grown that set of balls !!!!!

My goal now..... To finish a comp in one piece !!!!!
MattGriffIcon...20-08-2009 @ 09:55 
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Member 194, 3976 posts
Welcome bro, solid lifts
richards9876Icon...20-08-2009 @ 09:58 
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Still mostly bodybuilding
Member 501, 10465 posts
SQ 220, BP 150, DL 250
620.0 kgs @ 94kgs UnEq
Post Edited: 20.08.2009 @ 09:59 AM by richards9876
Nice read Steve - glad to see youve started up a journal.

Dont worry about competing against Mick etc - youve got to give yourself credit for having the balls to stand up and be counted along with these guys.

We will have to sort out training soon mate.Wink
jamieaIcon...20-08-2009 @ 09:59 
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has perfected the anvil roll
Member 353, 3292 posts
SQ 230, BP 160, DL 275
665.0 kgs @ 100kgs UnEq
Go for it mate, fear no one, I did the strongman north opens and the barnard castle you did knowing I was out of my depth better to be a small fish in a big pond but looking at your lifts I`m sure you will big a big fish in a big pond.
nathanIcon...20-08-2009 @ 10:02 
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no longer sugdens strongest man
Member 455, 1336 posts
who cares if you think you shouldnt do the comp.. just do it and try your best thats all you can do
RobIcon...20-08-2009 @ 10:10 
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Does f*ck all for SugdenBarbell.co.uk
Member 1, 7173 posts
SQ 182.5, BP 110, DL 205
497.5 kgs @ 107kgs UnEq
Administrator
Great intro!! All the best with it Steve!
SparrowIcon...20-08-2009 @ 10:40 
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always lookIng for the extra UT2 work.
Member 9, 18279 posts
SQ 210, BP 167.5, DL 260
637.5 kgs @ 103kgs UnEq
Welcome Steve, good luck at your comp!
Beard_Of_IronIcon...20-08-2009 @ 11:06 
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Head of Department, Ministry of Beards
Member 580, 2634 posts
SQ 210, BP 115, DL 266
591.0 kgs @ 101kgs UnEq
solid lifts!
JCIcon...20-08-2009 @ 11:11 
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technical retard
Member 172, 36827 posts
SQ 310, BP 205, DL 335
850.0 kgs @ 108kgs UnEq
Welcome mate. Be good tro use this as your training log?
bigsteviebIcon...20-08-2009 @ 16:47 
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Going after a skalp from Mick
Member 701, 58 posts
SQ 290, BP 217.5, DL 350
857.5 kgs @ 137kgs UnEq
Thanks for the comments guys.

Will try to use this as my training journal as well as just for all my mad ramblings Happy
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