So you want to be an athlete?

[TimC]

I'm 48 years old, currently 6' tall and weigh 220lbs...If 250lbs is the smallest guy on the field, then you might as well call me tiny...LOL.
Chase

Ah...at 5' 8" and 175, I've been asked if I was the waterboy! Don't worry about being the smallest guy out there. I pretty much got that label all to myself.

-Tim

[Chase]

This is my current condition:

[Alan H]

This is my current condition:

You're in just fine shape, hell, lots better than I am..... Don't forget that a LOT of this stuff is balance and drills, drills, drills. Strength helps, but it doens't matter HOW strong you are, you can't muscle around a 52 pound weight for distance. You gotta know HOW to do it. So go to Gamesand work out with a coupleof other guys and watch the videos and make your own gear to practice with.

I bet any money you could get a dozen guys to try the events over in Iraq. Look up "mjolnir hammers" online and get a look at what that actual implements look like. You can probably scrounge junk up from around the Base to make something that'll work. A four foot PVC handle, 1 inch diameter, some duct tape and 16 pounds of dumbell weights is close enough to a light Scottish hammer. That's what TimC and I use for practice. Find an old pole about 14-16 feet long and 70 - 100 pounds and taper it a bit and round off the end and you've got a caber.

[Chase]

we have a sledge hammer and a shot-put (8lbs) and one of the guys is putting together a couple of 12 foot length 2x4's to measure 20 feet (there aren't many trees or wooden poles where I'm at) and we have this thing called a kettle ball that weighs 24 lbs, so I'm using that...I hop and lunge whenever I can and when I'm on mission, I'm wearing about 93 lbs of ballistic protection and load bearing tactical items including weapons and ammo...Eight flights of stairs is brutal with all that stuff on.

I'm really excited about the competition...These threads are motivating too...Thanks a bunch everyone...I really enjoy XMTS

Chase

[Big Homestead]

I'd like to add my two cents here:

Cage Fighting, I love it and I compete in it. I think I have some workouts that would help you guys. See, I can't do weighted squats in the gym as my lower back hates me for it. So instead I hill sprint. Find something steep and tall and sprint is repeatedly once a week. My legs are pretty big and very strong. If you are a little guy, thrown on a weighted vest when you do it, your going to see improvement.

However, I"m not your mommy or your Dr. So, talk to a Dr. before doing anything. Warm up before sprinting said hills by warming up with a few laps of jogging and do some plain squats with no weight.

Cheers and blessings.

[Chase]

Just an update on my training...I'm two-weeks into my routine and have gained 4 lbs so far...For some reason, the pain is harder to get used to, but I'm ok after the warm-ups.

I also increased my calorie (protien) intake and number of meals per day...I'm taking it light so far, just to get the technique and body mechanics to proper form...My trainer is an ex strongman competitor from Romania...He's got me doing my split routine, but he puts emphasis on arm and weight positioning.

One of the hardest things I've added is working with Gymnastic Rings...I'm using my own body weight, but minus any stabilization, I can barely do anything...It's all wobblely, for instance, I can do three sets of ten bench dips (no problem), but can barely do three dips using the rings??? Go figure.

After my strength training is when I start practicing the actual game evolutions...A friend of mine named William McKnight is helping me to build the props...If you're interested, I'll continue to keep you guys up-to-date every once in awhile.

Thanks again for the tips and motivation.

Chase

[Yaish]

Chase said:

One of the hardest things I've added is working with Gymnastic Rings...I'm using my own body weight, but minus any stabilization, I can barely do anything...It's all wobblely, for instance, I can do three sets of ten bench dips (no problem), but can barely do three dips using the rings??? Go figure.

It makes perfect sense. When you use a stable base for the exercise you are only training the 'working' muscles. The related, stabilizing muscles get very little workout at all. If your entire weight training regime consists of very stable bench and machine work you never get those stabilizing muscles.

Traditionally the strongest guys have been workmen - farmers, dock workers, construction, etc... Lifting odd objects, full range of motion stuff really gets the body involved. Thats the type of strength the Highland Games relies on mostly, because it requires your entire body for each event.

[Alan H]

A friend of mine named William McKnight is helping me to build the props...If you're interested, I'll continue to keep you guys up-to-date every once in awhile.

Thanks again for the tips and motivation.

Chase

When you've got the implements put tgether, snap some pics, eh? I'll be curious to see what you come up with.

I visit the Doc tomorrow and will pitch the idea of going back to the gym this week!

[Chase]

Thanks Big H...I've been doing those weightless squats and they've helped out quite a bit...I wear approximately 83 lbs of gear (a 44 lb ballistic vest and a 39 lb load bearing vest to carry extra ammo, etc). This helps in a way, becuase occasionally, I have clients that we protect and their venues are 8-10 flights of stairs, (there's never a really good supply of electricity or elevators that work good in Iraq)...LOL.

Anyway, I've made great progress and wanted to say thanks for the tip.

Chase

[BoldHighlander]

Great thread!
Unfortuantly a lower back (& groin) injury would keep me from competeing

However I'm sending alot of this info to my son (he's 23), whom I'd like to get involved in the heavy events. He's about 5' 9" & built like bull. I think if I could get him out on the field he'd never leave!!