Challenges that I am facing with my new quest!

BALANCE! This has become my new theme for 2007. How at 33 years old with a full-time job and several athletes of my own that I train, do I find time to Sprint, Powerlift, and Olympic Lift at an Elite level in all three? The answer is a work in progress, but I have made great strides so far this week. One of my biggest concerns is sponsorship, so I can maybe take a break from the full-time job, and concentrate on my athletes and myself. This is coming, but it isn't overnight, and the control freak inside expected it yesterday. My new family at Gym 365 keeps telling me to slow down and enjoy some of the simple things in life, and they are right, but can athletes that expect greatness really slow down? I hope so! The way I see it is that I have the next three years to leave some sort of legacy in the sporting world, and then I want to use some of my achievements to help others. I want to help teach people that nothing, and I mean nothing is impossible. I think that when I can do this, and really touch some lives, then I will find peace inside to quiet the demon that continually tugs at my shirt to do more!

1-17 Dynamic Squats and Snatch

1-17-07 Dynamic Snatch and Squats

Power Snatch- 100/1 x 3, 110/1 x 3
Squats- 505 + Blue Bands/ 2 x 6
Glute Hams

Very tired today! I am trying to find the balance to fit in Olympic, Power, and Sprints for the Bobsled, especially when everything is happening at once. This process should be an interesting experiment if it doesn’t kill me.

1-14-07 Dynamic Clean and Jerk and Front Squat Work

Clean and Jerk- 130/1x6

Front Squat- 405/8 x 3
Plyos
RDLs- 150/6x3

Reasons for my sudden turn around in performance and attitude!

I have been thinking about this question a lot lately, and here is what I have come up with. These last few months, heck the last year has been simply horrific for me with the loss of my dad, and as a few months ago, the loss of my engagement with Julie (not to mention she took my dogs with her). It seemed that my life was just spiraling out of control, and then out of the blue, the owners of a little gym in Mocksville, NC Gym 365 called me, and said that he wanted me to train athletes out of his gym. At first I wasn't to excited about it, or anything else for all that matters, but the owners were persistent, so I dropped by and the rest is history. Now my whole life and happiness revolves around that place and its staff and members, and as always my beautiful daughter Bailey!

Now I train athletes that range from 11-17 for highschool, and then I have several adult lifters, and one girl powerlifter, Cheryl that is going to make a huge impression on the sport in a few weeks. I train one Autistic (sp?) athlete who is only twelve years old, but I have witnessed a miracle training this little guy. He never misses! The first day his flexibility was horrible, so I gave him some stretches to perform on his own at home, and by the next week, he was a new man, UNBELIEVABLE! His mechanics for sprinting and jumping have went from the worst in my group to the best. All of them have improved dramatically! I have never seen so much determination from young kids like these. The whole town is magical! My lifting has sky rocketed! The main owner of Gym 365, Richard Staley, has treated me unbelievably well! He is an amazing person that sincerely cares about his members, and the athletes of the town. Lavan Clement, who is the manager and part owner and also a Steve Goggins look alike, has literally become one of my deerest friends ever, and I am getting ready to make this 5'7" 258 lb natural athlete a world champion without a doubt. This guy has literally been a saving grace in my life. Weird how you meet people like that, just when you think all is lost, WOW! I have also met a lady named Missy Rice that has absolutely changed my life, but more of that in the future, LOL! Bottom line is that atmosphere, not equipment and methodology, is what makes a system unbeatable.

Announcement 1-12-07

I have decided to commit to the Arnold Classic in March. I have one more goal to finish out. I am also doing the USPF World Meet in Vegas March 24th. I will be at Lake Placid in the Middle of the month, so things are going to be very busy.

I plan to pick a OL meet around May or June, so I can get cracking on 2008.

Last sunday while having lunch with a special friend, I was taking a long hard look at my life, and I decided there and then, that for the next four years, I am going to give every ounce of my body, mind and spirit to push my athletic capabilities to the very brink.

In life, I figure you have two choices: 1. Take it to life, or 2. Let life take it to you! I'll take option number one! Some people call me obsessed, crazy, outrageous, etc. I say hell yes to all of them. I refuse to live life like everyone else. I am going to experience every ounce of life, and hopefully do some good for people along the way.

1-12-07 Heavy Shirt Bench

I had actually forgot my bench shirt believe it or not, but one of my training partners, Rodney, let me borrow one, that was actually one of my old ones. So it worked!

Regular Bench- 405/1 raw and easy
Shirted 3 Board- 675/1 I was super pumped because no pain. IT's ON!

I decided to stop and do accessory work the next day after sprinting.

1-11-08 Snatch work and heavy squat

Dynamic Snatch- 100/1x3, 110/1x2, 120/1 these were all power snatches and easy

Squats w single ply Metal suit- 815/1 easy and deep and walked out. Oh yeh, no briefs!
DLs- 700/2

My workouts have took a huge turn for the good! I'm very pumped.

1-8-07 Getting Wilder w Lower Body

P. Cleans- 130/1x2, 140/1x2, 150, 160/1, 170k/1 and easy
Front Squats- 550/1 raw and deep
Russian Hops- 3x10 reps
RDLs- 150k/5x3
AB work

1-7-07 Training is stepped up a notch

Bench w Weight Releasers- 315+100lb of weight releasers/3, 365+100 lb weight rel/1, 405+100 wt rel/1, 455+100 wt rel/1 easy w pause and raw. Bench is feeling back to normal.
Sn Grip Pushpress- 165k/1 easy
Plate Crossovers (upper body plyo)- 3x10reps
Pullups w a clap- 3x8 reps

Sled w my boy Lavan- 60 lb sled for sprints until I puked. This sled thing rocks.