January 25, 2014

Natural Athlete Strength Association (NASA)

My best friend and I have decided rather unexpectedly to go and compete in a strength lifting competition. I found that there will be 3 events held in New Mexico this year through the Natural Athlete Strength Association (NASA):

April 26th - New Mexico State, Gallup, NM
Septmember 27th - New Mexico Regional, Roswell, NM
December 27th - New Mexico Christmas Regional, Roswell, NM


The NASA has a lot of different divisions an athlete could enter, but their web site is very difficult to navigate. Here are the divisions:

Power lifting:
a. Squat            
b. Bench Press   
c. Deadlifts

Full Power Sports Division:
a. Curl
b. Bench Press
c. Deadlift


Power press:
a.  Clean 
b. Bench Press.

 


single lift events:

a. Curl -- Power Sports
b. Bench Press -- Power Sports, Unequipped or Equipped Divisions
c. Deadlift -- Power Sports

Competition takes place between lifters in categories defined by:

a. Sex,
b. Body Weight
c. Age.
d. Unequipped divisions
e. Equipped divisions

Mens Division:
Open Division: from 13 years upwards (No category restrictions need apply.)






Teenage Division: from 13 – 19 years of age.
Junior Division: from 13 years to and including 23 years of age.
Intermediate Division: 24 to and including 29 years of age.
Sub Masters I Division: 30 to and including 35 years of age.
Sub Masters II Division: 35 to and including 39 years of age.
Masters I Division. 40 years to and including 49 years of age.
Masters II Division: 50 years to and including 59 years of age.
Masters III Division: 60 years to and including 69 years of age.
Masters IV Division: 70 + years of Age and upwards.

Women’s Division:
Open Division: from 13 years upwards (No category restrictions need apply.)
Teenage Division: from 13 – 19 years of age.
Junior Division: from 13 years to and including 23 years of age.
Intermediate Division: 24 to and including 29 years of age.
Sub Masters I Division: 30 to and including 35 years of age.
Sub Masters II Division: 35 to and including 39 years of age.
Masters I Division. 40 years to and including 49 years of age.
Masters II Division: 50 years to and including 59 years of age.
Masters III Division: 60 years to and including 69 years of age.
Masters IV Division: 70 + years of Age and upwards.
 
Body weight Categories (Men)
52.0 kg Class up to 52.0 kg    
56.0 kg Class from 52.01 to 56.0 kg
60.0 kg Class from 56.01 to 60.0 kg
67.5 kg Class from 60.01 to 67.5 kg
75.0 kg Class from 67.51 to 75.0 kg 148.8-165.3 lbs
82.5 kg Class from 75.01 to 82.5 kg 165.4-181.9 lbs
90.0 kg Class from 82.51 to 90.0 kg 181.9- 198.3 lbs
100.0 kg Class from 90.01 to 100.0 kg 198.4-220 lbs
110.0 kg Class from 100.01 to 110.0 kg 220.5-242 lbs
125.0 kg. Class from 110.01 to 125.0 kg 242.5-275 lbs
140.0 kg. Class from 125.01 to 140.0 kg 275.6-308 lbs
140 + kg. Class from 140.01 to unlimited 308.7 lbs+

January 24, 2014

2nd treadmill tabata of 2014

Today I completed my 2nd treadmill tabata of 2014. This time I wanted to push myself harder than I have in awhile so I increased the treadmills elevation to %12 and ran at a 10:45 pace for the hard sets. The goal was to run 10 hard sets worth. Even though I pushed myself to the point where my legs were almost collapsing and I was getting dizzy I was only able to run 8 hard sets. Next time I'll decrease my pace to a 10:56 and try for the full 10 sets. Once I 'm able to complete the full 10 I'll start increasing the speed I'm running and the amounts of hard sets I'm completing.

This morning I received a call from a loved one to tell me my grandpa died last night. His funeral will be held outside of Dallas Texas. I usually cover any emotions I'm having with eating. I'm going to try really dang hard to do a lot of praying, working out, and talking to my family about my feelings rather than turning to food.

January 23, 2014

Finally a decent snatch, and I need a different goal!

When I was involved in all the other sports I've tried I would usually struggle for awhile, then get worse for a single practice or a week, then make a huge jump. My progress was almost never gradual or consistent. 2 steps forward, 1 step back. I've been training for Olympic weightlifting for over 2 months now and my snatches suck, my cleans are only a little better. Sunday was my worst training day to date, and then today I felt great! I actually completed a few reps that looked like a real snatch! I live for moments like that. Finally, some progress. Perhaps I'll be ready for the New Mexico state games this summer after all.

On another note, there's a guy I've blogged about a few times named Barry Schroeder. he's in my age group, and I hope to get down to the weight division he's lifting in, the heavy weights. I've said I wanted to continue to lift, progress, and eventually try to compete with him. Yesterday he hit a 400 pound squat. I think I need to find another golden carrot, a different person to try to strive to beat. my max lifts are ridiculous compared to his. My max power snatch was 152, bench was 270, squat was 280, and my max dead lift was 350. My best lifts are no where near his warm ups!

January 22, 2014

weight gained again. Paleo time?

Earlier this month I got down to the 250 pound range for the first time in a couple years. And now I'm back into the 260's again. I love food, I hate dieting. I'm getting frustrated. I lost 20 pounds in a few weeks of starting Olympic weightlifting and have now become stuck, bouncing around between 258-262. I think I'm going to try the Paleo diet again. Perhaps just until I lose this extra 30 pounds and I get into the 105k weight class. I've had great losses when I get onto the Paleo diet, but I also end up with the worst cravings in my life, which often times ends up causing me to binge and gain all my weight back and then some.

Oh how glorious it would be to be back into the 230's.....

January 21, 2014

My first Olympic weightlifting goal

I've been training in Olympic weightlifting for a little more than 2 months now. My form is still really bad, especially in the snatch. I don't think I've progressed enough to have picked any goal weights to hit this year, but I have decided I want my A event to be the 2nd annual Buffalo classic weightlifting competition held by Zia CrossFit November of this year here in Santa Fe NM. I have 10 months until the 2nd annual Buffalo Classic . That's 10 months to work on my form and build some more strength. I'm planning on competing in a couple sanctioned Olympic weightlifting events before the Buffalo Classic so that I can get used to lifting in a formal competition.

I posted a link to the 2013 1st annual Buffalo Classic weight lifting competition below.

https://www.usaw.hangastar.com/EMS_Events_Results.aspx

1st annual Buffalo Classic results

Event NameEvent SiteEvent StateEvent DateAthlete NameWt. Class(kg)Body Wt.(kg)Best SNA(kg)Best C&J(kg)Total(kg)
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Biddle, Makalah Grace 69.0 66.00 40.0 55.0 95.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Schaum, Eliza 63.0 60.83 31.0 44.0 75.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Applewhite, Faith 63.0 62.02 43.0 59.0 102.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Kleinsmith, Marissa 53.0 52.84 48.0 59.0 107.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Stumbo, Jodi L. 75.0 72.40 65.0 78.0 143.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Werenko, Deborah D 58.0 56.44 35.0 42.0 77.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Miller, Vedder Rise 77.0 76.56 75.0 90.0 165.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Monroe, Logan 56.0 55.95 63.0 75.0 138.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Ferguson, Hunter T 85.0 77.23 75.0 90.0 165.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Farris, Dominick Ethan 105+ 116.22 105.0 131.0 236.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Hernandez, Lorenzo 77.0 73.00 0.0 84.0 0.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Lovato, Leonard Steve III 77.0 73.70 0.0 89.0 0.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Harris, Nate 85.0 83.90 70.0 94.0 164.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 O'Connell, William 85.0 84.23 80.0 105.0 185.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Johnson, Martin William 105+ 114.43 76.0 117.0 193.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Nester, Jacob E. 94.0 87.88 85.0 107.0 192.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Fletcher, Benson 94.0 91.80 85.0 98.0 183.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Robinson, Darrick 94.0 88.22 66.0 90.0 156.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Martinez, Mark 85.0 81.38 60.0 0.0 0.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Schaum, Christopher 85.0 80.67 55.0 65.0 120.00
1ST ANNUAL BUFFALO CLASSIC
42-13-05
SANTA FENM11/9/2013 Longhurst, William L. 105.0 99.59 53.0 76.0 129.00

January 20, 2014

back pain and improper weightlifting form

The last week my lower back has been hurting. I knew it had to be from improper lifting form, but I had no clue what I was doing wrong. I've been frustrated. Yesterday coach Jodi and coach Linda pointed out my starting position of the snatch was wrong. Since it was the starting position it meant I was putting undue stress on my lower back every set of the snatch, clean and jerk, and dead lift. After my workout I spent an hour practicing my starting position. I'm hoping I've fixed my form and that my back will stop hurting.

I love Olympic weightlifting, but I assumed I'd be better at it by now. It shouldn't be as difficult learning the form as I'm having. I don't know. Maybe the brain injury I suffered when I got ran over by a vehicle while cycling a couple years ago affected me a lot worse than I thought it did. Regardless, I'll keep training as hard as I can. I'll keep showing up. Eventually I'll learn. Perhaps not as quickly as I'd like, but I'll get there. If it's harder for me than it is for others, then I'll be more grateful than everyone else once I get there right?

After I was done lifting Barry Schroeder pulled me aside and gave me some great advise about staying positive and enjoying the sport. It was wonderful advise and I was grateful.

January 18, 2014

Barry Schroeder at Miller weightlifting

I'm going to eat a healthy snack then take a nap so that I'm fully rested and recovered for tomorrow. What happens tomorrow you ask? Barry Schroeder is going to workout with me at Miller weightlifting. This will be my first time seeing him in action. Barry Schroeder owns every state Olympic Olympic weightlifting record in both the 94k and 105k weight classes in my age group of 35-39. I posted an article about him, what he's done, and how it affects me. Click on the link below to read more about it:

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7284817641207555818#editor/target=post;postID=580449116031509380;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=26;src=postname

January 17, 2014

Olympic weightlifting with PTSD

Today at the gym I was ready to do my squats, but the gym was packed and all the squat racks were taken so I had to use a multi use stand in the corner of the gym. To use that stand safely I have to face the stand, keeping my back to the room so that I can rack the weight after squatting. After a couple sets I started getting a lot of anxiety. I've been a correctional officer in a prison for almost 19 years and I get really stressed out keeping my back to a room, especially a busy room with a lot of people in it. Getting ran over by a vehicle while on a bike ride Sept of 2011 seems to have made my PTSD symptoms much worse. By the end of my 5 sets of squats I was a wreck and I had to leave without doing my cardio.
On the brighter side of things I've been using saffron extract to curb my hunger. This morning I woke up weighing 256 pounds! I'm back into the 250's for the first time in a very long time baby!!!!!!! 21 more pounds to lose and I'll be out of the super heavy weight division and into the heavy weight division!

January 16, 2014

2013 year end miles

When I was a hard core triathlete I used to post here on my blog how many miles I'd swim, bike, and run at the end of each year. Since I got ran over by a vehicle while cycling back in 2011 I've virtually stopped all swimming, cycling, and running. I wasn't going to post my years milage because of how low the totals were, but I've decided to go ahead. Most people who read my blog have no clue who I am anyways so what could it hurt?

2013
bike 689 miles
averaged 57.4 miles a month, 13.25 miles a week
run 122.1 miles
averaged 10.1 miles a month, 2.3 miles a week
swim 874.9 yards
averaged averaged 72 yards a month, 16.8 yards a week

2012
bike 3,161 miles (almost entirely indoor trainer miles)
averaged 263.4 miles a month, 60.7 miles a week
run 493.6 miles
averaged 41.1 miles a month, 9.5 miles a week
swim 7,864 yards
averaged 655.3 yards a month, 151.2 yards a week

2011 milage
bike miles: 4,410.6
Averaged 367.5 miles a month, 84.8 miles a week.
run miles 1057.8
averaged 88.15 miles a month, 20.3 miles a week.
swim yards: 48,040.4
averaged 4,003.3 yards a month, 923.8 a week

2010 milage
Bike 4,505.6 miles
averaged 375 miles a month, 86 miles a week
run 775.7 miles
64.5 miles a month, 14.9 miles a week
swim 5,258.3 yards
averaged 438.1 yards a month, 101.1 yards a week

2009
total bike miles 3915.3
averaged 326 miles a month, 75 miles a week
total run miles 705.1
58.75 miles a month, 13.5 miles a week
toatal swim miles 102,960 yards
averaged 8580 yards a month, 1,980 yards a week

January 15, 2014

Saffron Extract and hunger

I've been overly hungry since I started taking creatine monohydrate and whey protein. Each day I've eaten all of my alotted calories and I've still been hungry so I've been taking Saffron extract to curb my hunger. It's working great at making my hunger go away. I'm still stuck at a body weight of 260 pounds, but since I'm building muscle that must mean I'm losing fat right?

I've tried taking safrom extract before. It always helped prevent hunger, but it does nothing to stop emotional eating. When I used Safron extract I'd always make quick weight loss, but have never been able to sustain any long term weight loss.

After weeks of struggling with bad form on the snatch I finally did a set with decent form. Finally some progress on the most technical lift!

January 14, 2014

creatine, whey protein and Olympic weightlifting

I've made big gains in my strength the last week. I've made bigger gains this week than any other 3 weeks combined. I'm even feeling less fatigue and recovering more quickly between sets! The only thing I've been doing differently this week than before is that I'm taking 5 grams of creatine monohydrate once a day and whey protein immediately after my workouts. The only negative effect's I've found about taking creatine and whey protein is that my weight loss has stopped and I'm REALLY hungry all the time! I assume the weight loss having stopped and me being so hungry is because I'm building more muscle, so I can't complain. Ultimately me gaining more muscle will make my body burn more calories and help me to drop more fat later on, so I'm content maintaining my weight of 260 pounds for awhile if I continue to make such wonderful gains.


January 12, 2014

first run in many moons: treadmill tabata

I have been postponing running until I get below 250 pounds, I'm currently 260, but since I signed up for The Missile Man duathlon (formerly the Jon Stermer duathlon) on Feruary 1st 2014 I decided I needed to start running now. Yesterday I did a tabata so that I'm building my running ability while also building fast twitch muscles. I did a 5 minute warm up on the treadmil, then set the incline to 4% and the pace at 8 mph. Then I ran 20 seconds on 10 seconds off. I could only keep that up for 6 rounds, stopping at the 9:50 mark. I've also started cycling to and from work again. Until the Missile man duathlon I'll be weightlifting on Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat's. Cycling on Tue's, and running on Thur's. After today my tabatas will be more strenuous. I'll set the incline to 12% and the pace 30 seconds slower than my latest best 5k. Then 20 seconds on 10 seconds off for four minutes or 8 rounds.

I have to say thank you to Travis from Zia CrossFit for helping me out with this fast twitch building cardio. It's new to me and I'd never have known what to do if it wasn't for your help and guidance.

January 11, 2014

The upcoming Missile Man duathlon Feb 1st 2014

I've decided to register for the Missile Man duathlon at White Sands Missile Range NM which will be held on Feb 1st 2014. Ever since I got ran over while cycling back in 2011 I don't feel comfortable cycling near vehicles. So now on the rare times I race I prefer to race at WSMR. There's rarely anyone driving on the bike course, when there is a rare vehicle driving near us they always slow way down, are courteous, and give the cyclists a ton of space and respect when passing. WSMR is the closest thing I've found to racing on a completely closed bike course.

The 2014 Missile Man duathlon will be my 87th multisport race and my 21st duathlon. I competed in this race last year. At the time I weighed 250 pounds, the race took me a dismal 2 hours 28 minutes and hurt me like bloody hell. Right now I'm weighing 260 pounds..... gulp. I expect it'll hurt even worse now that I'm heavier. I'll let you know how I do.

January 08, 2014

creatine monohydrate and weight loss

I've been dieting since starting Olympic weightlifting a couple months ago. My goal is to get to the middle heavyweight division (94k), but I also want to get as strong as possible while losing the weight. It's not easy to try and get strong while losing weight. Even with an exellent diet a person usually losses some muscle while on a calorie restriction. So far I've been pretty lucky. I've gained a bunch of strength while having lost a bunch of fat. To help continue my strength gain I've decided to try supplementing my diet with creatine monohydrate. I know creatine helps build muscle and also causes a gain in water weight, but I'm not sure how it works for an athlete who is dieting. Will the creatine stop or slow my fat loss? Or will my dieting nulify the benifits of creatine? I'll use myself as an experiment. I started yesterday. I'll post my results and findings below: 

 Jan 14, 2014 http://cody-the-clydsdale.blogspot.com/2014/01/creatine-whey-protein-and-olympic.html

January 07, 2014

first cardio since respiratory illness

I got the worst respiratory illness of my life the last week of December. I didn't feel well enough to lift again until a few days ago. Today was the first day I've felt well enough to try doing cardio. I did a tabata on my indoor bike keeping the hard sets above 22 mph. Tonight I'll be commuting to and from work on my bike. Hopefully I've recovered enough for my body to handle the cardio. I'll soon find out, I'll let you guys know how it goes.

January 06, 2014

dieting, food cravings, and strength

Back in the day, when I was an endurance athlete, I was on calorie restriction for what felt like FOREVER. One of the lessons I learned while staying endurance athlete light (gaunt) was that I needed to take a break from calorie restriction on occasion. I can tell when I need to stop dieting and go into a maintenance phase because I start resenting having to eat less than I want and I start craving lots and lots of crap! I hit that point of food obsession this weekend. For the next 1 to 2 weeks I'm going to maintain my body weight. After the food cravings go away I'll go back to dieting again. While my calories are increased not only will I be preparing my body to lose weight more comfortably but I'll gain more strength too. More food and an increase in strength, it's going to be a fun couple weeks!

I'm currently weighing 260 lbs. I've lost 20 pounds since picking up Olympic weightlifting. 54 more pounds to go until I've hit my goal of getting into the middle heavyweight division (94k weight class).

January 05, 2014

White Sands Missile Range 2014 Race Dates

                White Sands Missile Range 2014 Race Dates
1 Feb 2014 Missile Man Sprint Relay Duathlon
7K Run/28K Bike/5K Run
Start time: 0800

12 Apr 2014 Tax Day Triathlon
5K Run/30K Bike/400M Swim
Start time: 0730

10 May 2014 Howling Coyote Triathlon
5K Run/30K Bike/400M Swim
Start time: 0730

7 June 2014 Beat the Heat Triathlon
5K Run/35K Bike/400M Swim
Start time: 0700

2 Aug 2014 Roadrunner Triathlon
7K Run/40K Bike/400M Swim
Start time: 0700

6 Sept 2014 Yucca Triathlon
7K Run/40K Bike/400M Swim
Start time: 0730

8 Nov 2014 Veterans Day Duathlon
7K Run/50K Bike
Start time: 0730

Dec 2014 Polar Bear Sprint Relay Triathlon
5K Run/30K Bike/400m Swim
Start time: 0800

January 02, 2014

Olympic weight lifting motivation while sick

Today I tried to go back to the gym and train for  the first time since I got sick. Even during my warm up I was out of breath, coughing, sweating profusely, and light headed. I decided I was going to do a few sets of light clean and jerk to practice form, then go crawl back into bed. After only a couple sets I was contemplating going home. Rise miller who is only 14 years old and is the coaches son told me when your sick or unmotivated that's an opportunity to teach yourself to push through adversity. He said, "your feeling crappy right now, but if your able to put your mind in the right place, focus, and train through it now, then there will be nothing that can happen to you during a competition that could be anywhere as bad as this." Rise then told me about how Michael Phelps swimming coach had stepped on his swimming goggles on purpose during a meet once so that his goggles would fill with water while he was swimming to teach Michael to continue to push hard and stay focused on the task at hand even when things aren't going your way. Rise was right. Me being sick wasn't a problem, it was an opportunity. If I could stay focused on the weights and form at that moment, then anything I faced at a meet would be easy in comparison. I finished 5 sets of jerk, and 5 sets of clean and jerk. Lesson learned. Thanks Rise.