About time I introduced myself

[DKirby]

I've been checking out this message board periodically since last fall when I heard about it, and I figured it was time I introduced myself. 00'-05', for a number of reasons, half the time I wasn't lifting at all, and half the time it was only 1-2x a week. Joined a local gym, Ironsport, back in 04'. A number of pro-strongmen have trained or currently train there. Last year after a 7 month layoff from the weights, I decided I was finally going to get back to lifting consistently 3-4 times a week, something I hadn't done since 00'. After a few months of that I decided to try strongman for kicks and giggles. I'm about 6'3", 300. Here's my little history with meets:
93' VA Strongest Man- : 1st place in the 242 lb class (this was back when I was 19)
Last yr:
-MD Strongest Man : 1st place 265+
-Rivercity (Richmond, VA) Strength Challenge: 1st place 300
-New Jersey Strongest Man : 1st place heavyweight
-NASS Nationals : 17th of 50 in heavyweight div, 6th of 15 in 300 lb weight class.
-FL Pro Am : 5th of 12 heavyweight AMs

Nationals was a huge disappointment. Excuses are like you know what, everyone has got one. 2 weeks before nationals I came down with an infection and was in the ER the week before. Was put on antibiotics, dropped some weight, felt weak at nationals, and it showed. The worst was farmers- I'd done 280 lbs for 200 ft in training. At nationals the implements, which were harder than you're normal suitcase type (those of you who were there in the heavyweight div know what I'm talking about, I dropped after 40 some feet. I was so embarrassed I wanted to go run and hide. Everything else I at least finished in the top half. That 45th place out of 50 in the farmer's dropped me to 17th.

Then at the FL Pro Am with the Viking Press I let it touch the ground after only 3 reps when I had a lot more in the tank. That 13th place out of 15 cost me a couple spots- I finished 5th among the AMs, 7th overall.

I'll be competing in Tulsa and Utah. Probably with be at amateur nationals this yr. Got a late start (at 31) in this sport. I'd like to someday get a pro card. We'll see. I've enjoyed competing against and meeting some of you on this board, and I look forward to more of the same.

Doug

[Tony Crawford]

Welcome to the board bro. I'm getting a late start myself. Just turned 36 2 weeks ago. But I'm not going to let that stop me. I'll be having surgery Tuesday for a hernia. After that I will be back very soon.

[SBaier]

Great to have you here!

[davebeers]

welcome to the site doug!
I agree those farmers at nationals very incredibly hard.

[Craig Strohmeier]

yo doug, nice to see you on here, another ironsport contingent in the house.

[DKirby]

T Crawford: good luck with the surgery, recovery, and training.

S Bair: thanks

Dave: I remember competeing against you in FL. If I can manage to finish in the top 4 at either Tulsa or Utah, that would qualify me for AM nationals in Nov. If not, I'll probably do MD Strongest in Aug to qualify, so if you're at nationals again, I'll probably see you there.

Craig: Thanks. BTW, I was trying to see the results from CT, but can't find them. How'd you do?

All: BTW, I didn't mention that I'm from VA. I currently live in Media, PA outside of Philli.

BTW, under control panel for my account I have a pic showing for "Current Profile Picture" but for some reason, the damn thing isn't showing with my posts.

[Ryan Brown]

good to see you here Doug. Hope to see you at some contests this year.

[DKirby]

Ryan:

Was good to meet you & your family at the FL Strongman last Dec. I see you're not on the lists for Tulsa or Utah, but if you're going to be at the Philli qualifier this year, I'll be helping out there (barring the highly unlikely event I win a pro card Tulsa or Utah, then I'd be competing there).

Doug

[Barry Perkins]

Hey Dougie Fresh!...glad your on here..you coming down to any of the Maryland contests?
If you see Matt, tell him I said hey!

[Eric Johnson]

....BTW, under control panel for my account I have a pic showing for "Current Profile Picture" but for some reason, the damn thing isn't showing with my posts.

Doug, the profile pic is for your personal profile, the avatar pic is what shows next to your name in the messages. Hope that helps.

[Ryan Brown]

Ryan:

Was good to meet you & your family at the FL Strongman last Dec. I see you're not on the lists for Tulsa or Utah, but if you're going to be at the Philli qualifier this year, I'll be helping out there (barring the highly unlikely event I win a pro card Tulsa or Utah, then I'd be competing there).

Doug

Doug,

I'm training hard, but not doing any shows for a little while. Wife is expecting a baby in about 18 days so my traveling partner will be out of comission for a little while. I'll probably do Coy's pro-am show in July. That should be far enough out.

[Al Thompson]

You'll get a pro card before you know it, keep up the good work. Here is a pic of Doug in action.

[DKirby]

Doug, the profile pic is for your personal profile, the avatar pic is what shows next to your name in the messages. Hope that helps.

Eric- got it. Thanks

[DKirby]

AL- thanks. That tire is a little one- I think it was something like 650-700 at the Rivercity contest for 75 ft/8-9 flips. As I remember it, the lightweights were suppose to do that and weight (at least a 100 lbs) was suppose to be added to the inside of the tire (didn't know you could do that) for the heavies, but that didn't happen, so we all ended up doing the same weight.

[DKirby]

Barry: Probably the 2nd MD contest in Aug, esp if I still need it to qualify for nationals after Tulsa & Utah. Craig Strohmeier from Ironsport did the STA2 in CT, but I haven't seen the results posted. Were you there? Are you doing any of the other mid atlantic/NE comps-either of the Maryland comps, NY battle of Badass, Pittsburgh?

[Barry Perkins]

Hey Doug,

I am going to do both maryland contests, the New jersey one (linden yard crew) and possibly the Rage in the Cage (North Carolina)..although it's only like 2 weeks after the first maryland contest. I didn't do the STA2, but in february did the south atlantic in columbia SC. So just training hard now for Grahams contest..

[stevemoss]

welcome mate :D

:I:

[DKirby]

Berry: I'm planning on similar- 4-5 contests, spread over close to 6 months. Last year when I started doing strongman I did 5 in 4 months- that was a bit much. Good luck with the 1st MD contest and NJ. I'm not doing the 1st MD because its the week before Tulsa and not doing Central Jersey because its the week after Utah. At Utah after the AMs compete on that Fri I'll get to watch the HW Pros in their national qualifier and the LW Pros in their national championship that Sat (the Nowack bros work out at my gym). Then I'm taking a week to travel out west. Probably see you in Aug for 2nd MD contest.

Steve: Thanks for the welcome.

[Barry Perkins]

Hey Doug,
It looks like I will do the pittsburgh contest Steve Kirit and Mac are putting on ..it's 2 weeks after Grahams contest in maryland (may 21st), it's close to the same events and the weights are good for me....so I may do it instead of the NC one ...regardless tell the Nowacks (sp?) I said hello and good luck to all you Iron Sport Beasts! ..

[JoeCSnavely]

Hey Doug,

Just saw your post. Met you at nationals last year. Although I was in the Lightweights. I did the MD contests last year as well. May bump into you in August, glad I'm not competing against you. Good luck in Tulsa.

Joe Snavely

[DKirby]

Berry: Will do. Good luck in Pittsburgh also. Probably see you in Aug.

Joe: Thanks. May see you in Aug in MD.