chris_green
05-27-2006, 05:51 PM
Hello all,
I am new to the forum. My name is Chris Green. I'm a 28 year old grad student at the Univ. of Washington in Seattle. I got my start in powerlifting a few years ago, but now I am looking to try my hand at some of the other strength disciplines.
The West Coast Strongest Man (http://www.marunde-muscle.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3077) contest that's coming up seems like it might be a good place to start—it's close by, during the summer, and not too expensive, all factors that are pluses for a poor student. However, never having been to a strongman contest I have no idea what the logistics are like. So, I am looking for some insight into how the contest would go, in particular:
How long does the average contest last?
What is the order? Are all the women's events done first, then all the teens, etc., or are all the tire flips done first, then all the stones, etc.?
About how long between events, on average? I'm used to the often slow pace of powerlifting meets.
If meets typically run all day, I'm assuming competitors eat something light between events, just like in powerlifting? Or is that just not a good idea?
What gear would you consider essential? I have knee sleeves, wrestling shoes, wrist wraps, belt, weightlifting shoes...do I really need anything else (cleats, rock climbing shoes, etc.)?
Any advice or links to "first-time strongman" guides would be appreciated.
To complicate matters, I have no experience with any of the implements. I lift at my school gym three times a week for 1-1 1/2 hours. That's all I can really fit in...my job and my dissertation take up a lot of my time. I've been trying to simulate some of the events (e.g., lifting a stack of 45's to simulate a stone) or do exercises that would seem to carry over well (front squats, zerchers, presses, etc.). Some events are harder to simulate that others (I don't have an H2 to pull, for instance, and don't have a real grasp of how hard that might be.)
Given my lack of experience, is it wise to even consider doing this contest just for the experience? Or should I try to get access to some implements and learn them first before trying to compete?
I appreciate any advice anyone has for me. Sorry for the long post, you just get used to cranking out pages and pages as a grad student...
Thanks in advance, Chris Green
I am new to the forum. My name is Chris Green. I'm a 28 year old grad student at the Univ. of Washington in Seattle. I got my start in powerlifting a few years ago, but now I am looking to try my hand at some of the other strength disciplines.
The West Coast Strongest Man (http://www.marunde-muscle.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3077) contest that's coming up seems like it might be a good place to start—it's close by, during the summer, and not too expensive, all factors that are pluses for a poor student. However, never having been to a strongman contest I have no idea what the logistics are like. So, I am looking for some insight into how the contest would go, in particular:
How long does the average contest last?
What is the order? Are all the women's events done first, then all the teens, etc., or are all the tire flips done first, then all the stones, etc.?
About how long between events, on average? I'm used to the often slow pace of powerlifting meets.
If meets typically run all day, I'm assuming competitors eat something light between events, just like in powerlifting? Or is that just not a good idea?
What gear would you consider essential? I have knee sleeves, wrestling shoes, wrist wraps, belt, weightlifting shoes...do I really need anything else (cleats, rock climbing shoes, etc.)?
Any advice or links to "first-time strongman" guides would be appreciated.
To complicate matters, I have no experience with any of the implements. I lift at my school gym three times a week for 1-1 1/2 hours. That's all I can really fit in...my job and my dissertation take up a lot of my time. I've been trying to simulate some of the events (e.g., lifting a stack of 45's to simulate a stone) or do exercises that would seem to carry over well (front squats, zerchers, presses, etc.). Some events are harder to simulate that others (I don't have an H2 to pull, for instance, and don't have a real grasp of how hard that might be.)
Given my lack of experience, is it wise to even consider doing this contest just for the experience? Or should I try to get access to some implements and learn them first before trying to compete?
I appreciate any advice anyone has for me. Sorry for the long post, you just get used to cranking out pages and pages as a grad student...
Thanks in advance, Chris Green