Chicago's Strongest Man 2007 Write-up.

[Alex Apostol]

I took 5th out of 8th competitors. I would have had 3rd place, but I made some critical errors, being my first contest. Bodyweight was 190.

First Event: Truck pull w/ rope assist, 22,000 lbs

I took it slightly over 10 feet. Never tried this before, and that was the error, I got 7th out of 8th on this one, and it totally ruined my overall score.

Second Event: Log Clean and Press (clean each rep) 160 lbs within 60 seconds

I managed 8 reps, which tied me for 2nd out of 8th. I had almost no warmup for this, I just pressed 95 lbs 3x on a bar and they're like "Alex Apostol you're up!" and I ran over and did it. I expected this one to be my best event, but I was surprised by the next one. Technically a PR, but I believe I could have done more if I had warmed up properly.

Third Event: Deadlift 335 lbs within 60 seconds

I managed 18 reps, which landed me 2nd place out of 8th. I doubled my PR last time I tried it in october (9 reps). I puked after this event (luckily not many noticed). I was QUITE pleased with this.

Fourth Event: Farmers hold 215 lbs per hand for time

I managed slightly over 40 seconds. This was average, nothing special, but still a PR for me. Not sure of the placing on this one.

Fifth Event: 140~ keg carry + 400 sled drag

This could have been my best event. The keg carry was a joke, I was sprinting with it. The sled drag, which I had never tried before, went VERY fast and I was zipping through it. But because of my inexperience with it, I slipped at the last 10 feet and sprained my ankle. I quickly got up to finish it, and managed 3rd place on this I believe. The falling down cost me a good 2-3 seconds, and it also cost me second place.

Once I gain some bodyweight and work on my truck pull, I will be at 2008 nationals in no time.

-Alex Apostol

[JustinHulick]

Awesome job man, that is pretty impressive. Keep it up, eat eat eat.

[Alex Apostol]

Video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=93BgVjiHLP4

[ShanePetrelli]

Hey it looks to me like you had a pretty decend day. Besides your wt. class was pretty tough there were alot of great perfromances. With plenty more big numbers to come you will no doubt be qualified for nationals keep up the lifting. Ohh yeah and VIKING POWER. Later Shane

[Alex Apostol]

Hey it looks to me like you had a pretty decend day. Besides your wt. class was pretty tough there were alot of great perfromances. With plenty more big numbers to come you will no doubt be qualified for nationals keep up the lifting. Ohh yeah and VIKING POWER. Later Shane

Haha yeah. The competition was tough.

One person I would like to point out is Joe, a teen competitor who was 135 pounds. He deadlifted 335 (2.5x bw) for reps, and held the 215 per hand farmers hold for 36 seconds, he beat several competitors MUCH higher than his weight in that event. Lot of heart from this kid.

[ShanePetrelli]

Joe is very strong and a great guy. He comes from a real good family big family too. I actually train with Joe at Bevers house usually on Thur. nights and Sat. mornings. He also goes to Lances DL sessions to improve his DL. At his weight what he does is outstanding. There were also the 15 and 16 yr. old guys who had a tremendous day from my perspective. I dont know what there PR's are but i know that were they are going is up as well as yourself. And it was such a great day.
Later Shane

[Chris Hickson]

hey nice job today your bigger in person

[Nikhil Rao]

good job Alex. Looks like your big problem was lack of experience with implements rather than lack of strength. You should make nationals no prob in 2k8.

[Zach Snyder]

nice job man!

[Sean Hatley]

I will be at 2008 nationals in no time.

-Alex Apostol
No sir you will be at this years Nats. There is a comp down in KC June 16th, they need some teens. I wanna see you at Nats this year man. Good Job at your contest, looked like an awsome show.
-Sean

[Alex Apostol]

hey nice job today your bigger in person

Thanks. You did a hell of a job today dude, hope to see you again soon.

I seem to get that a lot, probably because of my height.

[Brad Baldwin]

Great job Alex! especially for your first comp. I REALLY wish I would have been able to make it. I would have done very well,much better then last year lol. I had to drop out because of some issues. Who got first? did any teen get over a minute for the farmers? what was the fastest semi time? and most deadlift? i cant believe you didnt get first in the deadlift. 18 reps alone is amazing,let alone doing it in under a minute.

[Alex Apostol]

Great job Alex! especially for your first comp. I REALLY wish I would have been able to make it. I would have done very well,much better then last year lol. I had to drop out because of some issues. Who got first? did any teen get over a minute for the farmers? what was the fastest semi time? and most deadlift? i cant believe you didnt get first in the deadlift. 18 reps alone is amazing,let alone doing it in under a minute.

This one guy got 20 reps on deadlift. He also got first overall. I forgot his name, but he was 260 bodyweight. I believe two teens got over a minute on farmers hold, and I know Bennet Chandler (who is a hell of a lifter) was right there with 59 seconds. Not sure of the semi-times.

This was a very tough competition, all of the competitors were experienced with the exception of Chris and I, and maybe Joe.

[Brad Baldwin]

I just watched the video.on the log did everyone clean it on every rep or was that just you? last year it was clean once and press away. My cleaning endurance is not good lol so that event would have killed me.

[Alex Devenyi]

Alex, good job bro. Haven't watched the video yet (I'm at work) but I will once I get home.

I figured you'd be good on log, and you did real well on the deads. You gotta get yourself a sled and you'll be able to work a lot on what you missed.

You did good, bro.

[Alex Apostol]

I just watched the video.on the log did everyone clean it on every rep or was that just you? last year it was clean once and press away. My cleaning endurance is not good lol so that event would have killed me.

Yes, it was clean each rep.




And Alex, I appreciate the support. The video is quite entertaining. :D

[Jared Enderton]

way to go. Not exactly how you wanted it but you got experience. Good job again.