I hesitate to write this but I feel a bit compelled to say something about it. Two Thursdays ago I received a text from a friend. I had not heard from him in quite some time. When I first got in contact with him , a friend had asked me to help him out with his tricep rehab. He had just recently had tendon repair and was trying to rehab and get back to lifting as quickly as possible like we all want to. Having gone through a few rehabs personally on my own and the tricep being one of them I was glad to give out some strategies that helped me.
He listened and incorporated all of them over the next couple months. His tricep rehab went well and he healed fast. During these long texts, I got to know him a bit more. Off and on I helped him with other training advice and normal dude BSin. You get to hear about the other parts of a person's life as well. Not too much but glimmers here and there over a year and half.
So back to two Thursdays ago. I got a text from him basically it seemed as a check in and touch base. I hadn't talked with him since April but during that time his Dad commited suicide and 6 months later his wife's father passed suddenly. He continued on to say training wasn't great but he was grinding through it. My response was to say I was sorry to hear about the losses but glad to hear you are coming out of the woods a bit. Little did I know or perceive that this would be the last text from my friend.
Yesterday I got a couple calls from the original friend. It seemed a bit frantic so I called him back. He asks if I had heard from our friend and I tell him not since that Thursday and I send him a screen shot of our brief conversation. He goes on to say no one has heard from him since that day. A couple hours later, he sends me a link. I look at the link and know that isn't good news so I don't open it till later in the day.
Well as you can guess, it was not good news as they found his body. They have not said cause yet but nothing suspicious has been found. I showed the Wife and she asks if I am OK and that I couldn't have known,but as the first instinct is to blame yourself for not reading between the lines, automatically happens. I know and understand this but it still goes through my head.
The reality at least on this plane of existence is that he no longer has to suffer the pains he felt were too much to overcome in this world. I do not know his suffering as no one can know anothers pain. I would rather him still be with us but that is not possible anymore as we know it. Where ever he is, he is enjoying the oneness with the Universe in whatever way he believed in. Another friend I will miss.
8/8
Activations with boomstick and tim tam
Long ab strap pulldowns and side using chest supported row 6x8 each
Reverse Hypers 3 pre, 1 post
Used yoke for paused GMs really really sucked. Yoke 5x3, Yoke plus 100lb 4x3 reps
Sled pull throughs roughly 22 sets ish
Backwards duck walk sled roughly the same sets 22 ish. These put my quads on swole.
8/7
1 full lap with prowler and 25lb a arm
8/6
Lot of activations with the Tim Tam and BT work. Very much needed
5 full laps upper body sled with a 45. Combos of rep and static work both forwards and backwards.
8/5
1 full lap plus sled with 2.5 plates. Time 25 mins. Added a walkoff/I don't want to die lap.
8/4
Tim Tam activations
Ab wheel 6 sets
Reverse hyper 4 sets pre, 2 post with 200lb more added
Pit Shark with chains. With the hipnasties going on, I worked on a tight heels turned in stance again. With this stance I can pause completely at bottom allowing the knee and hip to lengthen and extend. Many sets of 6 to 8. The chain setup is a new thing we are trying to simplify the process a bit more. A few more trials with this product.
1 full lap with 3.5 plates. Took the full 30 min on this. It was terrible but I needed a challenge for my puny leg training.
8/3
Activations with Tim Tam and boomstick
Band tri set with lightning rod attachment. seated row mid pull, straight arm pulldown and added low pullapart facing away. 8 rounds
Hanging abs and oblique work 4x8 each
Speed press with bands and feet up brah 8x3
Band push up off deadlift platform band pegs. 4x8 then 4 x failurerap.
8/2
One full lap with the prowler and 25lb a arm. Took 23mins. At the old gym on asphalt-5 to 7 mins tops and using old club foot with 25lb. It is a bit depressing to not be able to to burn it up but this is almost a new challenge for me. I don't think the 5 to 7 mins are gonna be possible on the concrete but maybe a 10 to 15 min time maybe there. I would have to get jacked into it. As I said almost.
8/1
Activaitions with TIm Tam and boomstick
Abs hanging abs, 4x8, Fall outs with Suspension Straps 4x8
Reverse Hypers 3 pre and 2 post
Duffalo bar with lights slip knotted on Mono. GMs off straps with duck stance(I have been having left hip angrys for about 3 weeks now. Wanted to change the impact instead of normal straight feet . Work sets 5x5,3x3, 3 singles
Tried some lunges from the bottom position for about 3 sets of 6 a leg. This seemed really awkward so moved on
Set up sissy squat in mono with same set up off mono straps. This was equally terrible but hung in there for 4x8
2 full laps regular sled(one forwards, one backwards) One lap walk off
7/31
3 laps regular sled
7/30
Activations and some BT on the pecs and arms
Floor press with swiss bar. Work sets 5x6
Drop sets with 5 sec hold at bottom position 4x8 or whatever I could get
Pendlay rows with swiss bar using dumbell bumpers 6x3
Assisted pullups with green band 6x8
Decline high neck press with holds 5x12
Plate tricep extensions 4x12 to 15