The temp was 29 degrees, Winter had finally set in.
I was up that morning at 6 AM, took care of the wife and kids and then drove to The Underground Strength Gym of Manasquan, NJ.
I cranked the heat for 10 minutes, no longer. I don't wanna spoil myself with a cozy gym.
F--K that.
I got warmed up and got to work. Some smashing on the rumble roller. Some light band work for the upper body and lower body. I had been thinking of this workout since Sunday Morning, some 24 hrs prior.
As I was dragging sleds, sweating, breathing heavily, it got me thinking.
Here I am, age 40, dead of winter and most 40 year olds are thinking about retirement, pension, that hot cup of coffee and getting through the day. Not me. NOT me.
That's when it hit me.
The training will never stop. The true competitor is always chasing a challenge and always training, even if you're training for the unknown, you must always train.
Don't lose your edge.
[youtube width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vttQ-h3zcHc[/youtube]
Some of my training is done at my gym, which is loaded out with all the equipment needed to build dominant athletes and then some.
Other times, I prefer a more Spartan environment, something minimalist, which would be my garage with nothing but a barbell.
The last Garage Gym Workout I had was simple:
1A) Deadlift 4 x 10
1B) Bent Over Row (Underhand for 2 x, Overhand for 2 x) 4 x 10
2) Conventional + Sumo Deadlift: Somewhere around 25 or 30 sets of 1 - 3 reps of each position
Simple. NOT easy.
Right now I am 3 weeks post shoulder surgery and feeling VERY good.
I don't go too heavy.
I do a lot of circuit work and think about Wrestling quite a lot. That keeps me going, almost as if I am still training for Wrestling.
I'll hit anywhere from 3 - 6 exercises in a row and do around 5 - 7 rounds.
Here's a Sample Circuit:
1A) Sleds x 100 ft
1B) 1 Arm Row (Weighted or Bodyweight with Rings) x 10 reps
1C) Band Chest Pressing (Multiple Angles) x 15-25 reps
1D) Shoulder Pulls from Various Angles x 15-25 reps
1E) Box Squats with various stances x 2 - 20 reps (start light w/ higher reps and go heavier as I warm up)
I Do a lot of shoulder prehab / rehab movements to get range of motion and activation. I am constantly moving. I often finish with glute ham raises or back extensions, band curls for hamstrings, band triceps work and light curls of any type.
The circuits feel great. Sitting around doesn't inspire me. I train alone most of the time so the solitude drives me to do the work while no one is watching. There is no one to impress and I have to prove myself time and again to my OWN high expectations.
Age 40 and I'm still making progress.
Kicking Ass & Taking Names is the ONLY way to do this.
Fads and Gimmicks have NO place here.
See you at The TOP.
--Z--
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11 Responses
Tell “em, Zach! I agree 100%
I’m just finishing my off season for rugby; I’ve done a lot of shoulder and hip recovery work over the last three months. Lots of strength work coming my way at 45 years old. Persistence and the right attitude will always win. Keep telling them that, Zach!
Mark, Awesome! Training SMART is the key!
Here’s what I Just did…..
1A) sleds x 100 ft
1B) banded chest presses + band rows x 20 / 20
1C) Squats w/ safety bar x 3 reps
1D) bent over DB raises x 10-15 reps
1E) glute ham raise x 10
I hit that for 5 rounds, feeling good!
Hi Zach,
I know you do not discriminate from individual workouts, however this is beyond my comprehension. I am very fortunate to have an on site gym at work, we also have an area where I can pull sleds, tyre flip, prowler and so on. However I am the only person who uses this equipment, my co workers men included choose to stay inside and workout to something called T25 which are DVD`s, they follow along on the TV. WTF is going on? They are doing this in the same room as a squat rack and bench press!!!!
Less and Less men are MEN, and, I think a BIG part is their upbringing and teen years.
If you were always just part of the team vs being taught to go out and be a HAMMER, then those people continue being the Nail in Life.
I choose to be the hammer.
I’ll Quit after I reach room temperature !
Had this exact conversation with someone I work with, wondering how many other 63 year-olds are still lifting weights, using their own squat rack six days a week! “Do the things other people won’t, so you can do the things other people CAN’T”
You keep doing it til you can’t! Stay motivated and stay strong!
Z, it’s the unfortunate truth that society is putting less and less emphasis on physical culture and strength. And that’s why we gravitate to you and guys like you – Keep preaching and teaching, Coach!!!
Bob, guys like YOU keep me going, otherwise I’d be in a cave!
You told me that people like us were,
“Put on this earth to get people strong”.
It’s what we do. And that includes training ourselves. The training never stops man.
There is no point in ones training in which one reaches the end.The instant you think you have finished, you have already strayed from the path. Realize that nothing you do is perfect until you have taken your last breath; then, when you are dead, you will be seen as having completed the way. Purity without excess, and focusing single-mindedly on one thing is difficult to achieve during ones lifetime.If the purity of your training is diluted it cannot be called the proper Way.