I got a couple of really good questions today, and thought it would be great to answer them on the blog. Here we go with the first one…
From Gabe on the Facebook Page:
Where did you start and how long did it take you to get your Deadlift over 400#s?
I can’t believe I haven’t addressed this before, but I’m really glad Gabe asked because I came across some pretty interesting information about myself that I hadn’t thought about before…
First, where did I start? Well I pretty much started at ground zero. I went into Faction (Crossfit Memphis) in October 2009. I was just your average, overweight 30 something dad & husband. I played Basketball up until 11th grade in High School, but that was over 20 years ago. Anyway, let’s just say I was in awful shape. I had never touched a barbell in my life so I had no idea what I could lift and didn’t even know what the lifts were really. This is where this question gets really interesting to me. Sometime between October 2009 and April 21, 2011 training at my gym I managed to: Run my first 10K, Run my first Half Marathon, Run my first Marathon, Run my first 50k, and run my first 50 Miler. My first 50 Miler would have been on April 16th, 2011. I found this video on YouTube of a 345# Deadlift on April 21st, 2011:
Disclaimer: I understand that a lot of people don’t drop the bar. I don’t drop it anymore either on a 1RM. What I thought was funny about this was that the week after my first 50 miler, I’m maxing out my Deadlift. Who’s idea was that? Haha! Then here’s my first 400# Deadlift from September 2011:
So from April 2011 to September 2011 I was able to get strong enough to pick 400 up off the floor. How’d I do that? Well, for the last few years, I’ve spent the Summer time getting strong. I had a strength program that I would follow, and I wouldn’t be running very much at all. I saw some really good gains doing that and it got me up to a 400 Deadlift. Bledsoe (my coach) instructed me to eat a lot and follow the program. I did, and it worked. So to answer the question, I spent the Summer of 2011 getting “swole.” I really like dedicating time to strength training and I definitely love getting stronger. However, I think this summer I’m going to continue on a Strength and Conditioning/Running/Crossfit Endurance type program instead and see what happens.
Anyway, Gabe, I hope that answers your question. If not, or if you have more questions just hit me up. I love this stuff.
V