Back in the Saddle Again!

I am back from a great two week trip on the Rio Grande as an instructor for the NOLS Semester in the Southwest. It was a fantastic trip with a great group of students. As part of our journey we were interviewed by the public radio station in Marfa, Texas. Here is a link to that interview!

I was very excited to get back into my routine today after being away. I lifted pretty lightly and got an adjustment by my chiropractor. I have found that as I have gotten older I have had success by easing back into my lifting routine after being away on a wilderness trip. You will notice that my routine today was much lighter than what I would have done just before leaving on my river trip. By next week I will be ready to really start hitting the heavy weights again and get my circuit trainings rolling in the evenings!

Weight Training: Chest and Biceps
Dumbbell Flat Bench Press
Dumbbell Flies
Alternating Dumbbell Curls
Captains of Crush Grip Trainers
Barbell Bench Press
Dips
Barbell Bench Press with Heavy Chains

Have a Great Day!!

"Old Man Strength" and the WOD!

In 2005 I had the distinct privilege of being part of an expedition to the Arctic Ocean. Myself and five other companions traveled over 400 miles by canoe through Canada's Arctic Barrenlands. But this post isn’t about that trip really. It is about “Old Man Strength”.

Early in the summer of 2005 I was 36 years old. One of my companions on the trip was a great guy named John. I had never met John prior to the trip, but it became clear very quickly that he is a very accomplished whitewater paddler and outdoorsman. John was 40 at the time and had quite a bit of grey in his beard. Despite his age he had no doubt that he would be able to keep up because he had “Old Man Strength”.

John informed us that “Old Man Strength” is a phenomenon that keeps young bucks from showing up their older competitors. Apparently, at any given moment any man over 40 years of age can tap into the combined strength of other older gentlemen around the world that are relaxing at that time. This combined strength infuses the recipient with power of herculean proportions. Of course, we all laughed.

Part way through the trip we had to travel over land to connect tributaries. During one grueling day long portage in the tundra John was smiling and plodding right along under a backbreaking load. When one of our other expedition mates asked how John could be SMILING in that setting John replied, “There must be a load of fellas hanging out at a hot tub party in Boca Raton right now!”

The Workout of the Day: Legs

2-mile walk with the dog with a weighted day pack

Dumbbell Squats

Walking Lunges with weighted day pack

Glute and Hamstring Developer

Weighted Calf Raises

Weighted Step-Ups

Standing Broad Jump for Distance

Abdominal Work