Oh no, here it comes again.
Every single time I train for this, right before the pull, I’m swearing like a sailor. Its because its painful, very painful. And as I get ready I’m thinking about how painful its going to be.
I’m talking about pulling vehicles by my hair. As mentioned in a recent post, Strongman Picnic, I’m set to perform in less than two weeks from know.
I’ll be pulling a fire engine. Its big. Much bigger than what I’ve been pulling. So in training for it I do what you do in any other training. I make it progressive. More weight at first then I had do switch to more of an incline when I was pulling the biggest vehicle I had available.
I’ve also played around with the setup and my technique as its not likely something I’m going to get coached in.
Back to the pain…
This is an area familiar to strongmen. Pain tolerance.
Bend a piece of steel or a horseshoe across your leg? That’s going to hurt. And the first few times you do it, it’ll leave bruising (sometimes massive amounts). You’re might even be strong enough to bend that steel if only your leg could take the drive.
One tip I received in learning to bend nails is once you get to the point where its starts to hurt and you want to quit, that’s where you need to double your efforts and crush it. That’s the point were the nail WILL bend.
You’re not seeking this pain. In some feats of strength its not so painful. But in some it is. Many feats can cause rips in skin, various bruises, just plain pain or much more.
Dennis Rogers once drove a nail through his hand…backwards. Usually the feats works without much effort. In this case it was not so.
It comes with the territory.
This is just the first batch that came out after the pull. I lost more in the shower later.
Whatever the reason this one hurt more. And I lost more hair. I always lose some when doing this stunt. (I like to think that all the weak ones must go.) But this time there was more. Here I could hear the hair rip from my head at one point in the pull.
When I finished a few large chunks came out. Nothing noticeable as far as how I look is concerned and I seem to have plenty left. But certainly not comforting.
Such is the life of a strongman.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. I wrote an article over at Straight to the Bar. Lift weights? So what? Check it out.
Filed under Feats of Strength, Mental Training, Oldtime Strongmen by on May 3rd, 2010. 10 Comments. 
This is the final update in this round for the Feats of Strength Index.
All new:
Thick Bars
Thick Bar Lifting
Updated:
Short Bending
Long Bending
Chain Breaking
Finger Lifting
Hand Balancing
Pullups
Every page has at least one video showing some form of the feat of strength.
(Except for one. I cannot find a good video of a two hands anyhow of anyone bent pressing a barbell and then picking up and pressing a kettlebell. If you or someone you know can do this with a decent or respectable amount of weight please shoot a video and let me know. If not I’ll have to practice it myself and do it.)
While I’m happy with the section for now it’ll be constantly evolving over time.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Feats of Strength by on May 6th, 2010. 2 Comments.
Almost another month has passed since I last wrote about biofeedback training. I’ve decided I want to give a play by play account of how it’s working out for me. That means this will be the first in a series of articles on my progress in biofeedback training. And for this one I have to go back in time a bit to when I started.
Any and all movements can be tested.
I got started testing out my exercises. A little later I tested the weights I was using.
For the most part, early on I ignored the testing and then had to struggle to set a new PR. Sometimes I made it, sometimes I didn’t. What I was doing was following my old routine just testing to see how the movements tested. Then I did my routine regardless of the results. That’s not how you’re suppose to do it. But it was my first step.
The testing was awkward. In a range of motion test you’re suppose to go until you feel tension. Sounds good in theory. But when you first try it you may not be the best at feeling the first sign of tension. I know I wasn’t. In order to help me out I decided to do two different ROM tests each time to see that they were giving the same results.
I continued on. I figured that I would give this method at least a month to start showing results. If it didn’t I could jump back into my routines. I started actually listening to the tests. I finally dropped the idea that I needed to known exactly what I was going to be doing when I entered the gym. I would let the tests guide me to do what I should be doing.
It took a couple weeks before I felt that I was getting it right. At that time I was testing exercises, variations, loads and rest. It started coming together and I was seeing myself hit new PR’s without struggling for them.
Of course, the testing (and moving into a new place) led me to be doing different exercises and different volumes so it wasn’t hard to be hitting PR’s. Anytime you start new exercises there is a period of time were your body adapts quickly becoming more efficient at the exercises. You become better at the exercises rather than building much strength or muscle to do the exercises.
That’s why I always encouraged sticking to a routine. You need to work the same exercises over a period of time in order to see real improvements. If you jump from routine to routine you aren’t doing much more than spinning your wheels.
This isn’t really in contrast to biofeedback training though. You still have your goals. If that involves being able to deadlift more you’ll aim your testing in the direction. Unless your body is messed up and dead lifting is not right for you you’ll be able to continually work the lift and do more.
More on this subject real soon.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Bio Feedback, Strength Training Concepts by on May 7th, 2010. 3 Comments.
A new article on one of my favorite new training tools has just been published to the site complete with a video.
This is the Battling Ropes created by John Brookfield.
If you can you need to try out this training. Better yet, do it on a regular basis and you’ll see some powerful results especially when it comes to your endurance.
The Battling Ropes in action
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Conditioning by on May 10th, 2010. Comment.
Strength and health are tied together. At least that’s the way it should be.
That’s the reason that probably the greatest physical culture magazine was called by that name.
Yet today more than ever people seem to divorce the two.
There should be little if any difference in training for strength and training for your health. Performance training should not cost a toll on your body.
An old friend of mine is a bodybuilder. One day he was talking about how he would pay the price for his training in his later years. Wrecked shoulders and the like. I grimaced. That’s not the way is should be. Its certainly not the way it has to be.
At the same time there are those that go balls to the walls in their workouts. They train hard in order to become healthy and fit. But then they go and chow down at a fast food place.
It’s amazing how many people do this. They have one side of the coin but completely lack the other.
Then there are those health nuts. The vegan guy who doesn’t know as much about nutrition as he thinks he does. Avoids meat but eats ’fake meats’ that have who knows what in them. The guy who weighs 100 lbs. and couldn’t lift a barbell in the squat. (You should realize I’m using stereotypes in order to make my point.)
Jack LaLanne said, “Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Put them together and you’ve got a kingdom!”
Live by that saying and you may live long and healthy as Jack has.
I show you the best methods and training tools I can on this site. I work to bring you the best.
Now I’ll be doing the same with health with a new section on the site. The Health section will feature articles, recommendations and more. The cutting edge and best information out there.
Trust me, when you see some of this information you will be blown away.
My primary reason in getting to this field is performance related. Yes, I want radiant health. But I also want my body to perform at its best at all times. To never get sick and break down. To heal old chronic injuries. To be able to marshal all its forces towards my goals in training and life.
These things are possible. I make no claims to be perfect. But I do strive for perfection. Won’t you join me?
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. And on this note I have an important message for you tomorrow.
Filed under Health, Nutrition by on May 12th, 2010. Comment.
With the introduction of the health section here I’m going to be showing you lots more on what I do.
And this so happens to be timely. I mentioned in a previous post about the Longevity Conference and how mind blowing of an event it was.
Well, now you can get access to it. Click this link and you can watch a clip from one of the presenters, Dr. Mercola as he talks about:
- A common vitamin that way too many people are lacking and how it influences up to 3000 of your genes.
- Which vital tests doctors do NOT routinely provide that could save hundreds of thousands of lives when you know what they are!
- Cancer connections and much more.
Yes, they will be selling the DVD’s for this event but for now you can just watch these informational videos online.
This is important stuff. Go watch it now.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. They’ll be showing you more clips from the event too than the one I mentioned above. Just saw they put up one from a simply amazing presentation on mushrooms…yes mushrooms! You gotta see it.
Filed under Health, Nutrition by on May 13th, 2010. Comment.
As you’re reading this, unless you’re unlike me and don’t check your email several times a day, I’m on a plane to Ohio.
The day of reckoning is upon me.
Tomorrow is the Atomic Athletic Great Black Swamp Olde Time Strongman Picnic. Wow, that name is a mouthful.
Tomorrow I perform.
Tomorrow I pull a fire truck with my hair.
(As a side note I ran into a couple old friends a couple days ago and told them what I was doing this weekend. What else would I be doing on a Saturday afternoon? Watching sports and drinking a beer? No. Going to the beach? Nope. Pulling a fire truck with my hair? Of course. Typical for me. The more I think about it the more absurd it seems even to me.)
I’ve trained hard. I’m as prepared as I can be.
There’s going to be hundreds of people. Radio and TV coverage. Even now I can hear the play-by-play action going on in my head…and yes its in John Madden’s voice.
…He’s getting set for the pull. The chains are taught. He’s straining but nothing’s happening…oh…wait a second…yes there it is! The firetruck is moving! Slowly but Logan’s gaining momentum. He…could…go…All…THE…WAY!!!!
The pressure is on.
Wish me luck.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. Thanks for everyone who sent me Happy Birthday wishes yesterday. I’ve never received that many in one day and it was quite overwhelming. This is certainly a new way to celebrate!
Filed under Feats of Strength, Oldtime Strongmen by on May 14th, 2010. 11 Comments.
First off, I’ll have the full story of my hair pulling performance later. Just getting the video ready to go and writing it up.
Until then…this may be the most important message I’ve ever written.
(Deep breath) Okay, here we go…
My mother passed away less than six months ago from cancer. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through.
If you’ve been with me since before that time you may remember when I took time off to deal with her failing health. When I came back I never mentioned what had happened. I sat down to do it on a couple occasions but I couldn’t find the words. In fact, this is the first time I’ve written about it publicly.
She suffered through nine years of chemotherapy, radiation and hell before finally becoming so debilitated at the end she needed 24 hour care. And then she was gone.
So why am I telling you this now?
I’ve recently sent you a couple videos regarding cutting edge health information.
Turkey Tail
My eyes filled with tears. It took everything I had not to bust up crying right in the middle of his talk. If only I had known this information earlier…
When I got home I went on a hike. Right in my own backyard less than a mile from my house Turkey Tail is growing readily in the forest.
What could have been if only I had access to this information earlier?
Maybe someone close to you is going through something similar. Maybe you are. It sucks. There are no other words for it, except even stronger ones.
It happens everyday. Just last night I read how one of the greatest metal singers, Ronnie James Dio, had passed on from stomach cancer at only 67.
But I believe it doesn’t have to be this way.
You can live long in radiant health and not have to deal with debilitating and deadly disease. It’s becoming more possible each day. Getting old itself is not toxic, its how we live that makes us pay the price.
There is amazing information available. And unfortunately, what you don’t know is killing you.
Here’s the deal. Today they released the DVD’s of this conference. I want you to get it.
You can do that by clicking here.
If you click that link and buy I will be compensated. But I do NOT want to use my mother to sell you something…
…That’s why every cent I make from these sales will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. I already bought the DVD’s myself so I’m starting the pot off with money in it.
I think this information is that IMPORTANT.
If my loss can be used to get your attention, get you to ACT and then you use it to save someone’s life I feel like I can at least turn the negative into a positive.
Hopefully you’ve seen the clips I’ve sent and the extra one‘s they‘ve released. They give you a taste of what’s to find in the footage of two and a half days.
In case you missed them you can signup here and find all three clips on the following page.
Unfortunately I realize the price may make this out of the reach for some people. But what is money without health.
Even if you don’t take advantage of this offer now realize this information is out there. And I’ll be sharing more with you soon.
For now just click over and watch the video about it. Then make your decision.
Thank you.
In health,
Logan Christopher
P.S. I know this message is heavier than my normal material. I’ll be back to fun and strength training soon but for now, if it’s done it’s job it’s at least got your attention. Watch the video and realize that there is another way.
P.S.S. If you decide this program is not right for you for whatever reason but would like to make a donation you can still do that by clicking the donate button below.
Filed under Health by on May 17th, 2010. 10 Comments.
I’m not sure if I can claim the title world’s strongest hair…at least thus far, but there’s no doubt that my hair is strong.
If you’re following me on Facebook or Twitter than you may have read about what happened at the Atomic Athletic Strongman Picnic. Either way, here’s the video.
Here is the full story at least as far as my own performance is concerned.
I got set ready to pull. Well over a hundred people ready, watching and cheering.
I strained and pulled. The fire truck rocked forward but with its massive wheel it was difficult to get it to turn over.
After a couple futile attempts we took a break to make some adjustments. Changing the chains to get a more even pull on each side. Moving the truck to get it out of any dip it may have been in. The tires were filled with air the previous day but without a pressure rating they were skeptical of adding too much!
This time I knew I couldn‘t fail. I had flown across the US just for this. Once I started pulling I didn’t stop ‘til the end. Not only was this the biggest vehicle I’ve done but it was also the longest distance, my guess being at least 50 yards.
No Small Task
Hope you enjoyed that. I know I did. And it won’t be the last, nor the biggest vehicle I pull with my hair.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. Thanks to Andrew Durniat for filming this for me. You’ll see some more video of the event later, including when Andrew and I went head to head in kettlebell juggling. I think I enjoyed that even more than the hair pulling.
Filed under Feats of Strength, Oldtime Strongmen, Videos by on May 18th, 2010. 19 Comments.
You’ve seen my performance from the Atomic Athletic Strongman Picnic. But what about everyone else?
This is Scrolling
There was Olympic lifting. There was ‘regular’ vehicle towing (because towing a semi-truck with a harness is regular compared to doing it by the hair). There was lots of stone lifting.
There was all kinds of metal being bent from horseshoes to bars of iron and even scrolling.
There was martial arts demonstrations, Indian club swinging, people lifting, and even a circus sideshow.
One of the highlights for me was K.C. Gittleson and his sledgehammer finger walking. If you’re not familiar with this exercise it involves holding a slegehammer upright, with the head below you, by the four fingertips of each hand (no thumbs). You then walk your fingers down the shaft until you get to the head of the hammer.
Stewart Rosendaul lifting his daughter, Brianna
Andrew Durniat amazed the people as usual with his barbell juggling. But he didn’t stop there. He also flipped and tossed around a 50 lb. stone padlock and a 45 lb. plate. If you think any of those are easy give it a try and you’ll find out otherwise.
As previously mentioned, we went head to head in kettlebell juggling trying to out do one another. And we both did in different ways.
I’ll have more video of these events in the coming days and weeks. And later on there’ll be a DVD released that shows it all.
In the end it was worth the trip out to Ohio. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. And if at all possible it would be great to organize a similar event to do over here on the west coast.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Feats of Strength, Oldtime Strongmen by on May 20th, 2010. 1 Comment.
