Could I Have Made It?

Season 2 - Video 1 - Trailer thingy

2008-08-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

I felt like cutting together some footage, since I haven't uploaded any video yet and it's been like 2 weeks since I started posting. So I did this:

Enjoy :)

Season 2 - Day 17

2008-08-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

Shot some film today - that was fun. In order to get the first actual video done, I did one of every exercise I do in any workout.

I am exhausted beyond comprehension.

Today's workout was 3.5 hours.

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The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Not even going to bother listing them all. Go back and read every other post, look at each exercise, and I did one of each of those.

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HOW I FEEL:

Like I got a great workout in. First time I've ever done something like this. I'm worried about tomorrow's repercussions, but hey, at least I made up for a shitty week last week.

Season 2 - Day 16

2008-08-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

I was supposed to get up, go to the gym, get my session in, and then go help some friends of mine out on a movie they're working on.

Instead, I woke up about 30 times throughout the night, finally settling down about 5 AM, only to sleep through my 9 AM alarm.

Roy's going to kick my ass on Monday.

Today's workout was about absolute shit.

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The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

4 mile run.

Wooo.

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HOW I FEEL:

Lame. At least I did the run. And I did clean the house, which - if you saw how bad the house was - you'd know was a great workout. But whatever, it's still lame.

This week kinda sucked.

Season 2 - Day 15

2008-08-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

Even though I skipped a day, I went ahead and took yesterday off. Because I needed it.

Hopefully I won't get punished again, but I shouldn't, since it's my regular day off.

Today's workout was about 2 hours.

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The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Squat Jump (ground-to-bench) - 3 sets x 20 reps
One-leg Step Up (ground-to-bench) - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 55lbs in each hand (110lbs)
Deadlift (stiff leg)- 2 sets x 15 reps, 1 set x 10 reps - 315lbs first and second set, 405lbs third set
Deadlift with bent knees - 3 sets x 10 reps @ 405lbs
Power Clean - 3 sets x 10 reps @ 225lbs
Dumbbell Snatch - 3 sets x 20 lbs @ 55lbs
Stair Run - 30
Sprint Laps - 5 (1/10th of a mile each lap)
45 mins on Elliptical (interval hill program, level 15)

************

HOW I FEEL:

We trimmed out the drills today because Roy had to leave.

I should punish him the way he punished me for slacking... Only, I didn't mind. At all.

You know what sucks? I haven't done chest or triceps in a week. I'm not used to that. It's a strange thing that, in weightlifting, you get to a point where you prefer - even love - certain exercises. With me, chest and triceps have always been the "goto" workout. When I'd take a month or 3 months or... like... 5 years off from the gym, I'd always start back with chest and triceps.

But I'm definitely noticing the gains in the legs and back. It's been 8 months of steady gain, and I'm lifting weights I never imagined I'd ever be able to lift in dead lift, power clean, and whatnot. When I was hitting the sled a while back, I could see definite improvement in moving it, but I wonder what it's like now.

I think that's why Roy's backing off of them. I'm pretty straight in that arena, I need work elsewhere.

Season 2 - Day 13

2008-08-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

Murrrrr.... BRAINNNNNSSSSSS...

(Get it? I'm a Zombie, because I'm so absolutely braindead after this morning's workout. It's funny. That's why Penguin pays me the big bucks to be a writer)

Today's workout was about 3 hours.

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The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Pullups - 3 sets x 15 reps
Iso Upper Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 360 lbs
Iso Flat Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 360 lbs
Iso Lower Back Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 310 lbs
Dumbbell bent-over Lat Pull Row - 3 sets x 15 reps @ 120lbs (each hand)
Shrugs - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 405lbs
Lat Pulldowns - 3 sets x 50 reps @ 130lbs (front), 3 sets x 30 reps @ 130 reps (back)
Stair Run - 10
Hurdles - High Step x 10
Hurdles - shuffle step hop x 10
Ladder - crossover shuffle step x 10
Punch Drill - 3 minutes x 5 sets (sucks!)
Duck Walk - 5 laps (1/10th mile per lap)
Isometric Squat (no weight, just body weight) - 3 sets x 150 reps
Pushups - 100 flat, 100 "diamond", 100 elevated (feet on bench)
45 mins on Elliptical (interval hill program, level 15)

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HOW I FEEL:

I got home at 9:00pm yesterday after about 3 and a half hours of working out. I then got up at 6:00AM today to go do another 3 hours.

You tell me.

Season 2 - Day 12

2008-08-12T22:20:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

I rolled in about 3 AM yesterday after picking up Mike, driving by the Bengals' facility (they wouldn't let us in), and taking him home. So, I skipped my workout yesterday morning.

To add to the crime, I didn't go this morning, opting instead to go in the evening (because I had an early morning meeting I had to attend for a client).

So, I got punished. Like, Guantanamo punished.

Missing a day is a no-no. And that really screws with me, since I've already paid for that day, it's mine to do with what I want... Nope. Not with Roy, it's not.

He beat the crap out of me.

Today's workout was about 3.5 hours.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Leg Press - 50 (first set) @ 450lbs, 40 (second set) @ 540lbs, 30 (third set) @ 630 lbs
SUPERSET with stair run - 10 reps between each set (30 stair runs total)
High-stepup (ground-to-bench) - 20 each leg, with 70lb dumbbells in each hand
SUPERSET with stair run - 8 reps between each set (24 stair runs total)
Leg Extension - 50 (first set) @ 190lbs, 40 (second set) @ 205lbs, 30 (third set) @ 220 lbs
SUPERSET with Leg Curl - 50 (first set) @ 220lbs, 40 (second set) @ 235lbs, 30 (third set) @ 250 lbs
Hamstring Iso Leg Press - 50 (first set) @ 450lbs, 40 (second set) @ 540lbs, 30 (third set) @ 630 lbs
SUPERSET with Calf Press (toe extension) - 50 (first set) @ 450lbs, 40 (second set) @ 540lbs, 30 (third set) @ 630 lbs
Power Squat (Deadlift with bent knees) - 3 sets x 10 reps - 285lbs first set, 315lbs second set, 365lbs third set
SUPERSET with stair run - 6 reps between each set (18 stair runs total)
Sprint Laps - 5 (1/10th of a mile each lap)
Punch Drill @ 2 mins x 3
Ladder Drill - studder-step x 10
Ladder Drill - sidestep x 10
Ladder Drill - one-foot x 10
Ladder Drill - High-step x 10
Hurdles - shuffle step hop x 10
Wall Sits - 2:00 min x 3
3 mile run (treadmill)

************

HOW I FEEL:

I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again. I will never miss another day again...

Season 2 - Day 10

2008-08-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

I had to rush through this morning's session. Again, I tried to keep my resting periods very low to keep the heart rate up, but given the amount of grilled beef and bourbon I have ingested while here (much more beef than bourbon, but hey, it all counts against you), I can feel my body screaming at me to go run some of the cholesterol out of my veins.

Alas, it'll have to settle with a back series, and work double-time when I get home.

Today's workout was about 40 minutes.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Pullups - 3 sets x 15 reps (all by myself! AGAIN! WHEEEEE)
Iso Upper Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 345 lbs
SUPERSET with Straight Bar Curl - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 100lbs
Iso Flat Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 345 lbs
SUPERSET with Dumbbell Hammer Curl - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 55lbs (each hand)
Iso Lower Back Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 325 lbs
SUPERSET with Cable 1-Handed Iso Curl - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 45lbs

************

HOW I FEEL:

It's really frustrating not being able to hit the road or do drills, but hey, bourbon.

I have to go pick up my friend Mike from his parents' place near Cincinnati, then head home. It might be a late night. On the way, I'm going to visit the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp - it's right up 75 from where I'm going, so I figure what the hell.

Season 2 - Day 9

2008-08-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

In Kentucky for work. It's always hard to find a good place to work out on the road - fortunately, I've been here a few times before and made the mistakes of trusting Garmin to tell me where to go.

So, I could go to the hi-tech, brand new Lexington Athletic Center, where everything is bright and shiny and new, or I could opt for the lo-fi Glenn Ford's Fitness Center, which was built in 1893 to train horses to move hay around or some shit.

I'm going for Ford's, because something in me just needs to hear the clank and clatter of old iron rattling around, instead of rubber-coated plates sliding on machined cylinders.

Today's workout was about 50 mins.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Bench Press - 4 sets: 1 set x 20 reps @ 135lbs, 1 set x 15 reps @ 315lbs, 1 set x 20 reps @285lbs, 1 set x 30 reps @ 225lbs
SUPERSET with Tricep Pushdown: 3 sets x 20 reps @ 155lbs

Decline Bench Press - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 285lbs
SUPERSET with One-hand Reverse Tricep Curl - 3 sets x 25 reps @55lbs

Incline Bench Press - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 285lbs
SUPERSET with Overhead Tricep Curl - 3 sets x 25 reps @155lbs

Cable Pectoral Flys - 3 sets UPPER x 15 reps @ 65lbs, 3 sets LOWER x 15 reps @65lbs (upper + lower superset into same set)

Dips - 3 sets x 30 reps
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HOW I FEEL:

Meh. Working out on the road sucks, period. But the gym I was at was so lo-fi, it felt like old-school workout videos we used to watch when I was in high school... Like I was Rocky, training with sandbags and chains and shit. It was kinda neat, actually.

I didn't get to run or do any cardio, so I just sped up my session so that I was resting about 20 seconds max between sets. It worked, my heart was pumping like crazy during the workout. When you can't get everything you want, sometimes you just make what you can get, work.

I have no idea if that comma is supposed to go there or not. It feels like I needed a pause there, but it feels kinda odd. I know the common mindset is "when in doubt, leave it out" but meh, I'll do what I want, cause it's my blog, so, like, whatever man.

Season 2 - Day 8

2008-08-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

It's so strange - I used to LOVE days off from the gym. But over time, your mind and your body grow to love the exertion. Even when it's painful and it sucks, when you go an entire day without doing anything, your body almost demands to go outside and run and collide into things. I can't explain it, except to say yesterday was a very "fidgety" day for me.

Today, I'm driving to Kentucky for work, so my workout is a bit abbreviated... Mostly cardio / conditioning work.

Today's workout was about 2 hours.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Dumbbell Dead Lift - 20 x 3 @ 130 lbs each hand (260lbs)
Dumbbell Snatch (yes, haha, i said snatch) - 20 (first set), 15 (second set), 10 (third set) @ 50lbs, 55 lbs, 60 lbs (respectively)
Leg Press - 20 (first set), 15 (second set), 10 (third set) @ 870lbs, 1050lbs, 1230lbs (respectively)
Seated Squat - 15 x 3 @ 405lbs
Ladder Drill - studder-step x 10
Ladder Drill - sidestep x 10
Hurdles - High Step x 10
Hurdles - shuffle step hop x 10
Stair run - 30 (15 x 2 stairs at a time, 15 x 1 stair at a time)
30 mins on Elliptical (interval hill program, level 15)

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HOW I FEEL:

The 7 hour drive ahead of me suddenly looks even less attractive now that my legs are all tight and mealy.

Inspiration: other average-to-athlete folks

2008-08-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

Some good friends of mine who follow this project pointed me to some other folks doing similiar stuff.

Chris sent me a link to 2 average athletes attempting 5 olympic events - it's a really neat insight to the difference between the average athlete and a full-time dedicated sponsored person who pursues physical excellence.

Amy sent me a link to an average woman who decided to be an Olympic triathlete - quite an engaging and awesome story. I've linked the last article in the series, but you owe it to yourself to read them all.

Finally, Martin sent me to Stefan Fastis's site. Stefan is a 43 year old Wall Street Journal reporter who trained and played with the Denver Broncos as a place kicker.

Awesome reading, all.

Season 2 - Day 6

2008-08-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

I hate.

At least this morning I got to sleep in until 7:00AM. That was nice. But the workout wasn't. It wasn't even my trainer's fault... He had a death in the family, and couldn't make it, so it was on me to push myself today. I had help from Marcus and Ralph, two guys I work out with on occasion.

I hate Marcus and Ralph now.

Today's workout was about 3 hours.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Dumbbell Incline Bench Press + Fly (superset) - 50 (first set), 40 (second set), 30 (third set) @ 75 lbs each hand (150lbs)
Dumbbell Flat Bench - 50 (first set) @ 75lbs, 40 (second set) @85lbs, 30 (third set) @ 95 lbs each hand (150lbs, 170lbs, 190lbs)
Incline Bench Press (machine) - 15 @ 280 lbs, 12 @ 310 lbs, 10 @ 320 lbs
Decline Bench Press (machine) - 15 @ 360 lbs, 12 @ 410 lbs, 10 @ 460 lbs
"21" Curl (straight bar) - 3 sets @ 75lbs
Iso Curl Cable (one hand) - 3 sets x 15 reps @ 47.5lbs
Iso Curl Machine (preacher) - 3 sets each hand individually x 15 reps @ 90 lbs, then both hands @ 190lbs
Iso Pectoral Fly machine - 3 sets x 20 @ 290lbs
Punch Drill @ 2 mins x 3
Ladder Drill - studder-step x 10
Ladder Drill - sidestep x 10
Ladder Drill - one-foot x 10
Hurdles - shuffle step hop x 10
Wall Sits - 2:00 min x 3
Stair run - 10
45 mins on Elliptical (interval hill program, level 15)

************

HOW I FEEL:

Actually kinda sore. Yesterday beat the living crap out of me - I think that moving to a split-day session is going to end up being the sane thing to do in the long run, but for now, I'm being told to stick with double-length sessions.

But this is nowhere near as bad as I felt this time last year, that's for sure.

Season 2 - Day 5

2008-08-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

Okay, this "stacking two-a-days into one workout" thing is killing me. I'm going to kill someone because I'm being killed. I mean, it's great and all, and I'm glad I'm training, and I feel great that I'm not only surviving but doing well... But still. This shit is INTENSE.

And I thought I'd been hitting it hard the past few months...

Today's workout was about 3.5 hours.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Leg Press - 50 (first set) @ 450lbs, 40 (second set) @ 540lbs, 30 (third set) @ 630 lbs
High-stepup - 20 each leg, with 50lb dumbbells in each hand
Leg Extension - 50 (first set) @ 190lbs, 40 (second set) @ 205lbs, 30 (third set) @ 220 lbs
Leg Curl - 50 (first set) @ 220lbs, 40 (second set) @ 235lbs, 30 (third set) @ 250 lbs
Calf Press - 3 sets x 50 @630lbs
Hamstring Iso Leg Press - 50 (first set) @ 450lbs, 40 (second set) @ 540lbs, 30 (third set) @ 630 lbs
Deadlift - 3 sets x 10 reps - 285lbs first set, 315lbs second set, 365lbs third set
Power Squat (Deadlift with bent knees) - 3 sets x 10 reps - 285lbs first set, 315lbs second set, 365lbs third set
Stair Run - 30
Sprint Laps - 5 (1/10th of a mile each lap)
Punch Drill @ 2 mins x 3
Ladder Drill - studder-step x 10
Ladder Drill - sidestep x 10
Ladder Drill - one-foot x 10
Ladder Drill - High-step x 10
Hurdles - shuffle step hop x 10
Wall Sits - 2:00 min x 3
45 mins on Elliptical (interval hill program, level 15)

************

HOW I FEEL:

Like jello.

I hate my trainer, Roy. I hate his sadistic horrible training. I hate that I pay money to go through it.

Actually, I just hate being a total puss.

Season 2 - Day 4

2008-08-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

So, Roy Carr (my trainer) has told me that we won't be doing actual 2-a-day workouts until September. He wants me to ramp up the workouts by sticking what I'd do in both workouts into one gigantic cataclysmic workout full of hellpain.

And so that's what we did today. And I hate it. I hate him. I hate everything in the world. I wish I had a baseball bat the size of New Jersey so I could beat the shit out of this planet.

Today's workout was about 2.5 hours.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights + drills + cardio)

Shrugs - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 405lbs
Dumbbell bent-over Lat Pull Row - 3 sets x 15 reps @ 120lbs (each hand)
Pullups - 3 sets x 15 reps (all by myself! New Milestone!)
Iso Upper Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 360 lbs
Iso Flat Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 360 lbs
Iso Lower Back Row - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 310 lbs
Dumbbell Power Clean (one hand) - 3 sets x 20 reps @55lbs
Power Clean - 3 sets x 10 reps @ 225lbs (New Milestone!)
Stair Run - 20
Punch Drill @ 2 mins x 3
Ladder Drill - studder-step x 10
Ladder Drill - sidestep x 10
Ladder Drill - High-step x 10
Hurdles - shuffle step hop x 10
Wall Sits - 2:00 min x 3
Medicine Ball Toss - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 12lb
45 mins on Elliptical (interval hill program, level 15)

************

HOW I FEEL:

... I don't have words. I am STILL breathing somewhat hard, after driving home.

What the HELL is wrong with Roy? Why is he doing this to me? What did I do to him???

Season 2 - Day 3

2008-08-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

Took it somewhat easy, still a bit burnt from helping my Mother-In-Law move yesterday. That was a HUGE day... About 8 hours of moving shit, with only a 40 minute break to drive to the new house. It was an intense day, in 94 degree heat.

So I went back to my tried-and-true stack-set chest day today. Been a while since I did this, but it felt good to see just how much I've improved over what I used to do on this exact same routine a year ago.

Today's workout was about 1.5 hours.

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Season 2 - Day 1

2008-08-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

First day of posting, but definitely not the first day of working out. This will be the first day that I actually hit the field and work specifically on drills for football, though, so it counts as Day 1.

Roy (my trainer) wants to step things up on Monday, but I decided to get a jump on things and go ahead and work my ass off today anyway. I won't be able to work out tomorrow, since I'm helping my Mother-In-Law move. I'm such a good son-in-law, right?

Today's workout was 1.5 hours.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights)

Leg Press - 3 sets x 50 @ 450lbs
High-stepup - 15 each leg, with 50lb dumbbells in each hand
Leg Extension - 3 sets x 30 @ 220 lbs
Leg Curl - 3 sets x 30 @ 250 lbs
Calf Press - 3 sets x 50 @ 630lbs
Power Squat (Deadlift with bent knees) - 3 sets x 10 reps - 285lbs first set, 315lbs second and third set
Stair Run - 30
Treadmill - 30 minute run

************

Evening Session (Football Field):

50 yard sprints x 10
15 yard shuffle drill x 10
"L" drill x 10
Duck Walk x 100 yards
Punch Drill x 100

HOW I FEEL:

Not bad. Nice to get back in the grass and play a bit. I can tell you that this year is WAY different than last year... By a fairly wide margin. I feel so much stronger and aware than I was last year. It's insane to compare now to then... I just can't believe how far I've come.

Season 2 - Day 0

2008-07-31T17:30:00.001-07:00

Well hi!

It's that time of year, I suppose. The last day of July... Time to start training for football season. Time to get serious about experimenting with the idea of whether or not I could make it to a professional football team.

But I've got a surprise for you! I've already started! Or rather, should I say... I never stopped!

After hearing back from the Force and the Storm last year, I felt encouraged. I felt like I had proven to myself that, with training and determination, I was able to show two professional teams that I was at least a contender for a spot - and maybe, if I hadn't stopped playing for 12 years, I could have gone on to do some pretty cool stuff in the sport.

So, instead of just shrugging it off and moving on with life, I decided to step it up a bit.

I hired a trainer - Roy Carr, a trainer to professional athletes, specializing in football conditioning. Roy moved to my area of town around January and began operating out of my gym, after retiring from the NFL as a fitness and technique coach. We got to talking, and he agreed to take me on.

In the course of my training, I've had the honor to work with several former NFL linemen who work out at my gym (I'll name names later, if they allow me to). I've dedicated myself to a rigorous weights and fitness program, incorporating cross training, power lifting, technique and speed drills, and - funny enough - not much cardio training. Apparently, cardio starts in earnest about 6 weeks before you begin training camp, which is about... Oh, right now.

Some of you who read this thing might have seen the pictures I posted in my checking in post. But to add some statistics to the pics:

October 27th, 2007	July 31, 2008
Weight: 305lbs Body fat: 29% Shoulders: 52" Chest: 44" Thigh: 19" Calf: 16" Neck:18" Bicep: 16" Waist: 52" (size 46 pants)	Weight: 312lbs Body fat: 21% Shoulders: 60" Chest: 54" Thigh: 25" Calf: 18.5" Neck:20" Bicep: 19" Waist: 44" (size 40 pants)

As you can see, all the muscley parts have gotten bigger, while the fat around my gut has diminished.

The amount of weight I can lift now is far beyond anything I've achieved in my life thus far. I now lift more on every single exercise than I did at the younger peak of my training by about 33% (I hate naming numbers, because it sounds so dickish... Just watch my workout logs when I post them if you're that curious).

I am taking this year VERY seriously.

Starting August 1st (tomorrow), I'm onto 2-a-day workouts. I will be lifting weights for an hour (and some minutes) for the first workout, then doing football-related drills and exercises at the 2nd workout. I'll be drilling offensive lineman techniques almost exclusively (instead of doing general football drills like I did last year).

I am going to go out on a limb here. Last year, I was curious as to whether or not I could make the team, viewing this whole thing as an experiment. This year... It's a mission. I am GOING to make a team. Even if it's not a pro team, I'll play for AF2 or AIFL (I was invited to try out for a number of AF2 and AIFL teams last year after the AFL tryouts, but couldn't afford to play football for little / no money... This year, I've put money away specificaly for that reason).

I am GOING to play football for a pro team this year.

I hope.

Just a little checking in...

2008-03-16T22:23:00.000-07:00

So hi! Long time since I've updated this little blog. Just wanted to poke my head in and say hi.

Which is what I've done. SO... Uh... Seems I'm done here.

WAIT! No, I've got something else. I wanted to let you know what I've been up to and whatnot. Soooo... I've not been doing much in the way of specific football-related training, but I have been working out and training quite hard since December. On the advice of the offensive coordinator for the Georgia Force, I began a workout routine which focuses a bit less on long distance cardio and raw burst strength and instead began working interval training and higher rep, higher set count routines.

The results so far:

December 24, 2007:

March 11, 2008:

This picture absolutely blew my mind.

I look at myself in the mirror every morning when I shave my face and get dressed. I know on a fact-based level that I've had to cut three brand new notches in my belt and have gone down from a 44 to a 40 in pants (probably a 38, but I just don't have it in my wallet to go buy yet more new pants). But I don't know... It wasn't until one of the trainers at my gym snapped this photo and sent it to me that it hit me just how much work has been done.

He told me that often times, people don't realize what they've done until they see a picture. I guess the mirror doesn't hold in it the connotation that others can see the same image and pass judgment, whereas pictures have the distinct purpose of doing just that. So I guess there's something in the brain that triggers when one sees a picture of themselves... Who knows. I'm just a doofus with a blog and the desire to play some football.

Anyway, there's the update so far. I'll probably be hitting this space with more over the next few months, as things happen. I've also contemplated putting together a small video series on "the absolute beginner's guide to the gym" or something - I've received a good bit of feedback on my "about" section describing the exercises, so who knows... I've not really seen much out there that shows someone who's never done the bench press before how exactly they should do it.

Any opinion?

That's it for now

2007-12-02T18:14:00.000-08:00

Whelp, that's it for this year. I've heard from folks on both teams, and both were very kind to contact me. The bottom line for both teams - I came out, I showed them something. They want me to continue working as hard as I have and come out in 2008 - they both said great things about my physical ability to perform, and both said I have a lot of rust in the gears when it comes to the actual football-playing techniques. I need to study, practice on specific read and position techniques, and just keep up the workout regemen.

I didn't feel like I was getting "thanks, but no thanks." Instead, I feel like they both took the time to tell me what I needed to work on because they honestly want to see me try again. After all, these are professional teams with professional staffs who don't have time to dilly-dally.

So, that's it for football tryouts for this year. But there's something else in the works as I speak (what, you thought I was just going to stop?). More on that when it launches, and I'll make sure to provide links from this blog to the new one.

And yes, I'll continue to update this blog when I train for football next year.

Some followup...

2007-10-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been two weeks, and I've heard from two AF2 (Arena Football League 2) teams, the Florida Firecats and the South Georga Wildcats. I've heard from three AIFA (American Indoor Football Association) teams, the Columbus Lions, The Augusta Spartans, and the Florida Stingrays.

Still nothing from the Storm or the Force.

I don't know what this means in regards to the AFL teams... Except not much of anything. As far as the AF2 and the AIFA teams, all 5 of them said that I showed great field awareness, athleticism, and knowledge of my position, and that they'd like me to come try out for their teams at a closed tryout. The problem...

All five are greater than 100 miles from my home, and the AF2 pays 200 dollars a week... The AIFL, even less.

I can't leave my home and go play for a team for $2400 a year. I mean... I love football. And if they were here in my city (or even close to me), I'd do it just to play. But I can't really afford to make a commitment that takes me away from my home for less than it costs to feed my cats and dogs each year (and take them to the vet... Our cats are fat, but not $2400.00 of Purina Cat Chow fat).

I heard from a few guys I met during the tryouts (there were 2 guys who were with me at both Tampa and Georgia, and we've kept in touch) that neither the Storm nor the Force have yet to contact them - and all three of us heard directly from the Offensive Coordinator of the Force that we'd hear back from them.

So for now, I'm just waiting. And I know that all three of the people reading this are waiting (hi mom and dad... And whoever you are, LostinAlbuquerque837...), so I thought I'd just check in with you and let you know how it's going (or more correctly, how it's not).

Day 53 - The Georgia Force Tryout

2007-10-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

I'll cut to the chase - I feel like I did very well. But I won't know anything for a few days.

The Force ran their tryouts differently than Tampa did theirs. First, they split out the "fast guys" and the "big guys" into two separate sessions, ours starting at 10:15 AM and ending at noon. Second, they didn't do any cuts today at all - instead, they videotaped the entire field during the entire tryout from four cameras, one on either stands' pressbox and one at each endzone. They will evaluate the tapes and get back to us for a 2nd workout if they want to see more.

There was a huge difference in today's tryout and the one I did in Tampa, and that came down to just pure confidence. In Tampa, I knew I'd worked hard but had NO IDEA what to expect at all - from how things would run to who I'd run against, to what the heck the coaches were looking for. Today, though, I had at least a rough idea of what they'd be looking for and how I needed to perform to stay viable.

So having said all of that - I cut nearly a full second off my time in the Short Shuttle today, I ran a 5.7 forty yard dash, and I kept my head up, my butt low and my hands right in the chest of every guy I went against. I hustled everywhere I was asked to go, volunteered and stepped up for every single drill, and overall just made sure they knew I wasn't there to waste time (or 80 bucks).

After the tryout, I went up to the offensive line coach and thanked him for the day, and he said "Hey, great job from you today - you had the best hands I saw all day (meaning I got my non-snapping hand out and locked my guy every single time... Oh yeah, if I didn't mention it before, I play Center). We'll be in touch."

I have no idea if that meant "hey, we're going to call you about the 2nd workout" or if that meant "bye, take care, we'll call you if we're interested!" But I'm hoping the first :)

So what now?

Well... I'm not going to stop working out. I'm not going to stop training. I'm going to treat this like I didn't get anything whatsoever from Tampa or Georgia, and that the real deal is in December. I'm going to keep updating this journal with my workouts and possibly make another video or two.

I'll probably find other things athletically that pique my interest, and if nothing comes from the pro team guys now or in December, I'll just jump on something new and make the best out of it. It's been, oh, 8 years since my last Judo tournament - maybe that'll be next?

Who knows. Overall... I'm just glad I didn't go out and look like a 30-year-old moron with Sunday Dreams and a lot of talk.

Day 52

2007-10-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

Well...

Tomorrow's the day. 53 days from the day I first strapped on my brand new cleats and ran around a field with a parachute.

I think I'm ready.

I realize there's probably another tryout coming in December, and I realize that if I don't get a call after the one I'm doing tomorrow, I can just do that one... So this isn't actually "the end" or whatever. But it is the day before the milestone - the purpose behind this whole journal. So, I feel it appropriate to thank you for reading all of this... For following the journey and sending your support.

I actually didn't realize I was going to get any readers of this thing. I've been keeping the log mostly for historical purposes, so when I finally write about the experience, I have a log to point back to and provide a day-by-day look at how I was feeling and what I went through. I put tiny links to it on my existing sites simply to establish it in Google, and to get a small glimpse at who pays attention to the tiny little northern parts of my webpages.

But I have to tell you, hearing from everyone who's been reading this thus far has been fantastic. And I really appreciate the support.

I'll let you know how tomorrow goes... Tomorrow :)

Day 50

2007-10-09T23:30:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

The power class felt really good tonight - I think it's finally 'broken' and I'm used to it - instead of being fatigued and feeling sore the next day, I feel appropriately tired, and tight the next day, but not like I damaged myself. And it's done HUGE things for my normal workouts - there's so much endurance built in to that class, I don't ever feel winded or tired while doing my circuits and stacked lifts.

Crazy... Something that works as advertised. What a rarity these days.

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The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Evening Session (weights + aerobic stuff)

Insane Power class:
Squats - 30 @ 175lbs slow burn (2 / 3 secs down, 2/3 secs up)
Lunges - 25 each leg @ 150 lbs slow
Lateral Shoulder Raise - 30 @ 140 lbs
Military Press - 40 @ 140 lbs
Bent-over Rows - 30 @ 140 lbs
Chest Press - 30 @ 180 lbs
Tricep curl - 30 @ 70 lbs
Bicep curl - 30 @ 70 lbs (slow)
Abwork - Planks, crunches, situps, more planks, hip lifts... I STILL hate this part of the class.

HOW I FEEL:

Really good. I honestly feel like I'm as ready as I can be for Saturday - I didn't slack, and I trained hard. I know that with another few months, I'd stand an actual chance of making a real show at the tryout, but where I stand now and how I feel, I think I'm going to do as well as I can.

Day 49

2007-10-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

I don't really have too much to say, except that I'm really just ready for Saturday to get here. It's supposed to be 68 and sunny - perfect weather. Signups begin at 8:30 and go until 10:30, which is when testing begins. From what I can determine and what I've heard from some folks, the Force do tryouts differently than Tampa does - they don't just group everyone together and run everyone through the same drills, then break out. They actually break out at sign-up and test everyone by position.

Anyway.

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The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Evening Session (weights):

Monday: Chest + Tricep day - heavy day

Bench Press - 4 sets: 1 set x 20 reps @ 135lbs, 3 sets x 10 reps @ 285lbs

Incline Bench Press - 3 sets x 12 reps @235 lbs
SUPERSET with: Tricep Extension (cable) - 3 sets x 15 reps @ 95 lbs

Decline Bench Press - 3 sets x 10 reps @ 285 lbs
SUPERSET with: Reverse Overhead Tricep Curl (cable) - 3 sets x 15 reps @ 87.5 lbs

Dumbbell Flys - 3 sets x 15 reps @ 50 lbs (per hand)
SUPERSET with: Skullcrushers - 3 sets x 15 reps @ 80 lbs (bar)

4 mile run (treadmill)

5 ULTRA super mega ultra stair sprint + 40 (YES FORTY) yard dash + touch and go (AKA OUCHES)

HOW I FEEL:

Not too shabby. It felt great to go up even more on the weight.

5 more days.

Day 48

2007-10-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

Well, I took the past 3 days off. I intended to take two off, and ended up taking the third just for safety's sake.

Now, I know it seems kinda wimpy to take that much time off for a twisted ankle, but the truth is, it's a bit more serious than I thought. Not much, but a bit. The area around the twisty bit is now all purple, indicating to me that I really gave it a good tweak. And when you get some damage like that, you really gotta rest the entire body.

Why? Well, I'm no doctor, so don't quote me - but I've been told about this a few times throughout my life, so I feel pretty confident in sharing it with you.

When you lift weights, essentially you're ripping your muscles, damaging them in small ways throughout the fiber groups. Your body heals those rips, which builds more muscle. So, even though I hurt an ankle and it would make sense to just not run or sprint on it, it's actually important that I took enough time for my body to focus only on that one spot for a few days. If I'd lifted during that time, it wouldn't do any direct damage to my ankle, sure... But my body would then have several areas to concentrate on for healing.

And tryouts are in a week.

I needed to make damn sure I'm okay for them. Which is why I spent today doing some slow-mo drills, then working my way into full speed. I did the long-style stair sprints with the touch-and-go added on, I did the drill that got me hurt in the first place (the lateral run over the reebok step things), and some in-and-out shuttle drills.

I think I'm ready.

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The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

************

Morning + Evening Session (weights + drills):

Sunday: Back + Bicep Day

Upward Iso Row - 3 sets x 12 reps @ 270 lbs
Superset with Bicep Curl (bar) - 3 sets x 12 reps @ 75 lbs

Lower Iso Row - 3 sets x 12 reps @ 270 lbs
Superset with Dumbbell Curl - 3 sets x 12 reps @ 45lbs each hand

Iso Row - 3 sets x 12 reps @ 280lbs
SUPERSET with Iso Lat Pulldown (super slow contstriction isolation)- 3 sets x 12 reps @ 150 lbs

HOW I FEEL:

Really, really good. I have REALLY missed the gym. It seems odd, but when you've been working out regularly, when you stop, your body actually craves the workout. I kept feeling like I was going to burst out of my office and go running down the street just to get some energy out.

Day 44

2007-10-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today's Notes:

So I met with Cris this morning. It was... Intense.

Dude is a total sadist. But thank god for that - I learned a lot.

We did a leg series, but it was different from what I've been doing lately. We started with a 10 minute jog to warm up, then did squats - and in between each set, i had to run 3 sets of stairs.

OUCH.

Anyway, the actual workout is below - but one thing I have to mention is that during the high-step cross run (a sideways run over the step platforms, one foot in, followed by the other foot, then one move to the next one - fast, with high knees), I thought I'd try to look all cool, like I knew what I was doing, so I raised my head and looked forward instead of watching my feet (what you're eventually supposed to be doing, but I wasn't used to the spacing and the size of these steps), and I tripped and twisted my left ankle.

So that hurt. And i looked silly.

****************************************

The Workouts:
(You can read descriptions for all of these exercises here)

Morning Session (weights)

Wednesday: Leg Day + speed training

10 minute warmup jog

Squats - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 225lbs
SUPERSET with: Stair runs x 3 each set

Leg Press - 3 sets x 20 reps @405 lbs
SUPERSET with: Wall sits - 60 seconds each set

Leg Extension - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 125 lbs
SUPERSET with: Leg Curl - 3 sets x 20 reps @ 125 lbs

High Step Slow Run - cover minimal distance with high-knee steps - down and back (40 yards) x 4 sets

Carioccee hip twist run - down and back, down and back (40 yards) x 4

High-step bag drill (sideways) - down and back, down and back (7 steps / hurdles, about 15 yards) x 4

In-and-out shuffle-step drill - down and back (7 steps / hurdles, forward one, back the next, about 15 yards) x 4

30 minutes treadmill hill climb @ 2.5 mph, incline of 15

HOW I FEEL:

It was TOUGH, but good - I can definitely feel a much deeper ache (good pain) in the legs. Cris was very complimentary of my initial session, saying that there's a lot of work left to do, but that I'm on a good course. I think I'm going to hire him to work with me when I'm in town.

************

Evening Session (drills and whatnot):

Iced my ankle. That's it.

HOW I FEEL:

Blah. I hate it when I do this. Again, I really, really hate injuries. Especially knowing I have a week before the big show. I think I'll be fine - I'm mobile and direct pressure isn't hurting me. It's the side-to-side stuff that twinges, and that's the majority of what I'll be doing at the tryout.

Braces, bandages, ibuprofen, and the grace of God willing, I'll be okay.