EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to the Athlete Journal of world champion powerlifter Chris Duffin. Follow Chris as he trains and competes in various events over the coming year. Chris’s journal will be posted every Tuesday. You can also read about Chris on his personal website Kabuki Warrior.
Athlete Journal, Entry 42 -Alternative Training
My schedule has continued to be very hectic between work, home, and the gym. I wasn’t able to really get in any conditioning sessions this week in prep for the Tactical Strength Challenge. However, this hasn’t been entirely bad as I need to figure out how to train effectively for it. With my bad elbows, performing lots of repetitions of the kettlebell snatch is actually taking quite a toll. I am coming to the realization I’m just going to have to do some alternative work capacity training and work a little bit here and there on technique.
On other fronts it feels like my pressing strength is beginning to come back, which is very positive. I’ve still got a long ways to go to reach peak levels, but it’s heading in that direction.
SATURDAY
I was out of town so I missed my normal training day and then had projects Sunday so was unable to make it up.
MONDAY
Floor Press
45×10
135×5
225 x5
315×5
365×1
405×3
Bench w/Mark Bell sling shot
495×4.5, 4.5
Dips
Bodyweight+120×12,12,8
Grappler Shoulder Press
35X20,16,16,16
Overhead Band Extension
#3×20,20
TUESDAY
Flew to California and back for a very long day.
WEDNESDAY
I had a late night planned so I had to skip team training and hammer out some quick work on my lunch break.
Squat to 14.5” foam
Warmup
#5,#4,#4 Band Choked + 145 (Roughly 450-500lbs at top) x3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3 in 7minutes!
Glute Ham Raise
Bodyweightx100 reps total
Band Bad Girls
#3×20,20,16
Bear Crawl w/100lbs tied to each leg
3 passes
THURSDAY
I attempted to run to the gym with my 4-year-old and 11-month-old. The 4-year-old had a grand time rolling the atlas stones around, chasing the girls, and continually chalking up his hands, but my 11-month-old daughter was teething and didn’t want to leave my hands. I got 10 minutes of kettlebell snatches in with her in the bouncer next to me.
Kettlebell Snatch
32kg x 20/min
1min rest
Repeat 5 times
FRIDAY
This was the third day in a row attempting to get a full workout again but not realizing it. I did it on my lunch break again and a couple new members of the gym were there who both needed some coaching, so there was very little work for me. I was planning on taking the whole afternoon off from work after the long week at work so I could train and shoot a video, but it just wasn’t in the cards for me. Very packed and stressful day, but I did get something in anyway.
Bench
135×20,50
225×40
Incline Bench w/Feet in air
185×22,16
Bear Crawl w/100lbs tied to each leg
2 passes
