Wednesday 10 March 2010

Tuesday's torch-light for older athletes

The video in this post has one of the most important feats of strength you will proabably ever see. I am deadly serious here and the last part of the video will prove my point; I am not so sure you will ever see anything like this again.

In my own training, the weights felt heavy, but I made the numbers set in my program. Like before, I am slowly building up the amount of weight I am lifting and this gradual increase is really helping my Snatch. I am feeling a lot smoother in the pull and the catch. In warming up I did my back mobility and it is a little frustrating doing this because at the moment it does not feel like it is helping. I realise that it is important so I will continue to do it. I used the power plate again and did lots of bar work. My flexibilty around the hips is really improving as I have been focusing on relaxing the muscles around the area and I am far more comfortable in a wider stance in the Snatch, Clean and squatting positions.

Power Snatch--3x3@40 1x2@60 1x1@80, 84 for three singles.

Clean and Jerk--1x2@60, 60, 80 1x1@100, 110, 120 for three singles.

Front Squat--1x2@125, 135 for three doubles.

On Saturday, I am going down to Limerick to train with Cathal Byrd, Murph, Paudie Roche and hopefully Sean O'Sullivan. Zag is coming down also, so it should be a fun filled afternoon's lifting. The Irish squad session is on the weekend after, so the next few weeks should be a great stimulis. I have training tomorrow and then a lighter, recovery/technique based session on Friday so I should be relatively fresh for Saturday. Have a look at the video and let me know what you think. The last part will go down in history.

9 comments:

CathalByrd said...

That is awesome. What a man. I think I hear Larry McConnell quaking in his Marks & Spencer boots at the thoughts of Tommy making a come back!

Zag said...

That just made my day!!!!

Anonymous said...

God bless him, I hope I am that fortunate! Great post as always Barry! You get the award for promoting the sport in a thoughtful and earnest manner. Keep up the training as your technique is looking spot on! All the best, John W. Age 54

Unknown said...

I had to Google Mr. Hayden; I inferred he is now 83. Impressive indeed. jf lamy, Canada.

WAYNE HEALY said...

Tommy always being a strong man . When he was trianing me in 94 i was going for 95kg c jerk pb and missing it Tommy walk over in shirt and tie power clean and pressed it! he was 67. HE MUST HAVE A GREAT MOJO!!!!!!!!!!!

andymurphy said...

ah tommys mojo i hear he is an awful man for the trib !!!

brendan said...

I met Tommy at the hercs open and was very impressed. A real gentleman and very helpful. It is great to have guys like this around weightlifting

Harry said...

11 odd years ago when Tommy was teaching me to lift, he was describing the intricacies of the Olympic press and the reason it was phased out: The problems with judging, the sagged knees, the bowed backs...

Unable to fully describe the lift and without the presence of a handy photo to illustate it Tommy easily power-cleaned up the bar I was then Clean & Jerking (65kg) and handily pressed it overhead.

11 years ago, which would make Tommy about 72 at the time. Hard to believe that he's 83 now and that he competed in the 1960 Olympic Games.

Franklin said...

Thanks so much for posting the Tommy's lift .. very very inspiring.

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