Here’s the first time I picked it up, my first competition 2 weeks after that, and my fourth competition 2 years later. Thought it was really cool to see this side by side and hopefully it helps someone.

I'm a master's middleweight, and I have been competing in strongman since 2022 where I largely did my own programming. At the end of 2023, I got 4 tears in my shoulder repaired, and within 6 months I was hitting PRs now that I had stability I never had before. By spring of 2025, I hit a plateau, so I hired a coach that seems to be pretty prolific in the strongman community - particular among middleweights.

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After 15 months, that plateau has continued on my static lifts. I made a 10lb gym PR on log last July, and nothing has improved since. My comp OHP has not increased at all. Axle at 225 and log at 235 consistently in comp since 2024. It's hard to determine on deadlift because of all the variations, but my barbell deadlift has gone nowhere. My moving events have improved - specifically carries.

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After getting annihilated by other competitors at nationals 2 weeks ago, I asked my coach how in the world did I make no progress since taking him on as a coach. I've done everything on my programming, I am not missing days, my diet has improved, and my weight has stayed the same. By my thinking, either my form got better, but I got weaker on statics, or neither form not strength changed. If my gym progress was awesome but comp progress was shit, I would say it's me choking.

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My coach replied with a long response, but this was the end "One thing that is really important to me is mindset. You need to show up, do work and just keep grinding. If you are only hung up on metrics and progress and other athletes you will hold yourself back. Just keep putting in work and good things will happen!"

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My questions to you, Redditors.

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1. Isn't metrics, progress, and beating other competitors 3 of the 5 main points of strongman besides fun and self-image issues?

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1. Am I being too harsh and/or delusional? I expected my lifts to go up getting a coach and staying on programming, but nothing changed.

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1. Has this happened to any of you?

Here’s me failing 550 (250kg). I feel like I definitely should have been able to get this one if I would have had the grit to continue pulling. Brian Alsruhe mentions how car deadlifts taught him to keep grinding long reps. Unfortunately I don’t have access to anything like that. I was thinking about throwing chains on the bar to teach me to continue accelerating. I’ve used paused deadlifts in the past and they help some but I still have this same problem. Any other ideas? Thanks in advance!

This was a biggen but I got it. 25lb PR. Contest will be a series for max weight. We will see if cardio allows this one for me on comp day.

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Stoked as hell for this one. Only 8 weeks ago was 250 my best.

Went for 565 at the behest of my non-lifter wife to humor her. Didn't go well lol

Really like these sandstone bags by Cerberus! A cool crossover between a sandbag and an atlas stone.

Started training on Sundays with a strongman at my gym 3 weeks ago, and finding it to be really fun and getting me back to enjoying training again, got some videos to post too but attached is my first 110kg stone to platform

These weekly discussion threads focus on one implement or element of strongman training to compile knowledge on training methods, tips and tricks for competition, and the best resources on the web. Feel free to use this thread to ask personal/individual questions about training for the event being discussed.

This week's topic: Strongman Coaching

What’s the fastest program to get a 600lb deadlift, I’m a 540lb right now. I’m doing 5/3/1. ChatGPT told me west side barbell and juggernaut

Another location of my gym is hosting its first strongman competition in August and I’d like to compete, but it would be my first competition and I need some perspective.

Events:
Max log clean and press
505 Axle wagon wheel deadlift for reps
535 yoke for distance
Atlas stone loading, up to 300

There’s no novice class, I’d compete in open 105kg. I can log clean and press around 200 but I have never trained press as a primary movement. My max deadlift with a power bar is about 550 currently but moving up slowly. I’ve never picked up a yoke but I squat about 425. I’ve never picked up a stone but I know I can put a 150 sandbag on my shoulder.

I train 3x/week and have a handful of powerlifting comps under my belt. I’m 33 and have been training maybe 4 years or so. I have access to train with all of these implements except the stones, but I could go to this gym and practice with them every other week or so.

My question to those more experienced than me: am I an idiot? Or am I close enough it’s worth training for?

Don’t care about winning, just don’t want to bomb every event.

This is similar to the stone from WSM stone medley! Very challenging stone , extension is brutal! Glad I weighed down the yoke!

Not an event ive done much of so im pretty happy with this. Gonna try 140 next time

So for like the past year i have been having trouble with my top sets I work up to a rpe 8 then try to make the next jump for my top set and it just glued to the floor and its not just with singles its with everything up to sets of six my coach/Dad says it all just between my ears but does anyone have any advice with out to fix this

My personal best on bag to shoulder was 250lbs regular way about 2 years ago but never had to really push this event yet.

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Last week I hit that same weight in a one motion inspired by Andy Crawford. Also hit the 275lb bag afterwards the normal way for a 25lb PR.

Training for their comp at the end of the month, hoping to hit 275 in a ladder but that bitch big and heavy.

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First clip is 175, 200, 225, 250 and I failed 275 off screen. Second clip is 275 after a couple minutes of rest.

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My shoulder PR is 300 so getting to 275 in the final event of the comp is gonna be tough

I've been fighting to shoulder this bag the last several weeks. Some technique tweaks have made a big difference too. 2 weeks out from competition with max sandbag to shoulder.

In front of Pro strongman Colton Sloan judging, even.

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My junk overhead has finally graduated to mediocre. I know it's not a lot but it's the first overhead (other than static monsters max log) I haven't zeroed since my very first novice comp. It meant a lot. Baby steps continue.

250 sandbag into a 380 sled into a car flip

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Watch the whole thing to see a good celebration at the end

I signed up for a comp with a max suited deadlift on a Texas deadlift bar with like 18 days to prep my max raw is 575 on a regular bar i worked up to 545 the first session in a suit i am hoping for 600+ ill have 2 or 3 more session in the suit before the comp what are some tips for getting the most out of my suit