Storms and Lifting

[Keith Wassung]

I love to lift weights during a good hard thunderstorm-even better if the storm is approaching. The sky is dark and flashing and the low rumble of thunder echoes across the horizion. I have been known to check the weather forecast and intentionally schedule my training to coincide with storm conditions. I fire up the coffee pot, pour a big steaming mug of coffee and then head to the garage to begin. Opening the garage door, I note the dark and dangerous looking clouds looming in the sky. The cool storm breeze will come in handy when trying to recover from full squats in the 500lb plus range. The workout is finished just as the hard rain begins to hit. I pour a fresh cup of coffee and go sit on the back porch to listen to the rain and to bask in the victory of the workout.

Weather Forecast for Saturday afternoon 70% chance of storms--going to be a great workout


Keith

 

[oyaji poi]

i like to workout when there's very few people around. even better if it's stormy or foggy. i just realized i time my trips to the gym during bad weather because chances are there will be fewer people there and the atmosphere is quieter and "serious". if i could have a huge gym with just free weights and basic equipment, and nobody else in there, that would be perfect.

 

[Urban]

i like to workout when there's very few people around. even better if it's stormy or foggy. i just realized i time my trips to the gym during bad weather because chances are there will be fewer people there and the atmosphere is quieter and "serious". if i could have a huge gym with just free weights and basic equipment, and nobody else in there, that would be perfect.

agreed. Some of my favorite sessions are when it's a tomb in the gym. just me and some loud music. Nobody pounding away on the treadmills, no assholes in the corner curling away as they talk about how drunk they were last night, nobody wondering what the fuck I'm doing as I deadlift, or giving me looks when I drop the bar with rubber plates on the oly platform... When the gym is a ghost town I have been most productive, I think.

that being said, i wouldn't mind the presence of others so much if they were at least as dedicated as I am when I'm in there.

 

[Brad Morris]

I agree about training in an empty gym, just me a training partner and the weights!

And although I had not previously put much thought into it, working out on a stromy day does tend to increase my concentration and intencity.

 

[Urban]

And although I had not previously put much thought into it, working out on a stromy day does tend to increase my concentration and intensity.

nah, just knocks out my radio reception.

 

[ferrolent]

I go crazy in storms sometimes. Once, when I was tree plantin during an intense hail/thunderstorm, I waved my metal dibble above my head cursing God and daring him to strike me. That was in the middle of large, open field with the lightning striking very near us. Yep. However most of the time I just sing and scream loudly while working faster than usual.

I've never tried lifting in a storm before. I think it would be awesome though if you had a garage gym that you could open up to the elements.

I like lifting with other people around. That's why I have a gym membership instead of a home gym. You can call it weakness or whatever, but for me it's motivating to have other people exclaim that I am strong. Once I get stronger I'm sure it'll be even better. Also, I'm a bit of a showoff so I need an audience.

 

[CelebritySexist]

It's a scientific fact that thunder storms increase the heavy metal value of your workouts by 75 metric Man O' Wars.

Funny you should mention that, Keith; I had to cycle through easily the worst downpour ever ever ever in order to go in and crank out my best push day in while.

 

[fat_wilhelm]

Some of my favorite sessions are when it's a tomb in the gym. just me and some loud music.

Have you ever gone through a loner workout w/ no music at all? It's quite empowering. The sound of weights clanging together, heavy breathing, your own voice urging you on, all w/ a silent backdrop, is really a pretty cool thing to experience. It tends to fire me up even more than good music.

Keith, I'd like to see a photo of your garage.

 

[graedy]

When I started lifting at age 15 I worked out alone most of the time. 5km drive with the bicycle to the weightroom (rain, snow, heat whatever there was) and then weighttraining. No music no other people and just one small window at the end of the room. Those days there were some really, really serious problems at home over a long period of time (many months). But the moment I entered the weightroom all the shit stayed outside and I could think about things like I flew above them while I was beating my own as of with weights.
For people that really love working out there is always more about it.

 

[Steve Oly]

Have you ever gone through a loner workout w/ no music at all? It's quite empowering. The sound of weights clanging together, heavy breathing, your own voice urging you on, all w/ a silent backdrop, is really a pretty cool thing to experience. It tends to fire me up even more than good music.

Keith, I'd like to see a photo of your garage.

Amen to that mang. I spent 8 years lifting alone in my basement with no music, just me. People were always surprised because I was stronger than most of my friends who lifted in "commercial" gyms. They wanted to know how I stayed motivated. Wanting to be the best you can be is a damn good motivator. I was benching near 350 Squating over 400 and deadlifting over 400, just me in my lonely basement. That's why i think it's funny when guys say , my spotter wasn't there so I couldn'tmax out. I've failed benching over 300 several times and there is something empowering (and stupid) about rolling a bar with 350 down your chest and getting out from underneath it on your own. Plus it's a much better motivator not to fail with the weight knowing nobody is going to rescue you.

 

[jayb]

Reminds me of a few years ago, I was working in a small town in New Zealand, and belonged to a "gym" that was essentially a half-barrel quonset hut with primitive weights in it. The "gym" had enormous garage doors that were always open, and I was typically the only person there day in/day out. Afternoon thunderstorms happen pretty much everyday, I agree... there's something energizing about it, especially when the rain hits a tin roof and gets loud...

 

[kaboom187]

I like to train alone too. I hate beign spotted... I always feel like i gain more from forcing myself to grind that out, or knowingif i dont that i'm done. Also seems to increase your confidence and improve your mindset next time you're faced wiht a heavy load.

 

[Lee456]

i like to workout when there's very few people around. even better if it's stormy or foggy. i just realized i time my trips to the gym during bad weather because chances are there will be fewer people there and the atmosphere is quieter and "serious". if i could have a huge gym with just free weights and basic equipment, and nobody else in there, that would be perfect.

Yeah, I used to go to my gym at 9:30pm so I could have an almost empty gym - the thing that bugged me when it was busy were idiots sitting on the machines (I did love the ol' machines when I first started weighlifting) chatting away and doing half-hearted workouts while I was waiting to use them.

Now I have a rack, a bench, and plenty of weights in my garage and work out alone, usually with a cd on. Infact I had a friend over for one session recently and it affected my performance because I was talking to him rather than getting in 'the zone' (I usually think of a situation where I'm fighting to get myself fired up before I do a set)

 

[colinm]

goddamn - i envy you guys. i've never had a home gym. my uni's gym sucks, but its all i got.