MONSTER MUSCLE MAGAZINE.

Jody Cranston of Canada wins 1st place in Bull Stewart's Powerlifting Meet in Seattle, WA.

(Reprinted from Monster Muscle Magazine Oct 2003).

DEADLIFT MAX. WORKOUT.

I Statistically had my Best Deadlift Workout in over a year. 565 lbs. for 1 Rep./500 lbs. for 5 Reps. All the Volume Training that I have been doing is paying off (455 lbs. 2 Sets for Reps./405 lbs 2 Sets for Reps). I do my Volume Training wearing Runners with really thick soles and an insole on top of that. When its time to Max-out, like Today, I put on my Deadlift Slippers. When I wear these Slippers I am Slightly closer to the ground. Now, I don't have to reach down as far to lift the Bar off the ground or pull the weight up quite as far to lock-out. Amazing what a difference an inch of leverage can make...and a little hard work. I can't wait to see what I am Deadlifting/Bench Pressing next. This Programme works.

(Jody Cranston / PSL)

BOB OWEN-HIGHLAND GAMES CHAMPION!

I would like to congratulate my Good Friend Bob Owen on his Silver Medal at "The 2008 B.C. Highland Games Championships". To place 2nd in a field of over 30 Strength Athletes is an Incredible Accomplishment. Bob is The Strongest Person that I have ever trained with: well over 600 lbs. Deadlifts for Reps.,endless Highland Games Victories, Canada's Strongest Man Television Appearances and the humility/character of a true Champion. I am Proud to have Bob Owen as my Friend.

(Jody Cranston / Events).

THE PANTHEON STRENGTH LEGION-JULY UPDATE!

Although it is Summer Time, The Pantheon Strength Legion is still going strong, both literally and figuratively.

THE HIGHLIGHTS:

Bob Owen - Fresh off Victory at "The 2008 B.C. Highland Games" started the session off with Heavy Power-Cleans and a 315 lbs. Push-Presses for Reps.

Jody Cranston - Jodys First Deadlift Work-Out after Winning "The Alki Beach Bench Press and Deadlift Championships" Produced a 555 lbs Deadlift for Two Reps.

Pete - Pulled an All-Time Personal Record 365 lbs. Deadlift.

Ian - Who is Training for a Half Marathon, Deadliftied 315 lbs. for Reps. A Half Marathon and Powerlifting, talk about "Cross-Training".

After "The Deadlift Extravaganza" we did a Power Circuit of Light Squats, Heavy Shrugs and Abs. Great Day! Great Work-Out!

(Jody Cranston / PSL).

PICTURES FROM ALKI BEACH.

The 12th Annual Alki Beach Powerlifting Championships.
(Part 2 Pictures and Postscript)

I am very Proud to call Robert O and Nancy my Friends. Part of what I enjoy the most about competing in these Contests is helping Coach, sort out equipment and give Robert O and Nancy Lift-offs on their Record Breaking Bench Presses. My Father Pat was a Great Man and a Great Sportsman, Coach and Organizer. I know when I help my Friends Robert O and Nancy lift he would be smiling...possibly even more then when I am lifting. I think I'm starting to Understand what is really important. Thanks Dad.

THEY CALL ME...MR.DOUBLE-TRIPLE.

The 12th Annual Alki Beach Powerlifting Championships.

(Part 1 Statistics and Summary)

The Title of this Blog Entry is borrowed liberally from The 1967 Academy Award Winning Motion Picture "In The Heat Of The Night", Starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger.

THE STATISTICS: -Jody Cranston- 181lbs. Division, 1st Place./Bench Press: 370 lbs.(WABDL) Canadian Record/Deadlift: 557 lbs. Double Bodyweight+ Bench Press and a Triple Bodyweight+ Deadlift. -Robert O Smith- 308 lbs. Division, 1st Place./Bench Press: 562 lbs.(WABDL) World Record. -Nancy Carpenter- 148 lbs. Division, 1st Place/Bench Press: 192 lbs.(WABDL) Canadian Record.

THE SUMMARY: Although I have never been Excited about Lifting Outdoors in the past, and I have Lifted Outdoors, this all changed with this Contest. Thank You Robert O and Nancy for talking me into Alki, I won't miss this Contest again.

Up at 3:15 am. I pick up Robert O and Nancy by 4:20 am and we are on our way! The Ride is smooth with minimal traffic and Border line ups. We arrive at Alki Beach before 8:00 am and weigh in. You know that you are at an Outdoor Meet when Robert O has a weigh-in problem,not his weight, branches from surrounding Trees keep getting in the way of the scale. Time for Breakfast. I've always had problems with what to eat hours before lifting, not any longer. The last few Meets I've left the Menu in the hands of an Expert: Nancy Carpenter. The positive results are immediate, Today's Pre-Contest Meal: Two Poached Eggs, Toast, a shot of Espresso. Perfect. I feel ready to Lift.

~The Bench Press~ The Meet starts on time and the Lifter Flights are short. I feel extremely rushed during my Warm-ups. To add to the challenges the Bench uprights are low, this means I have to do a half lift just to get the Bench into starting position. The Beach has now gotten quite windy. Although those challenges are difficult for a Technique Lifter like myself, The Grizzled Veteran in me knows when I hit the platform it will all be different......or will it.

Time for my Opening Bench Press Attempt: 319 lbs. I have the Bench Up-rights adjusted perfectly and Robert O is my Lift-off Man, also perfect. The bar comes down slow and controlled, than shoots up fast. It feels light. I confidently get up from the Bench already thinking of my Second attempt when I get the News: Two red lights - No Lift. The two side judges said I lifted my butt, which Nancy confirms. I repeat my opener, (text-book strategy) and more determined then ever, nail it: For the Third attempt I lift 341 lbs., it seems surprisingly light.

Time to go for The Canadian WABDL Bench Press Record on my fourth and Final Attempt. 370 lbs, well over Double my Bodyweight!! The "Team" is on. Perfect words of encouragement from Nancy matched by a Perfect Lift-off from Robert O. 370 lbs. Flies up. The Lift is good, no The Lift is Perfect!!

Robert O and Nancy do incredibly well with their Record Smashing Bench Presses. Robert O once again Proves himself to be the Best 65+ year-old Bench Presser on the The Planet by Lifting 562 lbs. with Precise Judging and Technique. I gave Robert O the Lift-offs and believe me, his Lifts would easily stand in any Federation. Nancy Benches 192 lbs. for a WABDL Canadian Record. The fact that Nancy lifted that weight in the 148 lbs. division is Phenomenal. Nancy also doesn't receive any Red lights on any of her lifts. That is nine out of nine White Lights. Awesome!

~The Deadlift~ Like the Bench Press, the warm-ups for the Deadlifts I find extremely difficult, only now there is a Blazing Afternoon Sun to contend with. Being an Outdoor meet, the Deadlift warm-ups are on the grass, anything over 400 lbs. sinks deeper into the Earth! By the time the Bar is loaded to 475 lbs. I have to reach 2 inches farther down to the Bar and therefore pull 2 Inches further up, plus the weights are lopsided. Having said all that, I am really enjoying this meet. The Adverse conditions keep things exciting, interesting.

My opening attempt is 519 lbs. No problem. My second attempt is 557 lbs, seventeen pounds more then Triple my Bodyweight and The Weight flies up fast. I feel ready for more except for one thing, something has really tightened in my Glute-Hamstring Area. Nancy, who is my Deadlift Coach notices that I am limping. After discussing the injury for several minutes, and several strategies, I respect Nancy's expert advise and do not take a Third and Final Attempt (588 lbs.). It's been a Great Meet for all of us, why get injured further, possibly seriously and miss the next one. The Drive home is full of food, stories and laughter. Thank you Robert O and Nancy, this Truly was one for the Books.

(Jody Cranston / Events)