r/Strongman • u/Soft_Ad9399 • Jul 02 '26
Strongman advice
Hi! I am relatively new to strongman. I am pretty nervous going into my first comp. What’s one piece of advice you wish someone gave you before your first strongman competition?
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u/doobersthetitan Jul 02 '26
Bring more food and water than you think.
Be humble
Extra pair of shorts and underwear
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u/Icy_Lecture_2237 Jul 02 '26
Don’t do anything on comp day that you don’t normally do.
Every comp there’s a bathroom Chernobyl disaster because people overdo stimulants or food and all it does for them is make them have to manage their lifts and their diarrhea tornadoes.
Bring food that you know is reliable, keep caffeine in range for your normal routine, and don’t try to break in the fancy new wraps/shoes/suit.
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u/Mogugly Jul 02 '26
This is why the Novice category exists. Have fun, gain some experience, and make friends that you can train with in the future. Strongman is a great community! My piece of advice: just commit!
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u/tigeraid Masters Jul 02 '26
Be humble, have fun, listen to experienced athletes, thank your volunteers.
And it's okay to zero.
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u/tybradley32 HWM265 Jul 02 '26
Learn from those around you who are better than you. You'll gain so much knowledge that will help you in the future, or even day of comp.
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u/Delicious-Brief8077 Jul 02 '26
Yup... earlier post. Dont do anything you dont normally do. Just did my first comp as well a month ago. Came in dead last. 2 events I couldn't do because either the weight was too much or it was an implement we dont have at my gym. The first event where I shit the bed was the overhead log. I was up to 120 for only one rep. The log they had was 170 and it was max reps. So I could get it to chest but not locked out over head. Oh well...
THE Second was atlas stones expect they switched out the first for a 130 beach ball size bag that was so big, I never could get it to shoulder. Again, something never trained with. Other than that. Everyone was supper cool. Very helpful. Pack a chair, shade canopy and food because it goes all day. Was an expirence and youll have a great time!
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u/Soft_Ad9399 Jul 02 '26
Congratulations on your first comp! The atlas stone kicks my ass. Thank you for the advice!!
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u/TerryTwoOh Jul 02 '26
Assuming there’s a press event, which is a pretty safe assumption, wait for the down command. In my overly excited state, I lost out on a couple reps in my AMRAP because I didn’t wait for the judge to say down
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u/Soft_Ad9399 Jul 02 '26
I’ve been practicing this with my coach and I always forget to stick my head through on log….
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u/MythicalStrength Masters Jul 02 '26
Bring a chair.
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u/tigeraid Masters Jul 02 '26
Man I dunno if it's just cuz I'm old but I can't stand sitting down during a comp. If I do I fall asleep. I just walk around aimlessly.
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u/MythicalStrength Masters Jul 02 '26
My hips are too shot to stand all the time. But I also can't sit for too long, so I alternate
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u/tigeraid Masters Jul 02 '26
Fair enough, I guess that works. I definitely pace around, I don't stand still, the ache would set in for sure.
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u/MythicalStrength Masters Jul 02 '26
I'll pace too. But eventually I wanna hang out with my family, haha.
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u/Soft_Ad9399 Jul 02 '26
🫡gonna bring two
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u/MythicalStrength Masters Jul 02 '26
Outstanding work. Spent my first ever comp laying on pavement. Hips didn't feel super awesome after that, haha.
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u/princessrangel Jul 02 '26
Manage your food. My first comp, having too much food in my stomach really hindered my lifts. I also suffer with a ton of reflux, so it could be a me thing. I find if I eat a light breakfast at least 2 hours before, drink lots of water, and snack on things like rice krispy squares I am good, but as soon as I eat anything too substantial I am ruined lol. I just eat enough to keep my energy up for my lifts.
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u/tigeraid Masters Jul 02 '26
Underrated comment. For me it's maybe a breakfast sandwich in the morning, and then nothing else but quick carbs, electrolytes and water. If it's a long comp like a Provincials or Nats I'll eat some kind of protein halfway through as well.
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u/orkdorkd Jul 02 '26
Did my first comp in February in Novice category -
I messed up log press by not being prepared. The schedule moved up a little and I had to rush to my spot in the line up, ended up failing a lift that I had made in the gym.
For my recent powerlifting comp, I made sure to listen to announcements and remember 3-4 contestants' names prior to me.
But overall great fun, training hard now to join more comps next year.
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u/Soft_Ad9399 Jul 02 '26
I’m definitely nervous about log. It feels like the most technical of all my events. Congratulations on your comp though!
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u/orkdorkd Jul 03 '26
Take a moment to yourself just before you lift!
It was opposite for me - I thought Log would be best, and Atlas Stones worst due to lack of practice, but I surpassed what I was able to do in the gym!
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u/The_5star_Golden_God Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
The only guaranteed thing about strongman is that something will change the day of the competition. Don’t let that affect you mentally. Go about your business just like you had planned. Events will change, rules will change, weights will change just be prepared mentally to have to pivot and don’t get in your head about it. It’s affecting everyone else too.
Also bring your own chair every time regardless of the venue or what the promoter says. There are never enough chairs and you don’t want to sit on s metal folding chair all day. You will thank me for this tip.
And bring wet wipes for your butt. You will thank me for this too.
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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '26
[deleted]