Power triathlon SK Ironbulls Domažlice 7.1.2017

Hi we were at the 3rd annual New Year's Eve "srandamach" in power triathlon RAW.

It took place in the Sports Centre, home fitness club of SK Ironbulls Domažlice. On the program was squat, bench and deadlift. Each competitor had three attempts at everything.

The race was attended by all the big names. The biggest stars came in the colours of the home club. World champion in PWL Martina Dostálová. Two-time strongest man in the Czech Republic, Čestmír Šíma. Professional strongman Jan Šleis. European champion in junior powerlifting Michael Novotný. National champion in deadlift Dan Pekovic. Multiple Czech junior record holder Martin Homola. World masters champion Václav Mareš. There was also Czech junior champion in PWL and bodybuilding Michal Majer.

See how it went.

After a break of almost two years, after five months of training, the main organizer, multiple Czech champion in powerlifting and head of the club Tomas Kaas competed.

These names show that the fans were not bored at all. On the start list there were 40 competitors who came to test themselves and push their limits. In total, the following categories were open:
- women open
- men -85
- men -110
- men open

Filip Grznár moderated the whole day. By the way, he is also a member of the club. The white and red flag was raised as every year by the referee Andreas Altman, twice the strongest man in Germany.

Let's go to the race itself, after the warm-up the squats started. The walking was gradual. Everyone around me was tying their knees and those who didn't at least had bandages in their hands. It was incredibly flying, I was wondering what I was doing wrong :). Čestmír Šíma and Martin Homola broke the 300kilometre mark.
Martina Dostálová 195kg did the best among the girls. The 18 year old Ivana Bauerová was the runner-up with 120kg.

The competitions were attended by many junior competitors, who had really nice numbers.

On the bench press I wanted to learn the technique as it does a lot and you have to learn to use your legs as well. You can see the results of each category in the gallery below.

Finally, the deadlifts were ready. In the video you can see what the atmosphere was like at the competition. The fans were cheering as hard as they could.

The oldest competitor was Vaclav Mares b.n.1968 and he showed the following performances: squat 270, bench 212,5 and deadlift 300.

Overall, the top three in each category were given away in-kind prizes from sponsor Namakanej and handmade trophies worth a total of 30k. Splendid medals and trophies for the overall victory worth 2,500,- 1,800,- 1,200,- CZK.

A buffet was prepared for the competitors, which was provided by the sponsor restaurant Bar point Domažlice.

Organizer Tomas Kaas, SK Ironbulls Domažlice:
"The biggest thanks go of course to our main partner, the owner of the fitness centre Radek Hojda. We would also like to thank the owner of the gym, Rad Radek Hojda, who represents the company Karpem sped. Radek Krutin for the great sound system and the loader boys who worked their hardest that day. Honza Vojtěchovsky, for lending the competition axle for the deadlift. Also to all who came to race, to watch and support our event. We are looking forward to next year. "

The overall victory was defended by professional strongman Čestmír Šíma. Only one point was missing for Martina Dostalova to win, who confirmed that the title of the strongest woman definitely belongs to her. The third place went to junior Martin Homola, about whom we will hear more in the future with his performances.

Finally, I asked some questions to the strongest woman in the Czech Republic and to the professional strongmen.

Čestmir Šíma - interview

1) What is your age, weight, how long have you been doing this and where do you prepare?
On the day of the competition it was my birthday and I was just 38 years old. My weight depends a lot on what stage of training I'm in - my usual race weight is between 165-170kg, now I'm totally in resting off-season mode and have weighed just under 160kg at races. Triathlon is just kind of a complementary sport for me to my main focus - Strongman, which I started competing in 2011. But of course I've been training much longer - since I was about 15 years old. I train in my home gym Life Fitness in Aš, where I have ideal conditions for training.

2) Are you in good health? Are you suffering from any injuries?
I've been suffering from a tendon in my shoulder for a long time, which limits me a lot, but that's the toll of the extreme training I do. I honestly don't know anyone who does strength sports at the top level that doesn't have something bothering them...

3) You put in the best performance of the competitors and took the overall win, how do you rate these competitions?
The evaluation in terms of organization, atmosphere and last but not least the prizes were perfect - the main organizer Tomas Kass just knows how to do it, you can see that he is not just some fan of the sport who watches it from the outside, but he is a long-time successful competitor in power triathlon and knows what it takes. Thanks a lot for such a nice competition. The moderator Filip Grznar was great too, he was just such a joker, so why act and talk serious when you can lighten it up like Filip can. And about my performance - I'm not satisfied at all, I didn't really show anything, but it's because I'm really off-season and the hard preparation for the new season is yet to come, so it's pointless to keep myself in 100% shape all year. I would love to try such races in top form sometime during the season, but it usually coincides with Strongman races, which take priority for me.

4) I know you have your best performances higher, can you reveal them to us?
My squat is around 340kg for the season, my bench is listed at 270kg and my deadlift is listed at 415kg. But as I said the triathlon is just a supplement for me, so for example I hardly train bench press to save my shoulder for shoulder pressing exercises which are more important for me as a strongman. I also often do squats with a barbell in front of my head or Zercher squats.

5) I'm very interested in what a person at that weight eats in preparation in a day? Do you address diet in any way? :)
I address diet and take it as a base - I try to maximize protein and keep fats as low as possible. As for the quantity, you'd probably be surprised that I don't eat much - plus I eat pretty monotonously more or less the same thing all the time - the basics are beef and rice, whole wheat bread, ham, cheese, crackers, yogurt, nothing special.

6) What style of training do you do and how many training units do you have per week?
I train mostly 3 times a week in the gym and once a week I go to train Strongman disciplines. The basis of my training is shoulder training, deadlifts, some squat variations + extras like arms, calves, traps. I pay a lot of attention to the middle of the body - this is the basis for all strength sports.

7) Your plans for the future? What competitions will we see you at?
Well, first of all I want to stay healthy - Strongman sport is not something that can support me here, so I have to stay functional not only for the sport, but also for the job that feeds me. Athletically, I want to get better and perform at my best. I'm still planning the season, but I'm already inviting everyone to my home competitions on 6.5.2017 in Aš for the 6th edition of Strongmen's games Aš 2017.

8) Thank you for the interview and I leave you space to tell the readers anything.
Thanks to everyone who supports me and follows me, I wish us all to be healthy and strong in the new year.

You can watch the last video here to find out everything.

Martina Dostálová - interview

1) What is your age, weight, how long have you been doing this and where do you train?
I'm 33 years old, weight 81-83kg, I compete up to 82,5kg... I've been going to the gym since I was 18 years old, I've always been fascinated by what the human body can do and I've always enjoyed pushing the limits even more. But I was just training for myself... I went to my first competition six months ago... I have my own gym, but now we are moving it from the outskirts of Prague to the city centre, where we are still renovating and will reopen in March. So since September I've been training at Crossfit Prague, where Zdenek Weig has given me "asylum" and I don't miss anything here... So I'm really grateful to him, because I not only train here but also work here.

2) You did a perfect performance at the race, I would have had something to do with it myself :) you missed only one point for the overall victory, how do you evaluate it?
These races were super organized. Tomas did a great job. Great atmosphere. My performance was not so great :-) I'm in more of a "rest" phase now. We start the preparation in February. And that one point... well, next time I'll try not to let Čestmir have it :D :D

3) Can you tell us your best performances?
Best performances - they are definitely from training, sometimes it fits more, sometimes less... you can't choose at competitions... :-D Bench I have 140kg without a stopwatch, squat 220kg 2x, deadlift 240kg - but I can't count and I thought I had 30kg less :-D oh the psyche... LogLift 110kg, Trap bar 270kg

4) You are the strongest woman in the country, how does it feel? Has anything changed?
Nothing has changed at all... Nothing has changed at all even by winning the World Championships... So it's still exactly the same... But you get to meet a lot of interesting people/athletes...

5) What style of training do you do and how many training units do you have per week?
My training... it's mainly feeling, it didn't have a proper order... Only now the last couple of weeks me and Honza have given it a bit of order and you can see that the middle has strengthened a lot. I don't need a belt where I used to, the dynamics have improved. I train 6 times a week, 2x a week triathlon as such, then some crossfit, strongman disciplines...

6) Your plans for the future? What competitions will we see you at?
Now we are going to finish the gym, where there will be a classic fitness, a corner for triathlon and strongman and in February I will start training. In April, the Triathlon World Championships, then Europe, Worlds - which is hosted here this year, which is great. If it works out, then Golčův Jeníkov and the Women's Strongman Cup.

7) I heard that you are a skilled and renowned physiotherapist, you help other guys in their preparation. Where can people who need help find you?
I'm also doing physiotherapy right now at Crossfit Prague, so I can be found here and the best way is to get in touch via FB for example and make an appointment. Because without an appointment it's pretty much a no-go :-) I love my job, it's really fun with the human body :-) and most importantly, almost everything has a solution, can be fixed, rearranged and so on :-)

Jan Šleis - interview

1) What is your age, weight, how long have you been doing it and where do you train?
Hi, age 31, weight is between 155-165, during the season it is not a problem to lose 8 kg, after all sometimes you have to run with a load (suitcases, yoke,).I have been with Strongman for 4 years, before that 5 years powerlifting, there are more places where I train, the primary one is MegaPro gym in Kladno, sometimes Prague, Pilsen... disciplines I train with Honza Vojtechovsky in Prague.

2) You did a nice performance at the competition, unfortunately you didn't finish it, how do you evaluate it?
A week before the race Tom Kass called me if I wanted to come to the race, he had a few people drop out of the starting lineup and even though I'm still resting and my leg is not 100%, I said yes. I won't rate the performance, the sore leg is liming,squat 250 basic to test the leg, unfortunately the pain is not subsiding.At the bench I did a little bit to fix my appetite and even though it doesn't seem like you are engaging your legs there, on the last attempt it was obvious that the sore one wasn't holding up either. I skipped the lift, you have to spare the leg.

3) Your best performance?
Max total triple 360-240-360. After all, in strongman you have to manage several disciplines, triathlon is a break from disciplines. You can build up good raw strength, which you can use in strongman.

4) I'm very interested in what a person at that weight eats in training in a day? Do you address diet in any way? :)
I'm not going to list how important diet is and how damn expensive it is in our sport, everyone knows that nowadays. After all, we have a huge advantage over bodybuilders, we can eat everything, at least for me it is, 1 kg of meat a day, no problem, attachments are classic, you can't eat portions like a fitness girl, you'll go crazy with hunger :D. What I avoid are fast food (burgers, fries) behind my barrack I have a great sushibar, I know what they do there.

5) What style of training do you do and how many training units do you have per week?
My workouts :) that'll tell you more about my job, I'm there all the time. But I try to go 3 times a week now over the winter just fitness, at the end of January I go to disciplines, then you have 2 times a week disciplines, 2 times fitness then it's a blow to the body. But that's what my girlfriend takes care of, I keep it together mostly thanks to her.

6) Your plans for the future? What races will we see you at?
My only plan is to come back from every race as whole and injury free as possible. There will be a lot of races this year, the biggest, the hardest, the most famous (it has a lot of best :) is in Aš, organized by Čestmír Šíma, then comes Přelouc, Kutná Hora, Sušice, Golčův Jeníkov, where the girls are supposed to start this year, there is a lot to look forward to.

7) Thank you for the interview and I leave you room to tell the readers anything.
I thank you. I'll definitely see you at the crossfit races. For the readers, do what you enjoy, move, play sports...

Take care and see you at the next NaberSvalyCHALLENGE event!