April 11, 2014

Another entry in Meade's Pull-Up Challenge

So you may remember, Meade laid down a challenge: "We have a chinning bar here in Madison. Any man or woman (over 40) who wants to challenge me to a pull-up competition, just email me."

That Strong Old Guy emailed: "Well Hombre, I’m coming to Madison. I don’t know how I missed this one originally, but I was challenged yesterday when your one and only posted your pull up challenge. I turn 60 next Tuesday. Should be fair enough:)"

So we met him on his birthday, and here's the video I shot, which Meade edited (and the 2 of us are heard in the background):



The challenge is still on... even if it's doubtful anyone can out-pull-up That Strong Old Guy.

26 comments:

mesquito said...

I'm very very impressed. Right on Meade.

I decline the challenge even though I'm a lithe and sinewy 48-year-old.

Meade said...

If that's not inspiration enough for those of us who were so much younger then but stronger than that now, read this outstanding post by Michael Kehl, aka That Strong Old Guy.

mesquito said...

I add this as an aside, but whenever you post videos where we can hear your voices, you need to add trigger warnings.

I always assume y'all talk normal but it turns out you're Yankees.

mesquito said...

Strong Old Guy is right. I was a physical wreck at 30. Now I feel better than I ever have at 48. Please read his post linked above.

David said...

Impressive.

madAsHell said...

Great form as well!! Chin over the bar for the pull ups, and pike position for the chin ups.

I'm going skiing next week, and I'm working my way up to 100 squats.

ddh said...

Excellent!

Ann Althouse said...

@Mesquito Meade says "No one speaks more normal than I do. I speak perfect Indiana dialect."

Unlike Meade, I have an Eastern accent. I'm from Delaware.

The Godfather said...

@Althouse: Delaware is too small to have its own accent.

ThatStrongOldGuy said...

Mosquito...age 30 is when I started lifting, sounds like for the same reasons as you. Discovered I was better at that than running. Got pretty decent at 3 miles but couldn't shake the nasty shin splints. MadAsHell: squatting, whether with weight or just deep knee bends is indeed the way to go for skiing. Best is ass-to-grass as long as you can maintain perfect form.

mccullough said...

Happy 60th Birthday. That was inspiring. I wonder if The Commandant can do that.

holdfast said...

This 40 year old is envious. I wasn't even that good at pull-ups when I was 20 and in the military, but I always maxed the run and the situps.

Douglas B. Levene said...

Awesome, old guy. Very impressive.

dbp said...

Impressive! That switching hand position thing is always good for a couple extra chin ups when you go from overhand to underhand.

Rusty said...

Fuckin show off.

Ironclad said...

I'll take the challenge - I am 61 and start with 30 pull ups (back grip on the bar) followed by 25 press ups (front grip on the bar). I can do around 45-50 straight if I go for a high number.

When I was a kid, I was pretty fat. I always got laughed at in gym because I could not do even one.

Sometimes bad memories can be the best motivators

Tank said...

Impressive, and not even a skinny guy !!!

Ann Althouse said...

@Ironclad If you put it on video, everyone will judge your form.

Anonymous said...

Well done! Good form..no excessive kipping.

ThatStrongOldGuy said...

Now we're having fun! Ironclad: fantastic if with good form. I know a local high school head football coach, was going for a 50 yr old age group world record when he did 36 in 2011. I'll be working on them now; will be going for 30 next year. If you beat me, it just proves the point of what I've been talking about. Win-win for me! Rusty: I'm a lot better at pushups...that would be showing off:)

gspencer said...

A little kipping on the 10 pull-ups, but that's not to criticize an impressive performance.

And then to switch to chin-ups without getting off the bar.

Kudos.

Freeman Hunt said...

Bravo! I like how this demonstrated some strategies, switch grip and pike.

Meade should be mayor of Madison.

Ann Althouse said...

"Meade should be mayor of Madison."

You mean you liked his political style in that bit at the end?

Remember, he edited.

Freeman Hunt said...

No, I like his political style generally, including that bit at the end.

Friendly. Also, provocative.

dbp said...

I think the point of the article Meade linked to is right on target:

If I look at my last 10K. I was 49 and came in 20 out of 69 in my age group, but I would have come in 13 out of 52 in the 30's age bracket and 16 out of 40 in the 20's

The finishing place ratios are not that different (in fact, I did better against men in their 30's than against men in their 40's).

Groton Road Race

Meade said...

I hereby present Freeman Hunt with the Key to the City of Meadetown.