7 Days Left

I've been putting myself through 2-a-days for the most part this past week, since I don't want to skimp on the lifting because we'll be tested on that, but I also need to get in better running shape. I'm exhausted, but I feel good about the progress that I'm making and the effort that I'm putting in.

This thing isn't about playing football anymore, for me. Absolutely, I'm doing this for the love of the game, and I can't think of anything cooler than being able to finish up my time at Syracuse playing football for a team that is going places a lot faster than most people think, don't get me wrong. I want nothing more in the world than that.

But I really, at this point, after months of working for this, (see previous posts) just want to see what I'm made of. Sure, win or lose here, I can walk away proud of what I've done, but I didn't do all this to not make the team. I didn't do it to walk away and say, hey, I tried really hard, but it just didn't work out. This is about setting a goal (even if it's grandiose and borderline bat-sh-t crazy) and doing everything in your power to get to it. It's about second chances for guys that didn't do things the right way when good things were there for them picking themselves up and doing it the right way from there on out. Learning discipline and toughness.

I'll be working myself to the brink this week in final preparation. I know I won't stack up as well as some guys on certain things, but I'll be there from an effort standpoint.

Watching the Spring Game was surreal, exciting, and somewhat infuriating since I wanted to be on the field so bad. We'll find out soon enough whether that will be the case or not.

Less than 2 weeks to go

And I am frrrrrrrrrreaking out! In a good way though I guess- my roommate Josh said it best, if you actually feel good about what you're doing, you've probably lost a bit of your edge- it's best to feel like you're failing, so you work harder...that's paraphrased from sweaty gym-talk.

I've heard some things here and there about what happens during the tryouts, and what I would be expected to do in terms of working out, and I gotta be honest, I'm a little nervous. I'm not sure (pretty damn not sure) that I'll stack up well with the other guys, but we'll see.

2 years ago I weighed 135 lbs. 1 year ago I weighed 150. I now weigh 180 and have worked harder at this than anything I've ever worked at before, and I'm not embarrassed to say it. It's not uncool to really try at something, whether it fails or succeeds. Hell, I only started benching 9 months ago, then lost two straight months to the ankle thing, so we're talking about 7 months of benching and I can do a pretty damn good amount for that kind of period. I'm assuming the other guys will have been doing this throughout high school football and the like, so I dunno.

I do know that I'll outwork them if given the opportunity. Why? Because I'm a sick, sick bastard. I love the pain, and I love to work.

I've amped up all efforts for the final push here, then am taking like 2 days off before tryouts to let the body recoup. For example, tomorrow is all-cardio day, and I'm doing two workouts, one after class is over, then one later on at night. To hell with the ankle, which continues to swell and be a pain in the ass. Screw the blood blisters that cover the bottom of both of my feet. It's go time.

Pray for me, I'm gonna need it.

Back From Break, Random Notes

Back from spring break. It was a crazy time over spring break, things got pretty out of control...no, no, wait, yeah, they didn't. I went home to the Philly 'burbs and basically worked out, hung out with a few friends, read a lot, and watched a few movies. Did a little shopping for some new sneakers, found nothing I like, but DID come up with a very lifelike Randy Moss figurine in a clearance bin for 5 DOLLARS! I only had 4 dollars in my pocket, and wouldn't you believe the man took it. Now ol' Randy sits on my desk and keeps an eye on things.

I played some ball this weekend in cleats and all, and felt really good. Didn't go quite 100% but didn't totally half-ass it either, and I think I'm coming along really well at this point. I played Sunday and the ankle is still pretty sore, but nothing like it used to be. I squatted today and it's even doing well. I could cut actually pretty well.

Hoping that all is going well for the SU football team in the beginning of spring practices, which according to Syracuse.com started on Monday. I hope to be with them someday, and will continue to work towards that goal. I do not know when tryouts or that sort of thing are, but when they do come- I will be ready. At this point, with cardio and all I'm working out 6 or 7 days a week, depending on the week, and am really coming along. I've said it before- if I don't make this team, it certainly won't be for lack of effort. I will control what I can control, and that is what I put into it.

I'll be updating a lot more soon! I'm also on the radio on 88.3 WAER in Syracuse on the post game shows for basketball and lacrosse. More so lacrosse at this point, but the occasional basketball show as well. Tune in after the games for my ...analysis? Uh oh...

You can also go to http://www.waer.org/ and listen live. Happy Tuesday and back to work.

Back On The Horse Tomorrow

Back to the weights tomorrow- looking forward to it. I'm going to bed in a few minutes and going to wake up early to go before class. I've felt at times lost and confused this week without having a steady gym schedule- my goal has become the center of my life, it seems. Not that anyone that has been near me over the past several months would not agree, but I guess I'm just continuing to notice.

The ankle is finally starting to have some burst in it. I really started to notice this week with all the basketball and stuff. It's starting to show a little life, which is exciting. God, it has been a long, long time I feel like since it was just normal to run, jump, or cut without pain. It's nice. Let's hope it continues, as I still haven't put on cleats and really beat it up, but basketball is a pretty decent indicator I feel like.

As always, I'll keep you updated on how things go...Go 'Cuse in the Big East Tournament.

Progress Report

So while I spend most of my time on here calling myself varying forms of an idiot, I take this little quest of mine extremely seriously. As in, it's basically taken over my life at this point.

I spend my time in the gym, eating reasonably healthy food (the equivalent of going on a calorie count for Shawn Andrews), and thinking about ways that I can get closer to my goal.

One way that I think is a good gauge of how hard I'm working is my progress in the weight room. I've sort of hit a plateau at around 176-178 in terms of my weight right now-hopefully that will change, but I've had some pretty solid gains in terms of lifting.

Chest / Tricep / Front Shoulders workout

Assuming all of these are 3 sets of 8 reps- Bold is new weight

Flat bench 135 lbs --up to 165 lbs
Incline bench 115 lbs--up to 155 lbs
Incline dumbell 55 lb dumbells--up to 60 lb dumbells
Cable fly 75 lbs-- up to 95 lbs
Military Press 40 lbs --up to 50 lbs
Skull crushers- 50 lbs-- up to 65 lbs
Dips - 4x8-- up to 13-15 per set
Tricep Push Downs- 120 lbs-- up to 150 lbs
Scaption (straight arm raise) 20 lbs-- up to 30 lbs
Elbow raises 20 lbs-- up to 30 lbs

Back / Bicep

Lat Pull Downs 105 lbs-- up to 120 lbs
Seated Back Rows 150 lbs-- up to 170 lbs
Bent over rows 50 lbs-- up to 60 lbs
Dumbbell Shrugs 65 lb dumbells- Same
Close grip pull down 105 lbs-- up to 120 lbs
Preacher Curls 75 lbs -- up to 105 lbs
Dumbbell Curls 30 lbs dumbells-- up to 40 lbs
Forearm Curls 45 lb bar-- up to 85 lbs
Isolation Curls- 30 lb dumbells-- up to 40 lbs
Hammer Curls 35 lb dumbells-- Same

So I'm happy with my progress. I've started doing legs and really getting into rehabbing this limb of mine. I'll keep on the grind, you keep coming to read.

Thanks to everyone who has been cheering me on along the way. Love you guys. We're gonna do this thing.

I'm Going to Jog in 1 Week

I'm supposed to begin jogging in February. I'm going to try next week. First week in October.

Some might say I'm overzealous. Some people might say I'm ahead of the times. Most would most likely say that this doesn't surprise them at all, because I'm a retard. This does not burst my bubble, although it might burst my ankle upon first trying to jog.

I tried sort of half jogging at the gym today while we were shooting a basketball around pre workout. (stopping the workout updates every week, going to do them once a month, lets face it, they're boring as hell)

Anyway, it didn't really hurt all that bad. So it's on! Wish me luck.

I'm taking off the brace for just walking as well.

In unrelated news, both my parents just began shaking their heads in the "no" motion with a disgusted look on their face, in unison.

I'm a bad blogger; Not a bright person

So I'm working out like a crazy person, doin work at Syracuse Football, and even eating healthy. I seemingly have forgotten to write anything in the past, well, while.

Let me assure you, I've been living the life. Oh yes, living the sweet life in the lap of luxury.

A few things:

I'll post this weeks workout numbers in a day or two (for the 2 of you out there who give a rats ass). Also, I can't talk about Syracuse Football anymore. It's really a conflict of interest and just not the right thing to do. Regardless if I say nothing that have learned from being inside the program, it's just not the right thing to do. My view is painted.

That said, I'll still be covering random ideas and observations from the NFL. Week 2 observations to come tomorrow! Come back and read them, they will be unique I can guarantee you that.

I'll also obviously still be chronicling my journey to the bottom of the Syracuse Football Roster (if I'm lucky). So in the next few days:

1. Diet update (I'm an eating machine, how to consume more than 5K calories a day)

2. Workout update

3. NFL Week 2 random thoughts

4. Class/school updates

5. Injury Update

If there is anything YOU the reader (singular, there is only one reader) would like to read about, hear about, know about, or anything at all that you think would be a good idea for content email me at rjdoyal@syr.edu and lets talk. Your ideas are clearly better than mine. They have to be. Good god, they have to be.

Back / Bicep Workout 9/15/2009

Bicep/back workout. Going to post updates on workouts once per week to show gains or lack thereof. It should keep me honest, because somewhere in my convoluted mind I think that anyone actually gives a rats ass what I'm lifting and is reading this. If any (all) of the feedback I've received is true, people want to read the marginally funny stuff about the journey, experience, etc. BUT how can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat? (pinkfloyd)

Lat Pull Downs 105 lbs 4x10
Seated Back Rows 150 lbs 4x10
Bent over rows 50 lbs 4x10
Dumbbell Shrugs 65 lbs each hand 4x10
Close grip pull down 105 lbs 3x10

Preacher Curls 75 lbs 3x8
Dumbbell Curls 30 lbs each hand 3x8
Full arm Curls 45 lb bar 3x10
Burnout Curls 75 lbs start, downward from there
Hammer Curls 35 lbs each hand 3x8

Abs

Incline sit ups w/ medicine ball thrown to each side
Leg lifts
Ab Machine

Injury Update / Workout Update 9/11/2009

OK brave and clearly bored souls reading hopelesswalkon.com, here is the update regarding my health and how working out is going. It's a good thing that things are going well, because college is not. I'm not very bright. School is hard. The S.I. Newhouse School of Communications needs to lighten up their course load and leave me more time to enjoy NFL Network programming and otherwise BS about sports with my friends. But I digress...

My weight is at 168. The goal is 190 by the tryout at this time next year. I've been working my ass off at the gym doing everything that's possible without using your legs too much. I'll post the workout I'm doing now in a couple days.

In one month I'll be actually doing stuff with my legs in the weight room, and am planning on jogging by November or December, depending on how I feel.

Right now walking is still a pain in the ass. It hurts considerably when it tires out, since I've been walking all over the goddamn Syracuse globe. I figure once those muscles are built back up, I'll be much better off, but it's a long way to go.

To be clear, this is supposed to be the first week I walk. I'm supposed to start jogging in February. I'm sorta speeding up the timetable. Gotta behave like a warrior to be a warrior. I'm not being stupid though and pushing it too hard that I'll re-injure myself, but I'm doing just hard enough. Walking that line.

More updates in the next couple days so stay tuned. Maybe I'll fall down and injure myself again, who knows? You can't gameplan for an crazy idiot, you just can't....

Walk-On Update, Work Update

So I'm waiting on a call/email from Coach VanDerzee after we spoke on Monday. He said that he MIGHT have an opening in the football program in the recruiting department. Keep your fingers crossed; he said he would get back to me by today or tomorrow.

If that were the case it would give me an opportunity to learn the game even further. Those who know me might mention that I'm already obsessed enough, and know enough about the game, especially from an X's and O's standpoint, but those who really know the game would tell you that by comparison to them, I don't know shit. This would be accurate. I have a long way to go.

That said, I'm not trying to say that I'm just going to try and work with the team. The whole point is to MAKE the team. This is a stepping stone along the way. Hopefully.

Lifting, Injury, Life, etc updates tomorrow.

Abbreviated Workout

Getting used to life on campus again. Here is my lifting routine that I've been doing, since I can use no legs:

Bicep curls w/ bar
same w/ dumbells at different angle
Scaption
Bench
Incline bench
Cable chest pulls
Downward rows
Sitting down shrugs
Military Press
Tricep push downs
Dips
Ab machine (cant put my feet in the incline bench, sucks)
Leg lifts

That's my abbreviated workout I've been doing. Don't judge me. Any suggestions or recommendations, please let me know. In a month I'll be doing a workout program from a certain D-1 Football program that I was able to get my hands on, so it'll get a lot more serious then. Right now, I'm just trying to get back on the horse basically.

Please Comment or Become a Follower, Make Ryan Stop Crying Himself to Sleep

First of all, thats a lie, I'll still cry myself to sleep...however

Nobody comments. I know it's pretty much just my mom reading this, but MOM, COMMENT! COME ON! somebody......hello? I'm thinking that even Mom is lying to me about reading this, haha...you know it's bad when your Mom lies to you about it....

So the plan is, I'm definitely gonna have like 8 readers built up by next year, a solid 8 hopefully, and when I no doubt get injured doing this, THOSE 8 CAN SPREAD THE WORD OF THIS LEGENDARY STORY...and it's failure...

The injury will no doubt occur in entertaining fashion though, perhaps getting jacked up by a rather large dude, so stay tuned in morbid fascination at least...

Last Week around Philly

First off, I'm back up to 167...that was fast. Feeling better about myself working out and stuff, went to physical therapy again today and I'm coming along really well. Still can't really walk correctly, but am limping along, little worried about Syracuse ice f'ing my day up, but lets hope for a temperate Syracuse winter....HAHA

Some random thoughts:

-I'm filming a faux highlight and standup tomorrow back at Films for my demo reel thingie. Slightly nervous to be in those sweet studios on camera, but nobodys watching anyway (kinda like hopelesswalkon.com, where nobody is reading, so who cares anyway) ...dance like nobodys watc......no, no no...stop that

-In the Air Tonight...isn't it just timeless?

-Goin to the Mike Vick Debut...really looking forward to the people protesting and whatnot, it's going to be riotous and entertaining, no doubt. I'm rooting for the guy, not because I like him, but because he represents the anti-hero at this point, against all the sort of douchebags that I hate trying to dictate someone else's life. It's gone too far, Mikey (see previous posts) Show em all up, please.

-I got some football cleats, since previously in my vaunted flag football days I was using soccer cleats, and these were on sale and pretty damn cheap. I stare at them often.

-I'm looking forward to getting back up to 'Cuse and getting a look at our team. There is a walk-on meeting this week, which I will be going to, even though I clearly can't play this year. I'm going to see if I can get involved though in some capacity this year, whatever they need.

-Comments on the Ben Roethlisberger case to come tomorrow most likely. And more stuff. Come back and read. Please....please come back....

-Feeling good tonight, another good workout today. 10/4 over and out

Back to the Gym

So I lifted on Monday, the first day I tried to walk. On this day of first-in-a-whiles, I drove for the first time (not supposed to for another 5 weeks), walked for the first time (not supposed to for another 2 weeks), and lifted weights (god knows). I also went to physical therapy for the first time, with the greatest PT in history Colleen O'Hara.

I'm a retard because I did all this the first day I tried to walk, I think I got all excited about it and went a little far because I'm hurting pretty bad still, and it's Wednesday. I felt alive again though for the first time in a while and lifted pretty well, considering. I was putting up a lot less weight than I was doing before I left though.

So FOR THE RECORD, this is the starting pont. I weighed in at 160 lbs. I was 174 before the injury, so I'm hoping to get those pounds back on pretty quickly.

My entire upper body has that first-time-lift-in-awhile pain, and I can barely half crutch around and can I just say I feel fucking incredible. It's on....slowly.

So it begins...

About one month ago, hopped up on painkillers after ankle surgery, I devised a plan.

It made a lot more sense at the time than it does now, after the painkillers wore off.

But like the idiot I am, I'm doing it anyway.

I'm going to try out for the Syracuse Football Team next season. In the meantime, I'll be training and working my ass off to try to actually make the team. Oh yeah, I've never played football before, unless flag football somehow counts. I'm also short, skinny, and clearly not a D-1 football caliber athlete.

Follow my exploits over the course of the next year and expect:
1. To be entertained
2. To get an inside look at what it's like to try out for a D1 Football Program unsolicited
3. To hopefully be inspired at least a little bit.
4. To be able to tell your kids another thing NOT to do
5. To laugh at the ridiculousness of my behavior, and possibly my ambition


Come back often, and I hope you enjoy my pain along the way. Although I'm not doing this for anyone but myself, hopefully you can at least get a kick out of the experience.