[Thom Van Vleck]

If I were being sent to an island for a year and they said to write a list of the training stuff I needed from start to finish in the order I wanted it and I might not get the entire list….mine would go like this:
1. Olympic set
2. Power Rack
3. drop tables (two tables that I could drop overhead lifts on without dropping them all the way to the floor….YES, they are #3. Al made me a set and they added years to my career and pounds to my lifts.
4.. Dumbbells, screw caps with weights.
5. Flat bench, not a bench press bench, just a flat bench.
6. Reverse hyper
7. Adjustable squat stands
8. set of boxes (I have three that I can adjust from 12″ to 24″ in 2″ increments.
9. CD Player and favorite CD’s. Tunes are that important when I’m training.
10. Bands & chains

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Thanks Al

Bill won his 5th and this was against two former world champs that had put him in second before plus another guy that had won a slug of national championships that, Bill won’t admit this, was on his “to beat list”. It’s official…Bill has beaten ALL of the best throwers in his age group, including a guy thats a legend….so in my book, Bill is now the best ever amongst over 50 throwers.

Jim was hurt and it showed. But what a gamer to come out and gut it out. He will be back next year and I truly believe he’ll be the first 7 time MW Champ!

Finally, I may be a one trick pony but I won the Weight Over bar event for the 3rd time. But this time, I had the top throw in the entire comp. No ties, no better throws in any age group. That made my trip! Winning the overall is my goal, but the WOB is MY event and I got it. My 4th place finish is my best finish to date, so I continue to head in the right direction for the overall title!!!!!

Thanks for the support. JWC now has 11 World titles and over 10 world records set!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Oh I got some more…..Most of those were made up by liberal college students…the best ones are still secret….mostly concerning my top secret security clearance in the USMC…but if I told you I’d have to relocate…again.

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

I got a full set of bands from Iron Woody and have used them all at one time or another. I actually like to use the smaller bands while doing twists and pivots during the winter mimicing the Highland games turns. I find them to be a way to spice up the training and not so much a “secret” training device!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

I heard about that movie and heard it seems to glorify….so I avoided it. The evening news riles me up too bad….I don’t need extra! haha

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Thats cool! Al, can you photo copy that and e-mail it out….or better yet, a feature the website! Thom

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

I agree with Tom in principle, and Al in application (how’s that for a political answer….you can tell I ran for office at one time!).

For example, I have developed a way to throw the Weight Over Bar in Highland Games that is unorthodox at best. I won the WOB at the North American Championships (masters class) this past weekend and one of the guys commented in a write up about it later “….I don’t know how he does that”! It works for me, but most guys can’t seem to pick it up. I think technique needs to be a guide, but eventually you need to mold it to your leverages to achieve the greatest success.

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

…..does that apply to me as well, Al?!?!?

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Dave, if you paid attention you would know that…..hahahaha

Man, the JWC hasn’t even made it on the board!!!!! You guys are counting Tully for the JWC, right? haha

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Geez….you try and be nice to a guy and this is what you get!!!! haha

Al, I want nothing from you but your friendship…..and a 42lb nickel plated Weight for distance…HAHAHA just kidding….I really don’t need it nickel plated….haha.

You do know…..Bobby asked me to send him something from me for his scrapbook!!!! I guess I’ve made it to the big time!!!!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

….I just want to know how a guy named “LARRY” ends up with a nickname like “FLOYD” haha

That might be in the cards…..

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

What! No Cheat Curl photo! HAHA

Just kidding, Al. It’s an honor to be in there even once and I appreciate all the hard work that goes into this! Thom

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

I’ve read every single word….even the one Al wrote on the formulas!!!

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

So, exactly how many pictures are there of me…..HAHAHA

You know I want one! Thom

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Thom Van Vleck]

Thats a great string, I know recently Art Tarwater had 50 years of competing in, I think, the Missouri Valley Meet or Missouri state meet.

Those are some amazing strings.

Thom Van Vleck
Jackson Weightlifting Club
Highland Games athlete and sometimes All-Rounder

[Author]

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