Blue Collar Athlete

dirty hands and a filthy mouth

[blucollrathlte]

Grind. Every. Damn. Day. #squat #squats #work #roguefitness #tattoo #tattoos #powerlifting #lululemon #bluecollar #workout (at North End Fitness Center)

[blucollrathlte]

3x380. That's @__roccoooo__ squatting like an animal in the background. Camera credit, and best cheerleader ever award 🏆goes to @munnster58kg #deadlift #powerlifting #tattoo #tattoos #ink #tattooed #uspa #bluecollar #workout #hashtag (at North End Fitness Center)

[blucollrathlte]

Is the CrossFit Open for me?

Is the CrossFit Open for me?

The aftermath of CrossFit Open Workout 12.1 Why in the hell should I sign up for the 2016 CrossFit Open? That is a great question, and there are many, many different answers out there depending on whom you ask. For instance, if you look at the holy source of all things CrossFit, games.crossfit.com, then you will hear buzz words like “global community” and others aimed at trying to get you to…

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[blucollrathlte]

Watched a powerlifting competition at @rabfitness yesterday and decided to see what I had in the tank. Deadlift PR at 420/191. Haven't deadlifted in over a year and still hit this. #stillgotit #deadlift #powerlifting #tattoos #tattooed #strong #strength #lift #liftheavy #deadlifts @xbenstubbsx @stanton.strength

[blucollrathlte]

Deadlifts with bae

240 420 I’m not sure if it was the powerlifting competition, or the fact that weightlifting has been taking its toll on my knees and wrist, but tonight I said fuck it and hit a deadlift with my lady. It was my first time deadlifting in about 18 months and her first time ever. I hit a 5 lb PR and she absolutely crushed 240. Best Valentine a man could ask for.   

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[blucollrathlte]

Powerlifting > Weightlifting? RAB Fitness Pre-Spring Fling The atmosphere was electric as we walked through the doors of RAB Fitness yesterday morning.

[blucollrathlte]

Dealing with rejection 

I haven’t even submitted a query letter and I’m afraid of rejection. Hell, I haven’t even finished the novel and I’m already hesitant because I think I will get shut down. What is it about submitting your work to someone who is paid to criticize it that makes us all uneasy? Will I be afraid to submit it when the time comes? Absolutely not. I’m a clutch type of person who thrives in the heat of…

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[blucollrathlte]

Writing for a living?

Writing for a living?

I had never even considered writing for a living up until about 3 months ago. I have always made my money with my hands, not my mind. What business have I making a living as a writer? I think my short stories have merit, and my little scribbles to my girlfriend are usually spot on, but who would want to read what I write? I’m just a welder with an ego. I’m an arrogant, know-it-all railcar…

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[blucollrathlte]

Out of nowhere

https://videopress.com/embed/Jp9nY8sM?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0 A lot of my posts lately have been about writing, and I think that is a good thing, but being an athlete is still one of my biggest passions. I’ve been struggling with some pretty obnoxious injuries the last few months, and they are all converging to create a decent amount of pain when I lift. Last night was one of those…

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[blucollrathlte]

Death in a hospital

Some people accuse my writing of being dark. I get that. I have always considered myself as realistic with a possibility of light skepticism. During my day I am generally upbeat and encouraging to those around me. I want the best for most people in my immediate life and I try to help them achieve that whenever I can. Sometimes, though, my mind does wander off to a darker place. I prefer to think…

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[blucollrathlte]

Short, short story.

A couple of years ago I wrote a short story. My mother, who is obviously my biggest fan, told me that I should enter a Writer’s Digest short story competition. Around 90 minutes later, I had written my first piece of work. I had never written a short story before, and I haven’t written one since. I’m sure my story didn’t make it past the first round of judging, but it is still something I am…

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[blucollrathlte]

  Sometimes it’s hard for me to slow down. With everything I have going on in my life, it’s hard to take a deep breath without feeling like I’m missing something. When the weekend comes around, it feels like I close my eyes for a bit of rest, and when I open them I’m on my way to work Monday morning. This weekend was no different, save for one thing. Being in the Pacific Northwest, when clear weather comes around during the winter, it is not to be wasted. That in mind, my lady and I stopped at Deception Pass to take in a sunset. The best thing about this view is that I drive this bridge every day on my way to work. I get the chance to see this every single day, yet I rarely stop to truly appreciate it. Yesterday, I did just that. With the cool moisture in the air, and the wind beginning to bite at our fingers, we perked up our jacket collars and took in this amazing view.

Here’s to slowing down long enough to remember why we do the things that we do.

Rest Day Sometimes it's hard for me to slow down. With everything I have going on in my life, it's hard to take a deep breath without feeling like I'm missing something.

[blucollrathlte]

My fork in the road

There are certain things in life that weigh on my mind that even the gym won’t cure. Sometimes the weight of the barbell doesn’t outweigh what’s already on my shoulders, and when those days come around, I try my best to write about it. This is an example of one of those days. I stop and turn around. Looking back I can see memories in the distance. I can see the recent hills and curves that have…

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[blucollrathlte]

Work Ethic

My name is Greg Colding. I am 32 years old, and have had dirt under my fingernails since I can remember. There is something romantic, to me, about the satisfaction of a hard day’s work. I believe that work ethic doesn’t stop when the whistle blows. I think that work ethic is something that follows us outside the door of our workplaces and into our daily lives. I am a welder by trade, but when I…

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[blucollrathlte]

Finally hit 300/136. Not as snappy as I wanted it to be, but it'll get there. Now I just gotta clean it. Come get me, @scaero335. @xbenstubbsx @hunkerdown79 @__roccoooo__ @b1g_ron @crossfitamethyst #weightlifting #oly #barbell #lift #inkedathlete #tattoo #dowork #allmytshirtssaycrossfit

[blucollrathlte]

Behind the neck jerks today @205. In sweatpants. Keepin it classy. @karislynn13 @scaero335 @xbenstubbsx @lululemonmen @hunkerdown79 #inkedathlete #tattoo #weightlifting #oly #olympiclifting #barbell

[blucollrathlte]

Met these two incredible ladies today! Francine Pehi and Amanda Allen were kind enough to let this goofy Southern boy take a picture with them @lululemon #daymade #lululemon #crossfit #crossfitgames #crossfitgirls #tattoo #marvel @frannyp_70 @amandacrossfitallen