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TODAY’S TRAINING INSPIRATION:
CLIFF RONNING

Today’s Colin Timberlake Training Inspiration is a man who defied the odds every step of the way in making it to the National Hockey League and, eventually, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Immensely talented or not, at 5′8″ and 165 pounds, Cliff Ronning had an uphill climb toward the big leagues. In a sport based heavily on strength and physical contact, the small center was going to require a great deal of perseverance and heart to get to the place he had set his sights on.

And so the road began, first as a star in junior hockey: three straight seasons with 136 points or more for New Westminster (including 197 points in 1984-85). Then he became a star with the national team (118 points in 71 games for Team Canada in 1985-86). And then he paid his dues as a star in Europe, scoring an astounding 67 goals and 116 points in only 36 games for Asiago in Italy.

Eventually, his skills and resolve to play at the highest level were undeniable and he was given a serious shot in the NHL. Acquired by the Vancouver Canucks in a trade with St. Louis, Ronning quickly became a fan favorite and one of the NHL’s best playmakers.

Playing on the “Life Line” with Geoff Courtnall and Trevor Linden, Ronning would have his best years in Vancouver, piling up a good portion of the points that would eventually place him in the top 100 in NHL career scoring.

Ronning produced 85 points in 1992-93, and the following season was one of the key pieces in the Canucks team that came within a goal of winning the Stanley Cup against the heavily favored New York Rangers in the 1994 Finals.

Ronning would retire with 306 goals and 869 points in 1137 career NHL games, quite an achievement for one of the smallest players in league history, who also spent several of his prime years playing elsewhere.

HAMMERING THE ANVIL…

Good old-fashioned chest day today. Again, just happy to hold ground in this area while I push the weaker points harder.

TODAY: CHEST (5-1-5)

BENCH PRESS (5 sets)
115 x 9
135 x 5
135 x 5
155 x 3
175 x 2 / 115 x 2

FLAT DUMBBELL FLYES (5 sets)
30 x 8
35 x 6
35 x 6
40 x 5
50 x 3

DUMBBELL PULLOVERS (5 sets)
30 x 8
35 x 6
35 x 5
40 x 4
50 x 3

FLAT DUMBBELL PRESS (3 sets)
50 x 4
50 x 4
50 x 4

INCLINE DUMBBELL PRESS (3 sets)
25 x 8
30 x 5
40 x 5

TRAINING NOTES

Total Sets (Chest): 21

I won’t bother with the standard observation at how light I have to go with this crazy-slow tempo.

Supersetted Flyes and Pullovers as usual.

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