TODAY’S TRAINING INSPIRATION:
TOM PLATZ

To some, Tom “The Golden Eagle” Platz is best known as the foil to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s return to bodybuilding prominence in the 1980 documentary, The Comeback. The story followed the aspiring and hopeful champion Platz as he trained to compete against Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was returning to the Mr. Olympia competition for one final appearance after retiring several years earlier.

It will come as no surprise that the Golden Eagle was not victorious against Arnold, as few men ever were, but Platz nonetheless remains a fan favorite among bodybuilders for his dedication and perseverance.

Despite never winning a major bodybuilding title, Platz is regarded by many – to this day – as having the most impressive quadricep and upper leg development in bodybuilding history.

Much as Samir Bannout is credited by many for pushing other bodybuilders to develop the “Christmas Tree” in the lower back, the Golden Eagle is cited as motivation by many for difficult leg workout days in the gym. While flirting with disproportion, Platz nonetheless set a standard for these muscle groups that is referenced to this day.

And that is why, on the first great leg training day of this new regime, we turn to Tom Platz for inspiration.

REBUILDING THE MACHINE…

Today we resume the process of rebuilding the machine. I did very little in the way of resistance training for legs when I was training for the 5K run, as my legs were always tired and I didn’t want to slow their recovery between runs even further.

And my legs have suffered for it, from a proportion perspective. They will now get the “problem area” treatment and be worked as such until they have caught back up to the rest of the physique.

TODAY: LEGS

SEATED LEG PRESS (10 sets)
- 310 x 10
- 500 x 10
- 500 x 10
- 500 x 10
- 500 x 10
- 500 x 10
- 500 x 10
- 500 x 5
- 450 x 15
- 450 x 12

HAMSTRING CURL (8 sets) (superset with Seated Quad Extensions)
- 70 x 10
- 100 x 4
- 90 x 8
- 90 x 6
- 90 x 5
- 80 x 7
- 80 x 7
- 80 x 6 / 60 x 5 (drop set)

SEATED QUAD EXTENSIONS (8 sets) (superset with Hamstring Curl)
- 140 x 10
- 220 x 4
- 180 x 8
- 180 x 8
- 180 x 8
- 180 x 8
- 180 x 8
- 180 x 8

STRAIGHT LEG CALF PRESS (10 sets) (on Seated Leg Press)
- 210 x 20
- 300 x 15
- 350 x 10
- 300 x 15
- 300 x 15
- 300 x 10
- 300 x 15
- 300 x 15
- 300 x 15
- 300 x 13
- 300 x 10

SEATED CALF RAISE (3 sets) (Tempo Training for 5 Count)
- 90 x 8
- 90 x 8
- 90 x 15

TRAINING NOTE

Total Sets: 39

BACK TO Index of Inspirational Role Models for Training

©2010 colintimberlake.com. All Rights Reserved.