Gladiator audition

--amadeus--

Hi folks. I don't know if you have seen it but Sky have relaunced "Gladiators". Well my wife and kids are mad about it and we always have a bit of banter - she says how sexy the Gladiators are, I say how easy it is and how well I would do. Well the last episode issued a call for applications for auditions. She called my bluff and - only semi-seriously - I applied. I did not expect to get a call; while I am fit I am almost 6' tall and weigh aroud 147lbs - not really contender material I thought.

But they have invited me to an audtion on the 22nd of Sept :eek:

Now thats not enough time to make major changes but I would like to build strength between now and then, esp upper body and core.

In terms of where I am and what I do I am mainly a runner. I have completed 7 marathons in 3.5 yrs with a PB of 3:15. I run 6 - 7 days per week averaging 40 - 50 miles with long runs of between 15 - 22 miles once a week. I also cross train in martial arts for ~90mins once a week.

I have endurance and cardio fitness but lack the upper body stuff. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

(by the way if you want to apply there is a link from the main Sky website!)

Roper

Crossfit FTW! www.crossfit.ie

g'em

Roper wrote: »

Crossfit FTW! www.crossfit.ie

Good call, I'd imagine that would be a great starting point to condition you for the various events in the show.

Roper

Also, could you imagine the ego boost to Reilly if someone who he trained won Gladiators? Actually hold on OP, don't go there!

Seriously though, If I was going to compete in something various and intense, I would pick the crossfit protocol over anything else out there. Oh wait, I DO compete in something various and intense, and I DO pick the crossfit protocol over anything else!

At the moment the kids in my gym are obsessed with Gladiators. One of them wants to be Spartan, whichever one he is and keeps posing like him.

g'em

Roper wrote: »

Also, could you imagine the ego boost to Reilly if someone who he trained won Gladiators? Actually hold on OP, don't go there!

LOL good point, he'd be unbearable (<3 O'Reilly really )

Roper wrote:

At the moment the kids in my gym are obsessed with Gladiators. One of them wants to be Spartan, whichever one he is and keeps posing like him.

There are worse physical ideals to have...

Mr Magnolia

g'em wrote: »

LOL good point, he'd be unbearable (<3 O'Reilly really )


There are worse physical ideals to have...

Fixed that for you g'em. The celebrity edition was a great larf, apparently Wolf is making some sort of regular appearance in the show now too. As for some of the female Gladiators... hawt!

Good luck with the training and the trial, keep us posted.

c - 13

Fair play on getting throuh the first lot man !

Have they told you the physical requirements to get in or anything ? I'm quite curious myself.

There was a gladiator thread here recently where we found the old requiremnets and I was just wondering if they'd changed ?

EDIT - Found the old thread - here

Requierments I found were -
Run 800m on a Treadmill
Women to complete in 3 minutes, men have 2 mins 30 secs.

2 minute rest then....

Pull-Ups on the Rig
With underhand grip, palms facing body, hang on straight arms. then pull up so that your chin is above the bar. Return to hanging with arms straight and hold for 5 seconds before repeating
Women to repeat 5 times, men 10 times

1 minute rest then....

Overhead Monkey Ladder: 4.5m long, rope at end to climb.
1 minute is given to complete this task.
Women to climb the rope once, men twice.

Rest as required....

Pugil Sticks
Face off against an opponent in a Pugil Stick fight main aim is to test for agression.


That was the '97 entry criteria

jim o doom

One thing I'd reccomend is one of those "chin-up" bars - I got one in Argos, but I'm sure they sell them in loads of fitness shops - if you're doing stuff in Gladiators it would be against your own body weight, so using a chin up bar regularily for different types of pull-ups I would say would be a major help!

--amadeus--

I've heard of Crossfit, don't have time to read up on it now but short, intense and varied workouts building speed and strength is my understanding? Sounds ideal! Thanks for that.

The process for application is that you fill in an online form (here) that asks about your stats, training, sports history and some personal background (most daring thing you've ever done, most embarassing thing, etc). hey then pick people for auditions (5 hours, I think) which includes "extensive physical and fitness tests" and from there they pick contenders. At this stage I'm only at audition, so early doors. I've also found out that I have adtae clash on the audition (booked to be at a customer site) so the whole thing may be over before it starts )

CerebralCortex

I'm 6' 1 roughly and 172lbs and I wouldn't even dream about contending on Gladiators, simply becuase I think I'd need about another 24lbs of weight/mass. Forgive me but I thought I was pretty light for my height how are you gonna well get conditioned for it. Fair play for trying never mind my negativity :pac:

--amadeus--

TBH I didn't expect to get called simply because I am so light, I'm built to run so slender is better. I've got limited time before the audition but should have more before the event itself (asuming I get thru, which I doubt)

In terms of competing in the events I am quite quick and light, which is an advantage in some events (the one where you have to run across a bridge and teh one where you have to put the balls in the tubs). Martial arts has taught me strong stance and powerful hits (in relation to weight) which will help with the pugil sticks. Some events I simply won't have a hope (the one where you have to charge thru a chute with 3 gladiators trying to stop you for example). Main intention would be to stay in contact with my opponent until the eliminator. At that stage my light weight is an advantage (hand bike for example) as is my endurance & speed running training (pyramid and teh travelator thing).

gabgab

Train crossfit, I have done it and its brilliant for what you will need it to do,

Also Colm is good and will probably show you stuff tailored to your needs, he did it for me, it went like this:

"tom...... here is a length of pipe"
everyone else has weight Colm, even that kid over there.......
"they are not weak like a baby......" then hilarious laughter from me and everyone else,

Its a good class, you will enjoy them and get some good encouragement from the other lads and lassies at it,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPWdf8cWPrY

Have a look at this for example,

Mickk

Here is a video form this years american gladiators trials (bodybuilder chris cormier doing them!)

Colm_OReilly

Thanks for the plugs guys. I think some of the crew from CrossFit LA did trials for gladiators a while back. Can't find the vid/link atm but iirc they smoked the fitness test then fluffed the trial interviews, so maybe my ego might help you there as well? (eh, Barry? )

Amadeus, let's make you strong, give me a shout on 086-8151092 and we'll sort something out.

Degsy

They're vacuous bastards on television.You'd need to look pretty good as well as being fit.Its all right being slender but the TV-dinners crowd want a "hunk" or a "babe" they can cheer!

gabgab

Well that puts Colm out of entering :D but he can train Amadeus I'm sure,

Hanley

I know one of the guys that was on this years show. I'll see if I can get in contact with him and see what the trials invovled.

BrianD3

CerebralCortex wrote: »

I'm 6' 1 roughly and 172lbs and I wouldn't even dream about contending on Gladiators, simply becuase I think I'd need about another 24lbs of weight/mass. Forgive me but I thought I was pretty light for my height how are you gonna well get conditioned for it. Fair play for trying never mind my negativity :pac:

Dunno about that, the contenders in both the new and old gladiators have not been particularly big. I'd say average would be around 12-12.5 stone i.e. your weight. There was one really small lad in the new series he was something like 8.5 stone @ 5 foot 6. The biggest contender in the new series was the guy Joel who lost in the final, he was 15 stone something.

Hanley

Anyone else wanna call foul and say they pick the smaller guys to put the stack in the gladiators favour?

loz

c - 13 wrote: »

Requierments I found were -
Run 800m on a Treadmill
Women to complete in 3 minutes, men have 2 mins 30 secs.

2 minute rest then....

Pull-Ups on the Rig
With underhand grip, palms facing body, hang on straight arms. then pull up so that your chin is above the bar. Return to hanging with arms straight and hold for 5 seconds before repeating
Women to repeat 5 times, men 10 times

1 minute rest then....

Overhead Monkey Ladder: 4.5m long, rope at end to climb.
1 minute is given to complete this task.
Women to climb the rope once, men twice.

Rest as required....

Pugil Sticks
Face off against an opponent in a Pugil Stick fight main aim is to test for agression.


That was the '97 entry criteria

Is that it ??

Jez - Bobblins, I might try myself.

Fit and fantastically goodlooking, should be a breeze.

Loz

BrianD3

Anyone else wanna call foul and say they pick the smaller guys to put the stack in the gladiators favour?

I have read this viewpoint on some UK weight training forums (may have been on muscletalk or uk.rec.bodybuilding) Lads were saying that they applied to be contenders on the new series but didn't get through. They were speculating that it was because they were too big and could embarrass the gladiators in the power events as well as making them look puny.

From what I can see though the two most important parts of the new gladiators are
-the cargo net
-the handbike

If someone could smoke both of these parts of the eliminator they'd have agreat chance of winning (IMO) even if they started many seconds behind an opponent who had done better against the gladiators.

gabgab

Hanley wrote: »

Anyone else wanna call foul and say they pick the smaller guys to put the stack in the gladiators favour?

Yeh it always looks a bit unfair, I mean the games are set up at the gladiators advantage anyway, that one where you have to get to the top and they are stood in front of you,

I would love to see someone make it to the top,

loz wrote: »

Is that it ??

Jez - Bobblins, I might try myself.

Fit and fantastically goodlooking, should be a breeze.

Loz

Brilliant attitude, should breeze through the interview part of it too, good man yourself

Hanley

I agree. When it comes to things like the gauntlet and duel a big guy could probably make them look very human. One thing that has always SERIOUSLY impressed me is Atlas on the rings. For a guy so big, he moves so well!!

Tbh I don't see why more people don't start on the handbike and just fall off. It's only a 10 sec penalty and it normally takes most folk as long, if not longer to do it. Imagine the energy you'd save.

I saw a 2 second clip of Predator doing it on the new vs old gladiator show and he RIPPED across it. It was easily the most impressive thing I've seen in the entire series. I missed the actual show but I'd love to see it. Must keep an eye out for it.

Hanley

gabgab wrote: »

Yeh it always looks a bit unfair, I mean the games are set up at the gladiators advantage anyway, that one where you have to get to the top and they are stood in front of you,

I would love to see someone make it to the top,

They have a "scoring zone" on the US version. If you get both of your feet to within 3 steps (I think) of the top, you score 5.

BrianD3

Hanley wrote: »

Tbh I don't see why more people don't start on the handbike and just fall off. It's only a 10 sec penalty and it normally takes most folk as long, if not longer to do it. Imagine the energy you'd save.

I saw a 2 second clip of Predator doing it on the new vs old gladiator show and he RIPPED across it. It was easily the most impressive thing I've seen in the entire series. I missed the actual show but I'd love to see it. Must keep an eye out for it.

Agreed on both points! But dammit, now you've gone and told everyone my handbike strategy!

Hanley

BrianD3 wrote: »

Agreed on both points! But dammit, now you've gone and told everyone my handbike strategy!

I assume they've had people try it and put a rule in place to prevent it. It couldn't be THAT easy.

Oh and apparently Atlas held onto the cotton reel all the way down on the eliminator too. I don't think I've ever seen ANYONE do that??

They have a rope around it on the US version to make it easier.... AND they kept Dangerzone too. The US version's really so much better.

BrianD3

Hanley wrote: »

I assume they've had people try it and put a rule in place to prevent it. It couldn't be THAT easy.

Oh and apparently Atlas held onto the cotton reel all the way down on the eliminator too. I don't think I've ever seen ANYONE do that??

They have a rope around it on the US version to make it easier.... AND they kept Dangerzone too. The US version's really so much better.

The Legends vs new gladiators programme was really good, it has already been repeated a few times and may be repeated again, you should try to catch it. Atlas did hold on to the reel. The women legends were very good, the male legends were a little disappointing particularly Trojan who looked quite old and small and didn't perform very well. Hunter only did one event (Duel, he beat Spartan in it) and had his shoulders heavily strapped from old injuries apparently. Hunter in his heyday was a seriously impressive gladiator.

Mr Magnolia

gabgab wrote: »

I would love to see someone make it to the top,

I've seen a couple of contendors complete it, one male and at least one female.

Hanley wrote: »

Tbh I don't see why more people don't start on the handbike and just fall off. It's only a 10 sec penalty and it normally takes most folk as long, if not longer to do it. Imagine the energy you'd save.

I saw a 2 second clip of Predator doing it on the new vs old gladiator show and he RIPPED across it. It was easily the most impressive thing I've seen in the entire series. I missed the actual show but I'd love to see it. Must keep an eye out for it.

If you seen 2 seconds you seen the whole thing, it was unnatural how he moved across it. Very impressive. Check out youtube maybe.

--amadeus--

God I love the Interweb! Seriously big thanks. Colm I'll give you a call over the w/end, if that's ok?

I wondered about the "handsome hunk" thing they ask for 2 phtos during the application - 1 is a "head and shoulders" and one full length in your traiing gear. Because I wasn't taking it sedriously my headshot was one taken by my 6yr old and the full length was from last years Cork marathon - believe me I don't look good running at the 18 or 20 mile mark... Doomed to fail on this I think

Not sure about the bodybuilders not being picked argument. At the end of teh day it is entertainment, not sport so pre-selecting contendors for a David vs Goliath thing is understandable. That said there was one guy this series who played U21 rugby for England and he was very well built. If they are looking for a sub 2:30 800m thats pretty quick - equivalent to a sub 40 min 10k (here) which would put you in the top 10 - 15% of most local races. I can't see many really big guys being able to move that fast?

And the Gladiators are quite impressive athletes. One is a current Royal Marine, at least one competed at the Olympics, several are national champions in various events (pentathlon, high jump, long jump, sprints and the like) so I'm not sure they would be "embarrassed" by big lads, unless the bodybuilders were also good allrounders.

gabgab

Very true regarding the run times,

If you can do 10km in under 40 minutes, you are quick. Damn quick, put that with a fella that is big, especially on telly, he has endurance speed and with a stocky physique he will have the power to sprint too,

BossArky

gabgab wrote: »

Very true regarding the run times,

If you can do 10km in under 40 minutes, you are quick.

800m in 2mins 30 seconds is a 10km pace of ~31mins. Pretty quick alright. However it is just for 800m so may be a bit easier. New test for next treadmill session!

Anyone know what speed the travelator goes at? I'd guesstimate 15kmph. It looks deceptively slow. However lots of people fail at this step. It must be fast enough if guys who can run 2:30 for 800m fail here.

I always wonder why people don't dive head first into the water at the start of the eliminator to gain ground.

Callidice

800 m in 2.30 is hugely quick for anyone packing significant muscle..

I'm 5,11 and 14 3/4 stone with a high level of cardio and athletic fitness and a lot of usable muscle. I'd be strong enough to take on the gladiators with the upper body stuff but could only just manage that kind of sprint with some serious training.

Contender requirements have obviously been geared to exclude those who might be too strong... I bet some of those bigger gladiators could never pass the 800m requirement... how the hell is a sixteen stoner ever going to do the 800 in 2.30?

15 stone and very athletic is probably the upper limit that a contender could possibly be.... it's designed so that the Gladiators have the physical edge.

rubadub

Hanley wrote: »

Anyone else wanna call foul and say they pick the smaller guys to put the stack in the gladiators favour?

It is sort of like WWE wrestling, all the referees & managers are tiny, to make the "stars" look even better.
Thing is it all boils down to the final run really, where being small is an advantage.

Hanley wrote: »

Tbh I don't see why more people don't start on the handbike and just fall off. It's only a 10 sec penalty and it normally takes most folk as long, if not longer to do it. Imagine the energy you'd save.

Yeah, I have seen some do this, I would love to have a go. The women still do the monkey bars so I expect this must be a lot harder, and monkey bars are still hard enough, especially the length they have to do, they have monkey bars in cabinteely park

thirtyfoot

Callidice wrote: »

800 m in 2.30 is hugely quick for anyone packing significant muscle..

I'm 5,11 and 14 3/4 stone with a high level of cardio and athletic fitness and a lot of usable muscle. I'd be strong enough to take on the gladiators with the upper body stuff but could only just manage that kind of sprint with some serious training.

Contender requirements have obviously been geared to exclude those who might be too strong... I bet some of those bigger gladiators could never pass the 800m requirement... how the hell is a sixteen stoner ever going to do the 800 in 2.30?

15 stone and very athletic is probably the upper limit that a contender could possibly be.... it's designed so that the Gladiators have the physical edge.

Thats a good point regarding limiting the really big guys getting in but not being able to run 800m in 2:30 (if you are male) is not having a very high level of cardio in my opinion.

Callidice

Tingle wrote: »

Thats a good point regarding limiting the really big guys getting in but not being able to run 800m in 2:30 (if you are male) is not having a very high level of cardio in my opinion.

I can't agree with that - you are limited by the amount of weight you are pulling round the track. At the moment I would consider myself to have a higher level of cardio fitness than I had a year ago yet a year ago I was over a stone lighter and could therefore do the 1 1/2 mile significantly faster... at nearly fifteen very muscular stone and 40 years old I can run 1 1/2 miles in 10 minutes flat and do the 5k in 24 minutes... If I were lighter and carrying less muscle I would be faster yet not necessarily fitter... it takes a huge amount of cardio fitness to power 15 stone through 800 meters in any significant time - much much more than it takes a 12 stoner who can virtually glide that distance at that time yet may not be fitter in a relative sense.... For instance, me and a friend do pullups and I can almost match him... just not quite - he is three stone lighter than me... who is the stronger? definitely me, I'm pulling much more weight for nearly the same rep and it probably takes 4 extra lbs of muscle just to offset every 2 extra lbs in absolute weight.

I think 2 minutes 30 seconds would be nigh on impossible for someone around 16 stone yet several gladiators past and present are at this weight and heavier.... contenders are meant to be more 'all rounders' wheras Gladiators have the advantage of 'specialisation'... If contenders were picked as specialists too then gladiators might be beaten regularly....

I think the best 'all rounder' to fit their criteria couldn't really be above 15 stone - they just wouldn't be able to do the endurance stuff and yet 15 stone doesn't equal the biggest gladiators in strength.... the dice are loaded in this game. When was the last time anyone saw a contender pick a gladiator off the pyramid and toss him in the air? Yet plenty of guys could do that - they want the gladiators to be bigger and badder - it's better theatre.

Hanley

Callidice wrote: »

I can't agree with that - you are limited by the amount of weight you are pulling round the track. At the moment I would consider myself to have a higher level of cardio fitness than I had a year ago yet a year ago I was over a stone lighter and could therefore do the 1 1/2 mile significantly faster... at nearly fifteen very muscular stone and 40 years old I can run 1 1/2 miles in 10 minutes flat and do the 5k in 24 minutes... If I were lighter and carrying less muscle I would be faster yet not necessarily fitter... it takes a huge amount of cardio fitness to power 15 stone through 800 meters in any significant time - much much more than it takes a 12 stoner who can virtually glide that distance at that time yet may not be fitter in a relative sense.... For instance, me and a friend do pullups and I can almost match him... just not quite - he is three stone lighter than me... who is the stronger? definitely me, I'm pulling much more weight for nearly the same rep and it probably takes 4 extra lbs of muscle just to offset every 2 extra lbs in absolute weight.

I think 2 minutes 30 seconds would be nigh on impossible for someone around 16 stone yet several gladiators past and present are at this weight and heavier.... contenders are meant to be more 'all rounders' wheras Gladiators have the advantage of 'specialisation'... If contenders were picked as specialists too then gladiators might be beaten regularly....

I think the best 'all rounder' to fit their criteria couldn't really be above 15 stone - they just wouldn't be able to do the endurance stuff and yet 15 stone doesn't equal the biggest gladiators in strength.... the dice are loaded in this game. When was the last time anyone saw a contender pick a gladiator off the pyramid and toss him in the air? Yet plenty of guys could do that - they want the gladiators to be bigger and badder - it's better theatre.

Lol... we get it, you're huge and can't do it!!!

I'd listen to Tingle on fitness standards when it comes to running/track. He's the resident expert around here.

Callidice

Hanley wrote: »

Lol... we get it, you're huge and can't do it!!!

I'd listen to Tingle on fitness standards when it comes to running/track. He's the resident expert around here.

heh... I can't do it yet but think it's certainly achievable and will be able to do it with appropriate training yet keep my size....

I would be really surprised though if someone a stone heavier could do it - it's very difficult to believe that someone 16 stone + of muscle could run 800m in less than 2.30 even if they have an incredible standard of cardio fitness... It's like a very heavy car with a very powerful engine - it's not as quick as a car with a much less powerful engine yet much lighter. that's all I was saying yet I took a lot of words to say so.... I have no wish to upset your resident expert.... I'm sure he knows more than I do about track but I know a thing or two about muscle

rubadub

Callidice wrote: »

I think 2 minutes 30 seconds would be nigh on impossible for someone around 16 stone yet several gladiators past and present are at this weight and heavier.... contenders are meant to be more 'all rounders' wheras Gladiators have the advantage of 'specialisation'.

The gladiators do not do much running etc, They just stand there and look big and fight them with their power, the usual job in the games is to prevent the contestant finishing a course. It is not really like a boxing match or one on one sport where both contestants are doing the same thing. It is usually the small guy trying to weasel by the big giant, or on events like standing on the platform with the sticks, just being able to last the time (which again is usually try to dodge the big slow guy).

Callidice wrote: »

When was the last time anyone saw a contender pick a gladiator off the pyramid and toss him in the air? Yet plenty of guys could do that - they want the gladiators to be bigger and badder - it's better theatre.

The aim is to get to the top, to get past the big guy. It does make better theatre when the person beats the big guy, the commentators get cheap slags in and the crowd goes mental "oh you think you're so big & strong" etc.

I can't remember how gladiators works, is it just 2 lads and 2 girls at the start. Then they do events and depending on points they get a faster start at the end?

As I said before it really boils down to the end game, which really suits lighter people. Like Hanley said they could be better dropping off the handbike thing, and they could be better off just dropping out of the other early games too, if it is only 2 people at the start. i.e. if you are guaranteed to be in the final you might be better off entering it fresh and uninjured albeit with a time disadvantage.

There is really no need to be able to run fast in gladiators. I do not run so guess I could not do 800m in that time, I expect some of my mates could, but I also expect I would beat most of them in that final round event.

Racing Flat

It's close enough to speed 20 on the TM for 2mins 30. That sounds scary to me even though I can do it on land easily...

@ Tingle, I don't think whether you could do it or not would be a great sign of 'level of cardio' more to do with speed, specific training and maybe speed endurance. e.g. I know older fellows who can do 10 miles in 55mins (an extremely high level of cardio for their age) yet they would be around 2.20-2.25 for an 800 on the track (although they can rattle out 10 with a 90sec recovery in 2.35) - they just don't have the speed anymore. At the same time, most fellows at my club in their 60's can get close enough to 2.30 for 800.

I'd imagine though that most average punters if you asked them to do it they'd struggle to break 3mins but within just 2-3 weeks of training they'd manage it, so you're probably right it's not that hard.

On Topic, did Amadeus ever go to the trial???????

Racing Flat

rubadub wrote: »

As I said before it really boils down to the end game, which really suits lighter people. Like Hanley said they could be better dropping off the handbike thing, and they could be better off just dropping out of the other early games too, if it is only 2 people at the start. i.e. if you are guaranteed to be in the final you might be better off entering it fresh and uninjured albeit with a time disadvantage.

I always say this to the better half when watching. Being a smidgeon over 10 stone, I'd probably get hammered on all the 'rounds' but would be confident enough that I could fly around the eliminator and maybe even a 20sec deficit or that could be made up. Being a runner, I'd probably have more speed than most other contestants, and even though I obviously can't have much muscle mass, I can rattle off chin-ups easily enough, don't have much to lift. Climbing the cargo rope would be a cinch, the travelator would be no problem to a light runner etc. The problem might be that my head might be knocked off my shoulders by the time I get to the eliminator (so the better half won't let me apply:().

Racing Flat

Callidice wrote: »

I can't agree with that - you are limited by the amount of weight you are pulling round the track. At the moment I would consider myself to have a higher level of cardio fitness than I had a year ago yet a year ago I was over a stone lighter and could therefore do the 1 1/2 mile significantly faster... at nearly fifteen very muscular stone and 40 years old I can run 1 1/2 miles in 10 minutes flat and do the 5k in 24 minutes... If I were lighter and carrying less muscle I would be faster yet not necessarily fitter...

El Caballo , the Horse, Alberto Juantoreno. Over 6 foot, built like a brick sh1thouse and he could do 800m in 1.43. Weight/power need not necessarily limit 800m times.



http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ju/alberto-juantorena-1.html

Full name: Alberto Juantorena Danger
Nickname(s): El Caballo
Gender: Male
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)

84kg might not seem much for his height, but Steve Cram was the same height and 3 stone lighter.

If someone got to 15 stone with a lot of weights they might not do a great 800m but if they got there with a lot of sprint work as well (Usain Bolt, Jonah Lomu) they'd do the 2.30 fairly easily.

Callidice

Uh.... yeah look at his bodyweight - just over 13 stone.... the guy is built like a gazelle in comparison.

as I said in my post above... when I was running at 13 stone I was at my fastest ever - there's a big difference in running times on the 800 when you're 15 stone and a huge difference when you're 16 stone regardless of your cardio fitness - believe me, I know.

I never said a 15 stoner couldn't do the 800 in 2.30... I believe I can attain it myself (and I'm nearly 40) - I said that I think 15 stone is near the upper limit size of someone who can do the 800 in that time... anyone much bigger just wouldn't be able - regardless of their relative cardio fitness - that is how the programme makers limit the physical size of the contenders without it being obvious that they want smaller contenders. They do it by knowing this, thus they are setting an upper-size limit which effectively rigs the contest in the gladiators' favour.... two of the current gladiators are 17 stone ! does anyone seriously think that they can do the 800 in 2.30?

It's no good posting examples of 13 stone runners - who's saying that someone of that weight can't go fast? But 13 stone would not give you anything like the upper body strength needed to take on 17 stone gladiators in several key events... they wouldn't see a 13 stone opponent as being 'built like a brick sh1thouse', they'd see it as being like a hobbit. Having greater strength in a contender would offset any advantage lost from lack of agility - in events like the pyramid, instead of just running round like a headless chicken, getting knackered and being tossed down the slope, a big strong (16 stone+) contender could simply wrestle, chuck the gladiator off and climb to the top unhindered.

Racing Flat

Callidice wrote: »

I said that I think 15 stone is near the upper limit size of someone who can do the 800 in that time... anyone much bigger just wouldn't be able - regardless of their relative cardio fitness

I disagree with this. Having worked with a pro rugby team, where one of the fitness tests was to run a 3k as fast as you can, the second row and flankers were 16stone plus and they could do 10.30. You can be big and fast, and even big with speed endurance if you train the right way. All I'm saying is don't let size be an excuse for not doing 800m in 2.30, it's more likely the way you train.

Callidice

Racing Flat wrote: »

I disagree with this. Having worked with a pro rugby team, where one of the fitness tests was to run a 3k as fast as you can, the second row and flankers were 16stone plus and they could do 10.30. You can be big and fast, and even big with speed endurance if you train the right way. All I'm saying is don't let size be an excuse for not doing 800m in 2.30, it's more likely the way you train.

16 stone plus, 3k in 10.30? I'm sorry but I find that very hard to believe. To attain an 'excellent' rating in fitness for the British army is anything under 10.30 minutes for the 2.4 km and that's 600 metres less.... There ain't that many 16 stone squaddies at that level I can tellya from personal experience - I've never seen a sixteen stone Royal Marine capable of that kind of middle-distance speed even though they are at a peak level of fitness.

If big guys could run that quickly then why don't we see loads of 16 stone + rugby-type contenders?

Racing Flat

Callidice wrote: »

16 stone plus, 3k in 10.30? I'm sorry but I find that very hard to believe. To attain an 'excellent' rating in fitness for the British army is anything under 10.30 minutes for the 2.4 km and that's 600 metres less.... There ain't that many 16 stone squaddies at that level I can tellya from personal experience - I've never seen a sixteen stone Royal Marine capable of that kind of middle-distance speed even though they are at a peak level of fitness.

If big guys could run that quickly then why don't we see loads of 16 stone + contenders?

The slowest on the team was 13.30, but he was 23 stone and not all muscle. Average for the forwards was 11-11.30, fair enough the 20stone front rows were more like 12.30. The backs were all well under 11 and the back row and one of the second rows 6'6" and 16stone (he did play internationally*) were around 10.30.

10.30 for 2.4k is not all that fast. It's 7 minute mile pace, or 45mins for a 10k, so doing it for only 10mins would or should be fairly easy for most people. Rating that as 'excellent' just means their standards are low. That's just jogging pace for a lot of people.


*Maybe supporting your point, he was told after his first cap that if he wanted more caps he'd have to do two things to be able to hold his own at international level as a second row, 1) get heavier to have more body strength and 2) get faster around the field. The player thought this was a bit of a contradiction and found it hard to do the two at the same time.

I think Hanley and some of the others were making the point that you don't see fast heavy fellows on the show, because they don't want the gladiators to look bad, look small or get beaten to easily. Not because they're not out there. Imagine 18/19 stone Jonah Lomu on Gladiators...

Racing Flat

Callidice wrote: »

There ain't that many 16 stone squaddies at that level I can tellya from personal experience - I've never seen a sixteen stone Royal Marine capable of that kind of middle-distance speed even though they are at a peak level of fitness.

Probably just because they don't do any middle distance speed training. I bet if they did, they could do that 800m in 2.30 within a few weeks.

BrianD3

Anyone see tonight's "The Legends Strike Back" programme on sky. Similar format to the previous new gladiators vs legends programme. If you missed it, it will probably be repeated a few times in the coming weeks.

It was not as good as the previous Legends programme and the performances of the legends were quite disappointing. Cobra was one of the legends, he is now aged 45 and has aged badly and looked to be carrying a fair amount of fat. His weight was given as 13 stone, I thought he looked a lot heavier than that. His height was given as 5 foot 10 but in the original series on ITV it was given as 6 foot. Trojan looked quite skinny, his weight was given as 13.5 stone, I think he was 15 stone in the first Legends programme and possibly 18 stone in the old ITV series.

rubadub

BrianD3 wrote: »

Cobra was one of the legends, he is now aged 45 and has aged badly and looked to be carrying a fair amount of fat. His weight was given as 13 stone, I thought he looked a lot heavier than that.

Was he the one in the skirt? he had to be more than 13stone.

BrianD3 wrote: »

Trojan looked quite skinny, his weight was given as 13.5 stone, I think he was 15 stone in the first Legends programme and possibly 18 stone in the old ITV series.

Yeah he was huge in the replays, said he weighed 100lb more back then.

The small blonde one looked well, if a bit too lean, muscles popping out everywhere, crazy abs on her.

Seems there will be loads of new gladiators in the new series, and were they saying wolf would be back in it normally?

wahlrab

i just found out a few weeks ago that my gym instructor on my course(i'm doing an itec gym instructor course) was the 1997(i think) female champion of gladiators, her name was audrey garland. That was the year of the ulrike scandal i think, anyway it was very funny/cool to find out she was the champion of that year. Also wolf was meant to be a lovely fellow

Guvnor

Hanley wrote: »

Anyone else wanna call foul and say they pick the smaller guys to put the stack in the gladiators favour?

Well the gladiators this time round are small. One of the men weighs less than 13st. If you look at the contestants on the old show some of them were fit and built weighing as much as 14st or more - some of these guys in their prime would p1ss all over the current gladiators, who are imo useless.

Compare Saracen or Hunter with the current crop - not good. Saw one of the new shows where the glads all looked hard pushed to hold onto the handles in hang tough let alone catch the contender!

The criteria for the show was mens fitness not muscle and fitness - know one or two UK bodybuilders who were turned away with the words 'too big'.

The new show is all wrong - think I saw the old glads v new ones and it looked like they would have minced them on the eliminator if Trojan did not spend so long faffing around with the cargo net - perhaps a fix - not sure.

Guvnor

I watched the first of the new series I think this AM - not sure why I bother tbh but it's fun in a give out to the TV kind of way.

A number of things stood out:

1. Oblivion seems to have gained some weight - like a stone or more?!
2. Now they seem to have opted for bigger Glads with the 20st evil 'Russian'!
3. Bigger than all of the former glads - bit of a turnaround.
4. Gallagher sprinted away from the sinking ship?
5. The contestants are as small as ever!
6. Wolf is there for purely pantomime effect - no issues here.

Overall it's getting better but still cannot compete with the previous show but I think being fair this is down to the arena size - hard to replicate the atmosphere and intensity when the events all look more compact and the crowd is so much smaller etcetera. Think Wright is doing a bang up job with the mic much better than last year.

It's one of those shows that you know is cheesy and you know it sucks a bit but you still watch it just to see if the glads get their asses handed to them!:D