# @elitefts on Instagram - **Type:** Video - **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DblTjv-Rr5- - **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68568618-elitefts-instagram - **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/b986558aaa.jpg - **Posted:** 2026-08-03T15:26:28.000+00:00 - **Account Owner:** elitefts (@eliteftsofficial) — https://gondola.cc/eliteftsofficial ## Caption Live Today on episode #434 of Dave Tate’s Table Talk, Dave is joined by Mark Valenti. Mark Valenti is a strength lifter from Vermilion, Ohio, and the owner of Blind Dog Gym, built on one idea: strength has a greater purpose. He spent roughly eighteen years as a professional Highland Games heavy-events competitor athlete a national qualifier, a former world-record holder in the 25-pound sheaf toss, and a member of the 2008 World Team Champions. He competed in the Masters Strongman and, in 2016, lifted Iceland’s legendary Húsafell Stone. He learned the conjugate method directly in Louie Simmons’ Westside Barbell, the same room that shaped Dave, and was mentored by Highland and hammer legend Jud Logan. In his second act, Mark became a kettlebell master: a StrongFirst Certified Elite Instructor and Team Leader, and an NSCA TSAC-F, who chased down the 48 kg Beast Tamer Challenge after it humbled him at his first certification. He writes for StrongFirst, hosts The Refined Savage podcast, and teaches workshops out of his gym. At fifty, he hit a three-times-bodyweight deadlift in both stances and a 56 kg bent press, proof of his belief that you can train hard for life if you train smart. In this episode , Dave and Mark trade Westside stories, dig into conjugate training for throwers, and get into the question nobody asks: who a strength athlete becomes when the competition ends. Watch the full episode on the elitefts YouTube eliteftsofficial If you want to watch the newest episodes EARLY and ADD FREE Join MEMBERS ONLY: https://www.elitefts.com/join-the-crew ## Stats - **Views:** 783 - **Likes:** 103 - **Shares:** 0 - **Comments:** 4 ## Tags 434 --- Copyright (c) Gondola