Past Training Log
WABDL World Bench Press and Deadlift Championships - Anaheim, California - November 15-20, 2007
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WABDL Worlds Meet Report I really had no idea how I would perform at this meet. I thought there might be a possibility of pulling 700+, but I also knew that I could totally suck. The last twelve months, after all, have been tough on my lifting, with serious hospitalizations in September of 2006 and April of this year, my dissertation defense and deposit, along with my move to Houston in August. Talk about training disruptions! As a result, my training was rushed. I felt that I was still working on early cycle technique issues near the end of the cycle. However, I came away from the meet quite pleased with my performance, if not with my finish. I was lifting in the Superheavyweight class of the Open and Master 40-46 divisions. This was dumb, since my weight had actually been consistently around 305; I actually had to pound two thirty-two-ounce bottles of Gatorade just to get heavy enough for SHW. I weighted in at 309.4. Had I gone 308s, I would have won the Master 40-46 Division. Unfortunately, I missed the deadline for changing weight classes. I was fortunate to have my old coach, Ron L'Hullier of Grand Rapids, Michigan, there watching my warmups. He's the man who got me into the sport in 1985 in our Petoskey/Charlevoix days. Ron noticed that my shins were pushing the bar forward on the left side; I adjusted my setup about two inches further behind the bar and problem solved. He has a great eye for technical issues on lifts. I opened with 606.2 as a final warmup and just to get on the board . . . an easy lift. I went 655.7 on second attempt, tying the Texas Open Record and setting a Texas Master 40-46 Record. This was also quite easy. I called for 683.2 on third, which would put me within thirty-three pounds of the World Record if I wanted to take a fourth. However, I had my eyes on big Eric Welch of Nevada, who was taking 683 on his second. (This guy really is big . . . REALLY big. He's about 6'8" and must weigh in the neighborhood of 330 or 340.) I figured if he struggled with 683, I'd try to go for the win by tying and beating him on bodyweight. If he got the lift easily, I'd lower my third attempt some and go for second place. Well, he handled 683 very strongly (and would finish the day with 694.2). So I asked Ron to lower my attempt to 672.2. This would put me in second, ahead of two other guys who posted second attempts in the 660s. The weight came up strong and easy and form was perfect. Head judge Jody Woods held me at lockout for a couple extra seconds before giving me the down signal . . . and then the side judges gave me two reds. They said I had my shoulders too far forward. In pictures and in video, the lift looked like any other successful WABDL pull I've made . . . though admittedly I take the "lifter must be standing erect" language of the rule seriously; stand erect is all I do. I don't kick my shoulders back. Well, this time it came back to bite me you know where. My good friend "Iron" Mike Scott was at the scorers table and he said that I indeed hadn't locked out the weight, and his judgment is plenty good enough for me. Disappointing, as I ended up with two fourths, one in Open and one in Master 40-46. |
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Friday, November 2 - Final Deadlift Workout for Worlds BWT - 304.7 This was the goofiest final workout of my career. I've been having trouble getting to the bar and setting my grip, so I've been trying new things. I've been battling either a bad cold or a flu this week. Felt like total shit last night, but felt better as today wore on, so I risked working out in spite of not being at my best. Deadlift - The following sets were all done with no belt and with a hook grip. 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x1 600x1 I like pulling with no belt. I honestly don't notice any harm done to my form, and I do have an easier time getting to the bar. The hook grip works, but with heavier weights the pain distracts somewhat and I think reduces my pop off the floor as a result of the distraction. Next set was with a hook grip and belt. I allowed myself to be persuaded to try tightening the belt one notch. Mistake. There's a good reason why I wear the belt loose. 655x0 As I neared the top of the lift, I began to pass out due to the belt. Fortunately, I realized what was happening and let go of the bar, probably avoiding getting hurled into a wall as a result. Even after letting go, I almost couldn't stay on my feet. DUMB DUMB DUMB. Next set was with loose belt and regular grip, but no wrist straps. 655x1 I didn't lock it out all the way. Just short of lockout I went numb from ass to heels . . . VERY WEIRD. But the pull was so easy I'm counting it. 685x0 Popped up nice, but it got in front of me, so I let it go. All this trouble is a result of pulling above my ideal weight and rushing through an abbreviated cycle. I haven't had a good, long, healthy cycle since 2004. It's always been something: surgery, illness, injury, bleed, moving, and bleed. I'm really getting tired of it. In 2004, I figured on nearing 800 by now, and I have yet to hit 700 in this cycle. I'll have no choice but go ultra-conservative at the meet to try to get as high a placing as possible for Team Texas. If I can afford a shot at a 705, I'll take it. But if I go for the WR (711 + chips), it'll have to be a fourth attempt. A big problem in a rushed, abbreviated cycle like this is that I have serious technique and execution problems so close to the meet. In a 16-week cycle, I would have ironed these out in the first 8 weeks. Another issue: following my first hospitalization for intestinal bleeding, I wasn't up to pulling an easy 675 until 7 months later, and of course I wound up in the hospital AGAIN a week after that. This week is still within 6 months of my last hospitalization, though Worlds will be just within 7 months out. Rack Squat - 495x1 585x1 675x1 This pins were set one hole too low. I didn't notice
until 585 and then was too tired to change everything. I was to have
gone for 765 today, but no dice at such a low pin setting. |
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Thursday, October 25 - Deadlift Day BWT - 307.1 This was a light day as I've been feeling very beaten up this week. Not very much sleep, either. I skipped benching again to let my shoulders continue to heal. My left shoulder is feeling pretty good. I played around with a couple different suits and tried a semi-sumo stance that will probably work very well for me with some months of practice should I decide to pursue it after Worlds. It was fun to try something different. Deadlift in MaxDL 52, Semi-Sumo 225x2 315x1 405x1 495x1 Switched to Titan . . . 495x1 585x1 This is a sumo PR for me. Usually sumo bothers my hips, but not this version. 655x0 Need to practice the form for awhile before trying this again. Conventional stance . . . 585x1 The Titan suit really sucks. Two workouts left. If all goes well, 695 and 715. Thanks very much to Mr. Brian Kline, multi-time World Champion and WR holder, for coaching me on the new stance. |
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Friday, October 19 - Deadlift Day BWT - 307.4 Deadlift - Used the kilo set today, so the weights are an approximation. 225x3 315x1 405x1 500x1 600x1 getting faster 695x0 Screwed up the setup. I was too close to the bar, so when I went down my left shin pushed the bar forward. This caused my hand to shift on the bar; worse, I started to pull with the bar in front of me. Result: no pop, no lift. I should have noted the push with the shin, stood up, moved my feet back, and reset. This is an example of how I'm a decent coach, but don't always follow my own advice. I need a Ryan Harth or Laramie McMasters getting after me about these little details that can make or break a big lift. I've asked my training partners to feel free to more actively coach me when they see a mistake. These lifters, by the way, are Tiny Meeker, Brian Kline, Craig, Blake, and Courtney Gathright: a fun, very supportive bunch to train with. Blake has a Lance Moore-kind of sense of humor, which is fun. Rack Squats - 495x1 585x1 675x1 725x1 I'll repeat the 695 next week, and take one more heavy week before Worlds. Not much choice about that, since the cycle began late and I'm running out of time. I'd like to pull a 715 before Anaheim. I may try some pulls without the belt next week. The belt only adds to my difficulties in getting down to the bar, and I'm not sure it helps the lift itself considering how high I wear it. |
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Friday, October 19 - Supplemental I conducted a bench-press seminar today at the UHD Student Life Center. There were about 15 guys in attendance and we signed up more than 10 for the UHD Gator Powerlifting Team. There are others who've committed to the team who were unable to attend the seminar. I used a tape measure to demonstrate how much distance can be cut off the bench stroke with a proper setup and arch. Using typical bench setup, my stroke is 15 inches; with my competition setup, my stroke is 10.5 inches. A Bonus: the seminar counts toward the service portion of my tenure. |
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Tuesday, October 16 - Bench Press Day BWT - 305.2 Shoulder is still bothering me, so another week of P/Rehab only. Sometimes I think it's unfair that my shoulders are so lousy as to prevent me from pursuing a higher RAW bench . . . . . . but then I realize that I get nearly 300 pounds out of the shirt, which probably seems unfair to guys who struggle with the shirt. See? Everything has a way of balancing out. |
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Friday, October 12 - Deadlift Day at Tiny Meeker's Power Station BWT - 306.7 Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x1 585x1 675x1* *This pull receives an asterisk because my left-hand grip slipped at lockout and I dropped the weight. Tiny let me try a nitrous-oxide product which got me a tad wound up. Aggressiveness is good to a point, but in my energized state I messed up my set up. My left hand, which normally swings in from behind and under the bar to set a deep grip, came down on top of the bar, with the back of my hand hitting the bar. I adjusted on the fly, but didn't sink in the grip deeply enough. The weight came up nicely, with the best speed I've hit since my comeback. I knew I was going to lose my grip, so I was racing to get to lockout. Sure enough, just as I started to rotate my head down for lockout, I dropped the bar. Dang! I'm counting this pull, though, since it was an execution issue, not a strength issue, a judgment unanimously shared by all who watched the pull. Next week I'll go on to 685 or 695. In the meantime, I'll be doing extra grip work just in case. Rack Lockouts - |
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Tuesday, October 16 - Bench Press Day My shoulders felt pretty good after last weeks 385. After rack squats on Friday, though, my left rotator started to ache. I started modalities right away: ice, electro-stim, stretching. By Sunday night, it was hurting enough at night to keep me awake. More ice, more stim, more stretching. Monday night the irritation was down enough that it didn't wake me up at night. |
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Friday, October 5 - Deadlift Day at Tiny Meeker's Power Station BWT - 304.8 Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x1 585x1 655x1 Decent off the floor; lockout was slow, but smooth. On to 675 next week. Rack Squat - 405x1 495x1 585x1 675x1 I'll bump this up to 725 next week if the rack is free. Abs . . . Tiny did some sumo pulls, working up to 495 with no belt. I've dropped stiff-leg deadlift for the remainder of this cycle. It seemed like I was having trouble recovering from them this time around. I'm taking a risk by dropping them, but I think the benefit in terms of better recovery will outweigh the risk. Congratulations to Finland! They have overtaken the United Kingdom on my webpage tracker, moving into second place among all countries visiting my website with 6.82% of traffic. U.S. traffic accounts for 80.81% of traffic. Finns are cool! |
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Tuesday, October 2 - Bench Press Day BWT - 303.0 Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x2 350x1 385x1 315x8 Forgot my regular shoes today and had to wear deadlift slippers. Left foot slipped a bit with 385, causing the groove to be weird. An easy enough press, though. Shoulders are still holding up. Close-Grip Bench Press - 335x3 Heavy Tricep Pressdowns . . . Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Abs . . . |
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Friday, September 28 - Deadlift Day at Tiny's Gym BWT - 306.5 Holy Cow! I'm getting big as Texas! Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x1 575x1 635x1 Much faster, smoother and stronger than 605 two weeks ago. Rack Lockouts - 495x1 585x1 635x1 Shrugs - 495x20 495x15 Abs . . . Huge weights were being moved at the gym. Should be a great show at Worlds. Feels like I'm getting my good training rhythm back. The goal for next week is a good 655 pull. |
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Tuesday, September 25 - Bench Press Day BWT - 301.0 MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x2 345x1 375x1 Easy, and shoulders are holding up well. 315x8 Close-Grip Bench Press - 325x5 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Abs . . . Trained with a strong junior lifter today who lifted in the Texas High School Powerlifting Association. He heard about me and came to improve his bench. I'm enjoying working with the lifters here. It's "Yes, Sir," "No, Sir," "Thank you, Sir/Dr. Hudson." Very polite and respectful. They also defer to experience and hard-earned practical knowledge. I have yet to have a snot-nosed, internet-educated (as opposed to platform- and training-educated) novice lifter try to tell me why my methods are all wrong. Very, very refreshing. Have you ever read the log of a novice lifter who seems to be complaining about a potential training problem with which you are very familiar? Have you ever taken the time to post some advice for the novice lifter in such a case? And then has your advice gone utterly unacknowledged? Just a recent, though minor, example of the phenomenon of snot-nosed, internet-educated novice lifters. |
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Thursday, September 20 - Sort of a Deadlift Day BWT - 298.5 Today I am 42. After my workout, I felt 52. I leave for Seattle early tomorrow morning, and there's too much stuff to get done before I leave to drive up to Humble to pull at Tiny's gym. So I did what I could at the campus facility. Stiff-Leg Deadlift - They still don't allow deads, so I did negatives and set the bar down very gently. This makes the heavy weights very interesting. 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x1 The negative on my top set REALLY smoked my erectors. I still can't stand up straight. Rack Squat - 495x1 (I did one with the pins set too low; cramped my right quad pretty badly. Did the rest at my usual pin setting . . . wasn't paying attention I guess.) 585x1 635x1 The bar started to bend a bit. No matter. With the silly hex plate, 675 is the max that these bars can be loaded to. I have five weeks of training after this. If my I don't hit my targets strong over the next two weeks in deads, I may switch gears and plan on benching at Worlds. It took about six months for me to get my strength back in deads after my 2006 bleed. Late October will be six months after my April 2007 bleed. If I'm not ready, I'm not ready. Had a good talk with the assistant director. They're excited about putting on a Houston Area Collegiate Meet next semester. I'm going to get it sanctioned by WABDL but try to keep it closed to collegiate lifters. We will form a temporary Houston Area Collegiate Powerlifting Association in order to maintain records until I can convince Gus to keep collegiate records in WABDL. If I can't convince him, maybe we'll keep the association just for the purposes of maintaining collegiate records, but sanction the meets through WABDL. |
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Tuesday, September 18 - Bench Press Day BWT - 298.5 Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x3 275x1 315x2 340x1 365x1 Very easy . . . felt like I could do three. 315x8 All-time rep PR! |
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Friday, September 14 - Deadlift Day BWT - 296.2 Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x1 605x1 Stiff-Leg Deadlift off a 3-inch Box (OUCH!) - 405x4 405x4 Glute/Ham Machine (OUCH) - bodyweight X 10 bodyweight + band X 8 Abs . . . The drive home takes
30 minutes. When I arrived, I had a good deal of trouble getting out
of my car. It was wonderful! |
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Tuesday, September 11 - Bench Press Day 9/11: Never forget. Living free and proud is the best revenge . . . but cleansing the planet of each and every Al Qaeda member is an awfully close second. BWT - 298.5 Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x2 350x1 Shoulders feel pretty good. 315x7 Matches my all-time rep PR with 315. Close-grip Bench Press - 315x5 275x6 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Abs . . . Cardio - Bike X 20mn. Did some more recruiting (no, Lance, not THAT kind of recruiting). I'm getting a core of five or so benchers who are interested in starting a club. |
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Saturday, September 8 - Deadlift Day BWT - Immodium + Dai's Cooking = 298.2 Light deadlift as my back was still sore from moving heavy boxes.
315x1 |
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Friday, August 31 - Deadlift Day BWT - No Clue My first workout at Tiny Meeker's Power Station. Great facility! Excellent competition bar. Strong master pullers to push me. This is what I've been needing for a long time. Deadlift - 225x5 315x1 405x1 495x1 585x1 Not bad. Still slow, but it'll come along. I was able to fit into my MaxDL size 38 for the first time in well over a year. Stiff-Leg Deadlift - 315x5 405x5 495x1 Glute/Ham Machine . . . Abs . . . Kind of pressed for time. It's a 20 mile drive up from work to Tiny's, then a 30 mile drive home. But well worth the time and gas. |
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Tuesday, August 28 - Bench Press Day BWT - 292.5 Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x6 345x1 Close-Grip Bench Press - 275x10 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Abs . . . Cardio - Bike X 20mn. |
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Thursday, August 23 -
Deadlift Day
BWT - 294.0 Since the UHD facility doesn't allow deadlifting . . . yet . . . I did some light rack squats and some back work. Rack Squats - 315x5 |
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Tuesday, August 21 -
First Workout at UHD BWT - 294.5 I've taken two weeks off: one week due to the move and another week due to a severe chest cold that set in during my trip down from Illinois. The drive was uneventful; the unloading was miserable. I left Champaign the night of Monday, August 6, but only made it down to Benton, Illinois, where I spent the night. I knew I wouldn't get far on the first night, but I needed to get the goodbyes over with and get on the road. Each goodbye got harder and harder; by the time I headed out of town I was pretty depressed. On Tuesday the 7th I made it all the way to a small town about 50 miles north of Houston where I spent the night. The morning of the 8th I arrived in Houston, signed my lease, unhooked my car and then drove up to the airport to pick up my stepfather who flew in to help me unload. The temperature was 105 by mid-afternoon, so we only managed about three hours of work before we gave up. The next day was just as hot, but we found a young guy in the neighborhood who wanted to earn some money and with his help we were able to finish unloading and return the truck. I was totally exhausted . . . totally. I was still wiped out on the 9th, but had to go to the UHD campus for new faculty orientation. The unloading, by the way, was supposed to be different. I was supposed to have some local help, but it never materialized. UHD has a small but useable facility where I can at least train bench and my non-pulling deadlift days (they don't allow deadlifts as the weights are on the second floor). I've met with the Director of the facility and they've put me in charge of running a bench meet that they have every semester. We're also working on a couple of workshops/seminars on bench training and technique, and we'll be looking to get some students to start a powerlifting club. The Director would also like to set up a Houston-area collegiate meet especially for the many small colleges and universities in the area, for which I'll look into getting a WABDL sanction. There's also a police academy affiliated with the criminal justice program on campus, and they are interested in getting their people involved. I'll work on making deadlifts happen, which may simply mean finding some unused square footage on a ground floor on campus in which to set up a platform. Thus . . . so far so
good as far as starting up a new team. Gator Powerlifting.
Coming to a meet near you. Close-grip Bench Press - 225x10 Heavy tricep pressdowns . . . Shoulder P/Rehab . . . |
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Friday, August 3 - Final Deadlift Workout at UIUC BWT - 299.1 Actually this wasn't much of a workout. I got pretty dehydrated on Thursday at some events I had to attend in the heat, then didn't quite get rehydrated today. Didn't have much energy, but moved my deadlift forward in spite. Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x1 625x1 Slow lockout, but got it. This is a post-bleed PR. Stiff-Leg Deadlift - 535x0 My hams were cramping before I even started pulling. I thought I'd try one pull, but the weight got only an inch or so off the floor before my hams REALLY started to hurt. Called it a day. Next workout will be in Houston the week of August 13. I should get plenty of workout unloading my truck once I get down there. |
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Tuesday, July 31 - Bench Press Day BWT - 299.6 Lots of handoffs for Roger, including several over 700 including two at 765. Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x6 345x2 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Cardio . . . Bike X 20mn. Abs . . . |
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Thursday, July 26 - Deadlift Day BWT - 301.1 My training partner again failed to show without notice. This is something that really bugs me: if you train with me, BE THERE. If you can't be there for some reason, GIVE ME NOTICE. If you can't do these things, DON'T TRAIN WITH ME. You're wasting my time and that pisses me off. Rack Squat - 405x1 495x1 585x1 675x1 725x1 Static Hold w/Trap Bar - 495x20sec. Not very good, but I'd never tried this before, and two of our budding strongmen were kind enough to let me give it a whirl. The weight was no problem, but at 20 seconds my hands were burning. I may incorporate a version of this regularly to condition my hands and help my grip. Pause Squats - 135x5 Leg Press - Sled+8x6 Sled+10x6 Abs . . . |
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Tuesday, July 24 - Bench Press Day BWT - 301.2 Roger Ryan joined us again to put on an exhibition of scary bench strength. Randy Biggiam was also with us and set a nice PR in the bench with 550 after having been out of the shirt for 10 months. As my focus in my Worlds prep is the 308 Master 40-46 World Record in deadlift, I will not be benching in the shirt for awhile. I need to save energy and recovery ability for the deadlift. Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x6 335x3 Close-Grip Bench Press - 315x4 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Abs . . . |
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Thursday, July 19 - Deadlift Day BWT - 300.0 Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 500x1 600x1 600 was smooth and easy, but still not my usual speed. It was a bit improvement over my tough 585 a few weeks ago, though. Also a post-bleed PR. Stiff-Leg Deadlift - 515x3 Rack Lockout - 585x1 635x1 Shrugs - 585x10 495x15 Abs . . . |
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Tuesday, July 17 - Bench Press Day BWT - 302.4 Dai is here for four days . . . his cooking is just too good. Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x1 3-Boards - 405x3 500x3 585x1 655x2 2nd wasn't quite locked on the right side (the side I tweaked two weeks ago), but I held it solid at the top. Shoulder is better, but still not 100%. Should be back to normal next week. Shoulder P/rehab . . . Abs . . . |
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Thursday, July 12 - Deadlift Day BWT - 298.7 Rack Squats - 315x3 405x1 495x1 585x1 675x1 700x1 Pause Squats - incredibly light for one set Cardio - Bike X 20mn. Abs . . . |
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Tuesday, July 10 - Bench Press Day BWT - 298.6 My right rotator cuff was seriously tweaked after last weeks workout. Lots of pain, especially at night, up until two nights ago. It's healing up, but I want to get more rest, so this week was just shoulder p/rehab and coaching. Full Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Cardio - Bike X 20mn Abs . . . |
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Friday, July 6 - Deadlift Day BWT - no clue On the road for this workout. I was in Houston on the 4th and 5th looking for apartments, and on the 6th was on my way up to my hometown--Petoskey, Michigan. Stopped at Beckwith's Gym in Grand Rapids, Michigan to train with my good friend and first-ever lifting coach Ron L'Huillier and superstar master lifter Ron Ringewold. Beckwith's is a great powerlifting gym with terrific equipment and an excellent deadlift platform, which is of course the sine quo non of a genuine power gym. The traveling took its toll, however, and I didn't feel up to a full deadlift workout after five hours driving. So I did some stiffs. Stiff-Leg Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x3 Heavy Shrugs - 315x15 405x15 495x10 Enjoyed watching Ron L pull 570 and Ron R pull a nice 480 . . . at a 71-years-young 181! |
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Tuesday, July 3 - Bench Press Day BWT - 299.4 Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x1 3-Boards - 405x3 500x3 645x2 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Cardio - Bike X 20mn. Abs . . . |
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Friday, June 29 - Deadlift Day BWT - 299.5 Took immodium this morning, so I'm full of crap. Rack Squat - 405x2 495x1 585x1 635x1 655x1 Cardio - Bike X 20mn. Abs . . . |
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Thursday, June 28 Taking the day off due to cold symptoms. BWT - 296.5 So I get an anonymous email from an address I don't recognize accusing me of being a fake because I've benched near 700 and "won't own up to taking 'roids." Pathetic. Weird. Ignorant. . . . yet somehow flattering. |
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Tuesday, June 26 - Bench Press Day BWT - 299.5 This follows one week of Dai's cooking. Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x1 3-Boards - 405x3 500x3 625x2 Fast and strong . . . Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Cardio . . . Elliptical X 15mn. Abs . . . |
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Thursday, June 21 - Deadlift Day BWT - 295.6 Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 495x1 585x1 585 was slow at lockout, quite typical for the first time at 585 during recovery. Once the rack squats get up over 600 my speed will come back. Rack Lockout - 405x1 495x1 585x1 Cardio - Elliptical X 20mn. Abs . . . Had four FNGs today. I enjoy introducing new lifters to the sport, but it makes it hard to get my own workout in. |
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Tuesday, June 19 - Bench Press Day BWT - 295.8 Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x1 3-boards - 405x3 500x3 600x3 Close-Grip Bench Press - 295x3 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Abs . . . Cardio - Elliptical X 20mn. Had a whole litter of FNGs today . . . something like seven of them, including a junior from Taiwan who tips the scales at a record-whoring 102.5. |
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Friday, June 15 - Deadlift Day BWT - 296.1 Deadlift - 225x3 315x1 405x1 Straps up . . . 500x1 Stiff-Leg Deadlift - 475x3 Dave said one of the basketball camp munchkins was videotaping this set. Rack Squats - 495x1 585x1 Worked with two FNGs today: FNG #1 - 148 submaster from Korea FNG #2 - 220 junior from Taiwan #2 is a natural sumo puller and VERY strong. I'll try to get them to lift at Lansing. |
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Tuesday, June 12 - Bench Press Day BWT - 296.0 The result of two graduation parties and a birthday party--all dinner parties--over the weekend. Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x1 Shirt on . . . 3-boards . . . 405x3 500x3 565x2 Finally, a decent workout. Close-Grip Bench Press - 245x5 275x5 Shoulders are still very tight from recent raw benching. Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Cardio - Elliptical X 20mn. Abs . . . |
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Tuesday, June 5 - Bench Press Day BWT - 291.4 This workout sucked and was frustrating. My weight loss has taken a bite out of my high end strength and I haven't yet made the adjustment to the lower weight. My stamina is also still off. On the other hand, this was my first time in a shirt . . . a loose 54 F6 . . . since getting out of the hospital. Patience . . . Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x1 Shirt on . . . 3-Boards - 405x3 495x2 Missed a third when I messed up my breathing and lost my arch. Shoulder P/rehab . . . Cardio - Elliptical X 20mn. Abs . . . |
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Friday, June 1 - Deadlift Day BWT - 292.1 Stiff-Leg Deadlift - 225x5 315x1 405x1 455x3 475x1 My strength is coming back, but I get winded very quickly. The most likely explanation for my poor endurance is that I haven't yet adjusted to my loss of bodyweight. Rack Squats - 405x5 405x5 Cardio - Elliptical X 15 Abs . . . |
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Wednesday, May 30 - Bench Press Day BWT - 290.1 Still very run down from the weekend trip, so the workout wasn't the best. Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x4 345x1 Close-Grip Bench Press - 275x7 Cardio - Bike X 20mn. |
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Thursday, May 24 - Deadlift Day BWT - 293.4 Still taking it slow on deadlift recovery. Stiff-Leg Deadlift - 225x5 315x1 405x4 Heavy Pulldowns - lotta sets, lotta weight Rack Lockouts - 315x5 315x5 Bike X 20mn. Abs . . . |
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Tuesday, May 22 - Bench Press Day BWT - 293.9 Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x5 335x1 Could have done more but I promised Harry C. that I'd take this recovery slowly. Close-Grip Bench Press - 315x3 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Bike X 20mn. Abs . . . Recovery seems to be going well, in spite of being very tired today. |
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Thursday, May 17 - Deadlift Day BWT - 293.7 First deadlift workout since getting out of the hospital . . . three weeks off. Stiff-leg Deadlift - 135x5 225x5 315x5 405x1 All easy. I went more conservative than in bench. Wouldn't want to spring another leak. Rack Squat - 315x5 315x5 Heavy Lat Pulldowns . . . Bike X 20mn. Abs . . . |
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Tuesday, May 15 - Bench Press Day BWT - 292.1 Bench Press - 135x10 185x5 225x5 275x1 315x4 I felt much stronger than I expected to feel for the first workout after the bleed, though I got winded very quickly on the target set. Close-grip Bench Press - 295x5 Shoulder P/Rehab . . . Bike x 15 mn. Abs . . . |
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Thursday, May 10 - Update BWT - 293.4 I was cleared to do cardio for the first time since getting out of the hospital, so I did a mere 10 minutes on the bike. It doesn't sound like much, but it left me very winded. I still have a ways to go to build up my hemoglobin to where it was at before my recent bleed. Gus has given me a
medical waiver so that I won't need to qualify for Worlds this year.
I planned on qualifying at Minneapolis before the bleed. It's
possible, though unlikely, that I may be ready for action at the Lansing
meet in July or the Maine meet in early August. However, it took
about three months after my last bleed to get my strength anywhere near
back to normal. Also, those meets are very close to my move to
Houston and I need to conserve money for the move. |
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