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Past Training Log

 2004 WABDL World Bench Press and Deadlift Championships - Reno, Nevada

Thursday - November 4 - Bench Press

bodyweight - 273.0

More work in the F6:
135x5
225x3
275x1
315x1
shirt on . . .
405x1 3 board
455x1 2 board
475x1
500x1
515x1 NEW PR! 

Triceps fried . . . home to feed.
Thursday, October 28 - Deadlift

Bodyweight - 269.9

This was the LAST deadlift workout before Worlds and it stunk . . . IMPE was soooooooo damn hot I was soaked with sweat just from putting my suit on. You'd think somebody would just go turn on the damn airconditioners. But nooooooooooo . . . . wouldn't want to spend any money on keeping a workout facility tolerably cool.

Deadlift -
225x3
315x1
405x1
495x1
Straps up . . .
625x1 Oops . . . forgot to get the suit pulled up enough and couldn't get my fat ugly ass down to the bar. I muscled up the weight

Not wanting to end my cycle with a crappy pull I did it again with the suit pulled up right.
625x1

Rack Squats -
675x5

Rack Lockouts -
585x5

My elbows weren't bad from benching, but all it took was 5 reps of rack squats to make them writhe. I want a safety squat bar for Christmas.

This seems like a loooooooooong cycle, though it hasn't been. Maybe it's because those of us who went to Nationals went right into this cycle with no rest after.

Time to rest, eat, and prepare to dominate.
Wednesday - October 27 - Bench Press

Bodyweight - 272

Janne asked me last week to come in and bench on Wednesday, and I'm very glad that I did. I wanted to find a touch weight for my F6. I had only worked up to 425 with it previously, which of course didn't touch.

Bench Press -
135x5
225x3
275x1
315x1
Shit on . . .
405x1 no touch
425x1 no touch
455x1 no touch
475x1 Barely touched . . . shot up like a warmup
500x1 ALL Time PR
Good touch . . . shot up like a warmup . . . err . . . a peanut.

Jeff D. said I had 525 in me. Maybe next week.

I had to pinch myself. I wondered if I'd ever see 500 with my lousy shoulders and elbows.

Close-grip Bench Press -
325x4
275x8

Hammer Curls -
45x15x2

Yep, not a bad day!
Friday, October 22 - Deadlift

Bodyweight - 272

I took last week off to let my back heal. Since then, I've been visiting the chiropractor and my back is feeling much better. However, I went to bed with a fever and sore throat last night and suffered through the night with it, so I was very worried that this workout might be a waste. But, fever and all, here's what happened . . .

Deadlift -
225x2
315x1
405x1
495x1
(straps up, then . . . )
605x1
725x1 All-Time PR!!

Incredibly, 725 felt as easy as 705 two weeks ago. I'll have some serious thinking to do about my attempts.

Rack Lockouts -
585x3
585x5

No rack squats today. Home to rest and rehydrate. Deload starts next week.

275 Open and Submasters in Reno: Beware!
Tuesday - October 19 - Bench Press

Bodyweight - 272.5

Easing back into bench. It was good to lift with no pain for a change.

Bench Press -
135x5
225x5
275x3
315x5
Easy and pain-free.

Close-Grip Bench Press -
315x5

Shoulder and tricep assistance.

Cadio -
Bike x 20 min.
Thursday - October 14 - Deadlift

Bodyweight - 274.5 dressed, so about 271

Took the day off to allow my back to heal up. My weekend driving and crappy bed didn't allow my back to recover normally after last week's workout.

I'll go for a single with 720 or 725 next week. It will be my last heavy pull day before Worlds.
Tuesday - October 12 - Bench Press

Bodyweight - 272.5

I'm taking two weeks off from heavy benching to let my elbows and shoulders calm down. Did a couple sets of high reps under 200, then shoulder rehab and "light" triceps.

Helped Laramie, Alex, and Amrit with their shirts.
Thursday - October 7 - Deadlift

Bodyweight - 270 

Deadlift -
225x3
315x1
405x1
495x1
Straps up . . .

605x1

705x1

Fast - Accelerated - Smooth - Much easier than my old gym 700. 715 or 720 next week.

Stiff-leg Deadlift -
605x3 PR!! 

Busted the 600 pound cherry in stiffs!

Rack Squats -
805x3 PR!! 

Busted the 800 pound cherry in rack squats!

. . . and got a nasty abdominal cramp on the third. The third bobbled on me at the top and I had to bring it under control with core/torso strength. Thus, the cramp.

Cardio -

bike x 15
Tuesday - October 5 - Bench Press

Bodyweight - 268.5

This was a piss poor bench workout . . . other than seeing my new guys improving. I find that as I begin to head toward a peak in deadlift my shoulders and elbows start to feel beat up. I think I'm going to take a couple weeks off from heavy benching and work on more shoulder stability and recovery.

The F6 is good. I needed a shirt that will help me transition up in the mid-400s and condition my elbows to handle the heavy weight. Worked up to 425 with the F6 and didn't touch . . . probably needs 445~455 to touch. The Phenom would probably need 475+ at this bodyweight.

So . . . no heavy benching for a couple weeks. Time to rest, recover, and strengthen some weakness
Thursday - September 30 - Deadlift

Bodyweight - 268.3

Deadlift -
225x2
315x1
405x1
495x1
Straps up, then . . .
585x1
685x1

585 was awkward; 685 felt easier. I think that first straps up set is good for me. The suit gets set in the hips and I get better focused on setup.

Stiff-leg Deadlift -
595x3 PR! 

Rack Lockouts -
705x2

These kicked my ass . . . I think the stiff legs must pre-exhaust my traps for lockout. Or maybe I'm just a worthless mound of flesh.

Rack Squats -
785x3

These were to easy . . . 805 next week.

Cardio -
bike x 20
Tuesday - September 28 - Bench Press

Bodyweight - 268.5

Dang! This new Purina Whey Protein really works. And they say it's good for feeder cattle, too.

This was a light bench day as I'll start working in the Fury next week. My elbows and shoulders feel a little less banged up this week.

Bench Press -
135x5
225x3
275x2
315x1

Close-grip Bench Press -
325x4 (almost 5)
275x8

Lateral Raises, Inverted Lateral Raises, Front Raises -
15x15x2

Hammer Curls -
25x15x2

Tricep Pressdowns -
stack x 15x2

Cardio . . . yes, Cardio:
Bike x 20min.
Thursday - September 23 - Deadlift

Bodyweight - holding steady at 266.5

Deadlift -
225x2
315x1
405x1
495x1
Straps up for . . .
670x1

This flew off the floor, but the lockout slowed noticeably and felt awkward. This is a problem of setting up in the new suit. I need to execute the set up perfectly . . . no margin for error. Also, I need to hit a "1st Attempt" single about 100 pounds under my target weight. I did this last cycle with much success. My first straps up set would feel uncomfortable but light, then my target set was cake. This is what I will get back to.

I'm unsure of the ninja shoes. I suspect they have a bit more heel than I thought. Back to slippers.

Stiff-leg Deadlift -
585x3 PR 

3rd rep gave me bloodshot eyes. I'll do 600+ before Worlds.

Rack Squats -
775x3

. . . and then I collapsed, a useless, quivering mound of sweaty lipid tissue. You do rack squats, be ready: they bring an ass whoopin' with 'em.

On a positive note, this was a "clean" set. Any rep of rack squats with that kind of weight during which you don't shit yourself is a victory in and of itself.

Rack Lockouts -
700x1 . . . barely. I sat my kicked ass down and rested, and then . . .
675x2

I need to do these before rack squats. Rack squats are moving up nicely, but these need work. They'll get moved up in the workout.

Blake is becoming an outstanding training partner on deadlift days, and that's saying alot since I've had many training partners over the years.
Tuesday - September 21 - Bench Press

Bodyweight - 266.5

Bench -
135x5
225x2
275x1
315x1
365x1
Sore elbows still from rack squats.

Close-grip Bench Press -
325x4
275x5

Assistance -
Lateral Raises, Inverted Lateral Raises, Front Raises, Bent Laterals, Hammer Curls, Tricep Pressdowns

Cardio - Bike
20 minutes
Thursday - September 16 - Deadlift

Bodyweight - 267.5

Deadlift -
225x2
315x1
405x1
495x1
655x1
This was in my new Max DL. Same size as the old one . . . 37 . . . but with standard straps. My old one has 3 inches added to the straps. This suit is MUCH tighter. Once I learn to breathe in it and get down to the bar, it'll work well for me.

Stiff-leg Deadlift -
575x4 PR! 
The 4th rep was balls to the wall. Thanks to Blake for yelling for me to get the lockout. That made the difference.

Rack Squats -
765x3

Not enough time to get lockouts this week. I'll do a double set next week.

Nice group from my squad in the room today: Harry, Amrit, Rose, Alex. But a few missing. Where's Quoc? 
Tuesday - September 14 - Bench Press

Bodyweight: 267.4

Bench Press -
135x5
225x2
275x1
315x1
350x1
385x1
Nice and smooth. This is the same weight that separated my shoulder last October, so it's very good to nail it and get it behind me.

Close-grip Bench -
325x1.5
Alex saved me . . . I mildly tweaked something in my deltoid.
225x2
Still tweaked, so I'll make next week a down week and do more rehab.

Skullcrushers, pressdowns, shoulder rehab.

Cardio -
Bike x 20min

Alex, Laramie, Amrit and Ken were there today.
Thursday, September 9 - Deadlift

Bodyweight - 264.5

Deadlift -
135x2
225x1
315x1
405x1
495x1
640x1
Not bad considering my back was a little sore from sleeping the wrong way. I also need to use less energy coaching leading up to my target set.

Stiff-Leg Deadlift -
565x4 PR 

Rack Lockouts -
655x3

Rack Squats -
755x3 PR 

LOTS of people in today . . . we'll have some excellent deadlifters in the future.
Tuesday, September 7 - Bench Press

bodyweight - 264

More progress with Harry, Alex, Ken, Rosemary. Also Laramie and Amrit were there, and Hai Nguyen and Brent Dreger showed up later.

Bench Press -
135x5
225x2
275x1
315x1
355x4
375x1
My tricep training is working. The bar accelerated through the lift.

Close-Grip Bench Press -
325x4
295x5

Shoulder Stuff -
Lateral Raises, Inverted Lateral Raises, Front Raises,
Hammer Curls

Tricep Pressdowns -
2 set of lots of reps with the stack
Thursday - Deadlift

Bodyweight - 264.5

Good workout . . . some new guys pulled well. The Vietnam boys were there getting ready to shock people in Reno. Alex has his Max DL now and 400+ is just around the corner for him. Harry Tsang is coming along . . . he'll be a good deadlifter.

Deadlift -
225x1
315x1
405x1
495x1
625x1 Forgot to set my suit right . . . it was tiiiiiiiiiiight

Stiff-Leg Deadlift -
545x4 Picking up (no pun intended) where I left off last cycle.

Rack Lockouts -
635x3

Rack Squats -
745x3
745x3

Cardio . . . yes Cardio
Biked for 10 minutes then rushed home to watch some football.
Tuesday, August 31 - Heavy Bench

Bodyweight - 265.5

Good workout with Alex, Harry Tsang, Quoc, and Hung.

Bench Press -
135x5
225x3
275x2
315x1
345x5
365x1
Certainly could have doubled this; possibly tripled it, but the avuncular one knows better than to take risks with crappy shoulders. And no elbow pain . . . very good.

THE RACE FOR A RAW 400 HAS BEEN JOINED! 
BEWARE JANNE, YURI, and JEFF . . .

Close-Grip Bench Press -
315x5
275x5

Rotator Stuff -
Lateral Raises, Front Raises, Inverted Lateral Raises
Hammer Curls

Tricep Pressdowns
3 sets with unGodly weight

© Copyright 2006 John H. Hudson.  All Rights Reserved.