Deadlift Thursday: Last Lift Before Qualifiers

warmup w/DBs & bands

Deadlifts
10 reps @ 60 kgs
8 reps @ 120
5 reps @ 170
3 reps @ 220
1 reps @ 250
1 reps @ 275
1 reps @ 285 PR

Kroc rows w/Kettle bell
left
10 reps @ 80 kgs TPR
8 reps @ 80 kgs
8 reps @ 80 kgs
right
8 reps @ 64 kgs
12 reps @ 48 kgs
12 reps @ 48 kgs

Pinwheelz
10 reps @ 22.5 kgs
10 reps @ 25 kgs
8 reps @ 27.5 kgs

THAT was the plan, and everything went right. I was using PL form, no straps, and didn't quite straighten my legs enough at the lockout with the 275... so I made damn sure I did it right with the last one. Thanks to Dan Rucci for the form advice.

No straps on the Kroc rows either, in fact. That big ass kettle bell doesn't feel so big anymore... I really need to make up a heavy dumbbell. But grip strength is important, and the thick handle on the 80 kilo kettle bell sure does help with that, when I finally start rowing it with the right arm too.

There's going to be some interesting changes to my weekly program after qualifiers, but more on that to come later. The important thing to focus on now is what I'll be doing (or actually, won't be doing) in this last week;

I have one last events session this Saturday. After that, since I haven't done any significant squats in a while due to injury, if everything feels good I will squat Monday; sub-maximal and higher reps, to just feel it out. And that will be my last session till show time, Saturday. My shoulder needs to heal and my back needs to recover as much as it can.

I jumped on the scale today, and I weighed only 125 kilos. 125 on the dot.

I've been exhausted this week; I had no idea just how racked I would be from my training and general activities over the weekend... I guess I wasn't hydrating enough, so I got a migraine and had a sleepless night last night. Today, I placated my exhaustion by basically loading up on quick energy carbs (aka junk food) as much as I could prior to training; I started with an ultimate double whopper, two snickers bars and two chocolate shakes. Then I had a doughnut before my pre-workout drink. Then I felt sick. But l got my new PR, and that's really all that matters.

One more step closer to 300.

An interesting thing to note was that I had to swap back to my old two-prong belt for the heavier sets, as I've gotten leaner since I last adjusted my new Gripped lever belt, maybe three weeks ago. By the time I remembered I had a screwdriver in my bag and could adjust the belt there, I was already pretty much on 275 so I played it safe with the old one.