Still On The Right Side Of The Grass

[codgerus maximus]

Welcome back, Chas!

I watched most of your lifts live on youtube. (I missed seeing your squats because I was tied up in a zoom interview.) First of all, considering everything you've been through, I think you did an amazing job. Had I been in your shoes there's no way I would have made it to a national competition--or any sort of competition. Your performance was inspiring. I had been on the fence about an upcoming state championship meet in New Mexico but after watching you on Tuesday I renewed my USAPL membership and will be signing up for the meet as soon as I finish writing this post.

Watching on youtube I was unaware of all the judges' snafus. That would have rattled anyone--especially waiting with a loaded bar on your shoulders...

And I had no idea what you were going through on that last deadlift. When you stepped onto the platform for your first deadlift attempt, the youtube announcer said something like "This guy is built for deadlifting." Not the performance you were hoping for but still you're a national-caliber master's lifter. There's no doubt about that. And I know you'll be competing again. (I assume you'll be jumping right back into training!) I know I'm looking forward to joining you on the platform sometime in 2022! (Though, as Anne tells me, I'll be in the pixie weight class by then)

[gymdad150]

I'm back...

I took a new device on the road, and couldn't remember my passwords, hence the radio silence. Well that, and I'm still trying to come to grips with my performance (or lack thereof) Tuesday afternoon.

The forensics:

Squat -
1st attempt the head judge wouldn't give me a start command due to my left knee "not being locked out". We actually had a conversation while I had the bar on my back, about the fact that that my knee was as far back as it would go. I had to soften the knees and then re-lock them to prove the point...with the bar on my back.
Two reds!

2nd attempt As I was a little shaken by the experience of the first, we kept the weight the same - had to get in the meet!
2-1 good lift.

3rd attempt was a paltry 135kg and it was all I could do that day...maybe 5 kg more, but that was it.
2:1 good lift

Bench:
1st attempt at 90kg was another snafu with the judges. The head judge was ready, the sides were still getting seated as I un-racked the bar. So I was held up from starting (with the damn bar in my hands) until the sides were "ready".
I got the lift, but I didn't feel good about it.

2nd attempt was a small jump and I just got it

3rd Attempt was 95kg, and for the life of me I don't know what I was doing...pinned!
PINNED AT 95KG! Much disappointment...

Deadlift:
1st attempt was delayed. They wanted both platforms to go off at the same time. We waited 10 minutes, and add to that the time between my last warm-up (another 7 minutes), I was "cold". walking out to the bar.
The lift was good, but not comfortable.

2nd attempt went to 195kg, and my back got a little cranky at mid point.
Good lift, but I was concerned.

3rd attempt was perhaps the 2nd worst experience of my sporting life ( I won't go into the first). I was in a dog fight for third, and I knew it. I had to hit 205kg to win on body weight. I walked out to the bar, and every emotion of the last 18 months of my shit show of a life hit me right in the "feels". I was in tears as I grabbed the bar.
Needless to say, there was no lift.

I was, and am disappointed in my performance.

I know enough to realize that my performance was effected by my back and knee issues over the last 9 months. For as good as my training was going into Chicago, it was equally as poor going into Daytona. But I knew that, and I was at peace with the fact that my numbers wouldn't be PR attempts (except for Bench).

What I wasn't ready for was the emotional component of the day. I visualized everything about the day: how the room would look, what the bar would look like loaded, how the bar would feel in my hands, what each lift would feel like (though I will say that I couldn't visualize my 3rd attempts as a successful lift).

What I didn't factor in was how much I've invested in being a "lifter" (remember that line in "Officer and a Gentleman" where Mayo screams out: "I've got nowhere else to go"). Well Cancer, the dissolution of a 45 year marriage, and my body seemingly betraying me in ways I didn't know were possible flooded my mind. These demons all came out on that 3rd lift.

It's still shocking to re-live that moment. Fortunately my coach, and assistant coach were wonderful in the moment: caring and compassionate.

Wonderfully, my teammates (both in Daytona and back in Buffalo ) were as supportive. I'm blessed to have such a group supporting me throughout these past 18 months.

So, that's the raw, unvarnished truth of the day. My coach and I will sit down and put together a plan to re-build my lifts and confidence when he gets back from Daytona. I love to lift, I'd like to keep competing, and I won't walk away from a community that's been so supportive of me.

So what's that line from the song in "Oklahoma"...pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.

Well that's me. Let's do this!

[codgerus maximus]

Darn--i have a work meeting scheduled for 4pm on Tuesday so I might miss the squats. With any luck I'll at least catch your deadlift.

[gymdad150]

6/12/21

Meet Prep - All Done reps/sets

Bench - 40kg 5*2, 50kg 4*2, 60kg 3*2, 70kg 2*2, 77.5kg *2, 82.5kg *2
Squat - 60kg 5*2, 80kg 3*2, 100kg 2*2, 110kg *2
Leg Extn - 50kg 10*3
GHR - bw 10*3

That's that.
I feel pretty good: knee is cooperating, weight is at 198lbs (which is par for the course), back is loosening up.

Fly tomorrow, and get in to Daytona in the late afternoon. I'll watch our youth lifters Monday morning, and a lightweight masters lifter in the afternoon.

I'm up Tuesday afternoon: 4:00pm start. I understand that there are only two platforms in use. I should know my platform, but I haven't looked at the roster in a few weeks. For those so inclined, the day's session will be on YouTube.

[gymdad150]

6/9/21

Meet Prep - One Week Out reps/sets

Bench (w/commands) - 50kg 5*3, 60kg 3*2, 70kg *2, 75kg 1*2, 82.5 / 90 / 96kg *1
Down Sets - 85kg 1*3
Single Arm Dumbbell Incline - 50lbs 12*2
LTE / Curlz - 35kg 15*2
Overhead Tri Extension - 16kg 15*2
Curlz - 35kg 15*2

Pretty much all done here. Light Saturday session and then fly out Sunday.

I like where I am with the Bench at the moment. 96 went up OK. Considering that I messed up a couple of things during the lift, I think that if the moon and stars align, 100kg is within my grasp.

[gymdad150]

6/7/21

Meet Prep - One Week Out reps/sets

Squat - 70kg 3*3, 90kg 2*2, 110kg *2, 125/135/145kg *1, 155kg X
Belt Squats - 50/60/70/80kg *5
Leg Extn - 50/60/70/80kg *10
Wide Grip Pulldowns - 140lbs 10*2

Hot and humid today...just ugly weather to lift in.

Everything up through 145 was excellent. Missed 155: got caught back on my heels and that was that.

Looking back through my log, I'm ahead of where I was going into the January meet, so I'm not terribly concerned with today's miss at 155kg.

What I did like was depth on all the others attempts. Easily 2-1 in my favor...which is almost unheard of for me going into a meet.

[gymdad150]

6/5/21

Meet Prep - Two Weeks Out reps/sets

Paused Bench - 50kg 5*3, 60kg 3*2, 70kg *2, 77kg / 80 / 82.5kg *3
Squat 2 Box - 60kg 5*2, 80kg 3*2, 100kg 2*2, 120kg *2, 130kg 1*3
Belt Squat - 55kg 10*3
Cable Hi Row - 34kg 10*3
Leg Extn - 75kg 10*6
Hammer Curl - 70lbs 10*3

In the competition window now. Can't move the needle much, if at all. So it time to decompress, get some rest. and hone the mental game.

I feel pretty good. Started on a course of Voltaren for the knee. Looking to seen if a topical approach works better than eating Aleve.

[codgerus maximus]

I pushed my knees way forward of where I normally do: vertical shins = no pain, but loads up the back; slight knee flexion = pain, but a better pulling position; knees way forward of normal = no knee pain, no lower back strain, and get this POWERFUL.

That's great! And interesting to see how you adjusted, guided by what felt right.

[gymdad150]

6/3/21

Meet Prep - Two Weeks Out reps/sets

Deadlift - 70kg 5*3, 120kg *3, 140kg*2, 160kg *1, 180kg *1, 190kg *1
Big Wheel Pulls - 183kg 1*3
Kettlebell Trap Bar - 140lbs 12*3
Kroc Rows - 80lbs 10*3
Leg Extensions - 80kg 10*5
Nordic Hamstring Curls - bw 10*5

Came into today's session with a QL that was still tight...I was concerned.

Coach had me cut way, way back on the warm up sets (as you can see). His reasoning was that I was doing enough warm up on the Treadmill and Airdyne, I didn't need to crush myself pulling needless sets and reps as well.

I went "mad scientist" and changed my stance (again) in hopes of taking some load off my lower back, and not incur any knee pain.
I pushed my knees way forward of where I normally do: vertical shins = no pain, but loads up the back; slight knee flexion = pain, but a better pulling position; knees way forward of normal = no knee pain, no lower back strain, and get this POWERFUL.

My coach almost lost his shit when he saw the pulls at 160/180/190. He's been trying to get me into my quads, and out of horsing the bar up with my lower back since I joined his gym.

It was nice to pull without feeling like my back was gonna blow up, and equally nice to not have pain in my set up (finally).

I'm finally able to take a deep breath, and allow myself to get excited about going to Daytona. I probably won't pull 500lbs at this meet, but at least I won't embarrass myself either.

[gymdad150]

6/2/21

Meet Prep - Two Weeks Out reps/sets

Competition Bench - 50kg 5*3, 65kg 3*3, 75kg 2*3, 82.5kg *2, 90kg 1*2, 95kg *1
Down Sets - 85kg 1*3
Larsen Bench - 75kg 5*3
Single Arm Dumbbell Incline - 45kg 10*2
LTE - 30kg 15*2
EZ Bar Curls - 30kg 15*2
Overhead Tri Extn. - 16kg 15*2
EZ Bar Curls - 30kg 15*2

95kg moved really nicely...unfortunately my ass came of the Bench ever so slightly. That said, I got this lift, with commands, and it wasn't even hard.

Dialing back the assistance work as we start the taper.

[gymdad150]

5/31/21

Meet Prep - Two Weeks Out reps/sets

Squat - 60kg 5*3, 80kg 4*2, 100kg 3*3, 110kg 2*2, 120kg *2, 130 / 140 / 150kg *1
Squat 2 Box - 120 / 125 / 130kg *1
Goblet Squat - 28 / 32kg *10
Wide Grip Pull Down - 130lbs 12*3
Paused Leg Extn - 70kg 10*3
Hammer Curls - 70lbs 10*3
Palof Holds - 60sec *3

Cranky knee today, plus being a little tired made the the squat at 150kg tough...thanks to the spotter for the assist.

My QL is feeling better, Never felt it on the Squats...which is nice!

[gymdad150]

5/29/21

Meet Prep - Three Weeks Out reps/sets

Bench - 80 /82.5 / 85kg *3
Squat 2 Box - 120kg 1*3
Belt Squats - 72.5kg 10*3
Cable Hi Row - 40kg 10*5
Leg Extn - 70kg 10*5
Paused Leg Extn - 70kg 10*3

My QL is extremely stiff, not painful...just stiff.

Made Squats interesting, but 120 was a manageable rpe7.

I forgot to pause the Bench, but it felt strong at rpe8.

I figure if I can get inn this kinda work being somewhat compromised, I'm doing OK.

[gymdad150]

5/27/21

Meet Prep - Three Weeks Out reps/sets

Deadlift - 70kg 5*3, 120kg 4*3, 145kg 3*3, 165kg *2
Below Knee Pulls - 153kg 3*5
Kroc Rows - 70lbs 10*3
Leg Extension - 60kg 20*3
Belt Squat - 65kg 5*5

QL flared up again...grumble, grumble, grumble...

No injury incurred, just very tight. Pulling anything higher the 165kg from the floor would have been imprudent.

[gymdad150]

5/26/21

Meet Prep - Three Weeks Out reps/sets

Bench - 50kg 5*3, 60kg 4*3, 70kg 3*2, 77.5kg 2*2, 85kg 1*2, 93kg *1
Assisted Overload Single - 108kg *1
Down Sets - 85kg 1*3
Larsen - 72.5kg 5*3
Single Arm Dumbbell Incline Bench - 60lbs *10, 5*2
LTE - 35/37.5kg 15*2
Overhead Tri Extension - 20kg 15*2
Hammer Curls - 70lbs 10*4

Good day on the Bench. Got some acupuncture work done on my right shoulder, and it feels much better. Additionally, I've broken down and purchased some "weight gainer" from Optimum Nutrition...the extra easy calories and carbs are already making a difference as my weight is finally back over 200lbs for the first time in months after hovering around 195/6.

Eat your way to a bigger Bench...who knew?!?!

[gymdad150]

Looking good!

Thanks Tim...