Still On The Right Side Of The Grass

[gymdad150]

I feel the same way about getting back into running, Chas. For several years I'd been relying on rowing and an airdyne for my conditioning. It feels nice to be running again, even though I'm only putting in a about four or five miles per week. Those Assault Runners do look nice. I haven't tried one yet.
So a viral culprit...hope that clears up soon.

There is a learning curve to the A/R. Coach let me learn the hard way how the damn thing works

For some odd reason, rowers and the Airdyne didn't strike my fancy. I mean interval work, is interval work...right? No, there's something about being on one's feet that feels appropriate. My boys would prefer rowers, as that was their sport of choice, and then an Airdyne as a fall back.

[codgerus maximus]

I feel the same way about getting back into running, Chas. For several years I'd been relying on rowing and an airdyne for my conditioning. It feels nice to be running again, even though I'm only putting in a about four or five miles per week. Those Assault Runners do look nice. I haven't tried one yet.
So a viral culprit...hope that clears up soon.

[gymdad150]

4/9/22

Recovery Week

Three working days of really light movement, with a recovery massage thrown in on Tuesday. Amazingly enough, I felt pretty good post meet. Normally I feel like a bag of smashed assholes. I attribute this state of being to the superlative programming these past 10 months #goldilocks

The gym picked up an Assault Runner...what a fun machine that is! I haven't been able to really run for a few years now (I don't consider the start/step of Squash, running) due to my ongoing knee issue. I've put in a few sessions on this new A/R, and my knees are no worse the wear. I think I've found a solution to my conditioning issues...finally. Plus, I will admit I was getting a bit depressed that I couldn't run anymore (not that I do a lot of it). I used to be a fairly fast fellow in my youth, and being somewhat "crippled" left me feeling less than athletic.

And now we're onto a new training cycle, consisting of three, three week blocks. These will lead us into Powerlifting America's Masters Nations in Orlando, in June. Why not...

Let's go!!!

[gymdad150]

codgerus maximus mjwurtz slowmotion
Thanks gents. I was carrying the after effects of a viral infection (not COVID related) that left me with a flippy heart beat. I get that type of a virus every couple of years. Just a bad time to pick it up.

[slowmotion]

Getting blackouts on squats sounds really scary! Well done getting back onto the platform and getting an excellent result!

[mjwurtz]

Continuing on after the blackout problem shows grit - the meet was a success for that aspect alone!

[codgerus maximus]

You're one gutsy lifter, Chas. I would have called it a day after those blackouts. I've definitely felt faint a few times with heavy squats and deads. 157.5 kg is an intimidating amount of weight to have on your back.

215 for your deadlift! And congrats on those smoked benches! It's quite an accomplishment to be back in competition after all the challenges you've faced. To me it looks like you're poised for more progress.

Wish I could have joined you for a post-meet meal and drink. Maybe at the next Nationals...

[gymdad150]

Today's meet was a qualified success...

I came into the meet feeling pretty good about all my lifts, and training has been as good as I could have hoped for.

Weighed in at 95.8kg, a little short on sleep, but well fed, and well hydrated.

Squats warmed up nicely. Opened at 145kg, and hit it with relative ease. Then things went sideways...on my Second at 157.5kg, I blackout coming up out of the hole. My third attempt ran into the same issue. I haven't had this problem for years, and it showed up today in successive lifts. Color me worried, bordering on scared.

After a profane pity party (held in my car), I came back to face an uncertain fate.

We warmed up Bench extremely conservatively, if this blackout issue was going to continue, it would really show up here...it didn't. Smoked every attempt, hitting 95kg on my third, and had I not had the "problem", 97.5kg was there for the taking.

So buoyed with a bit of confidence, we decided to be as committed as we could, to as big a pull as we could safely muster. 185 / 200 / 215 BOOM. That's my best pull since Chicago, and technically is was a beauty (my knees and back cooperated). Again, without having had the blackout issue, 220kg was easily within reach.

So I atone for the shit show that was Daytona 10 months ago. And even though I didn't hit any PRs today, I found some grit and inner resolve that I thought was lost over the past two years. I'm deeply appreciative for all the support from my teammates today, and everyone here through this arduous road back to being competitive again.

[gymdad150]

4/2/22

Peak Week

Very odd not having the meet on a Saturday...

Anyway, an interesting week of extremely light lifts. This is a change from past Peaking templates, where we'd normally work up to Openers...#trusttheprocess

I feel pretty good, though I have had moments where I had to remind myself that I'm not losing any strength with this reduced work load. I maintained the no caffeine, no Aleve all week long. I'm looking forward to that extra boost tomorrow, as my ass has been dragging this week.

The official attempts are:
S: 145 / 157.5 / 165-170
B: 87.5 / 92.5 / 95-97.5
D: 185 / 200 / 210-215

So pretty much in line with what I anticipated. As always, it's important to nail that Squat opener, it sets the tone for the day.

For those who have an interest, in addition to the Lifting Cast page, the possibility exists that there will be a live stream on YouTube. Check on Mustache Fitness's site around 9:00am tomorrow. One session, 42 lifters, and from what I gather there will be some fairly strong athletes taking part (yours truly not included in that august assembly).

[gymdad150]

codgerus maximus slowmotion mjwurtz

Thanks gentlemen...proud to be carrying the Masters Torch!

[mjwurtz]

Good luck!

[slowmotion]

Good luck at the meet!

[codgerus maximus]

Best of luck on Sunday, Chas! Looks like you're in top form. Wishing you nothing but white lights, and I'll eagerly await your meet report!

[gymdad150]

3/26/22

10th Cycle - Week Four

Squat - Would ya look at that, 167.5kg! First PR is two years...
Went through the meet progression of 147.5 / 157.5kg. Everyone said the Squat was to depth, and folks in my gym are pretty much "mean girls" when it comes to calling out Squats not to depth. I'm pleased with the way I handled the moment, fully in control of the lift from beginning to end. Man, there's nothing like a PR...

Bench - 97.5kg was a shit show. I forgot all my cues...much sad, so disappoint.
87.5 / 92.5kg moved slowly, but not enough to be alarming. A lot of my issues here are between the ears. I'm hoping that come meet day the energy of the room is worth 2.5kg. We shall see...

Deadlift - 212.5kg was a miss due to a technique issue. That, and the fact that there wasn't the normal hype crew to get the juices flowing.
190 / 205kg moved smartly. Knee felt great, back was happy...212.5 should have been a lay up.
Unfortunately, I pulled my knees back out of the lift right as the bar broke the floor, and I was left with the bar hanging a good six inches off my shins. I got the bar to just below the knees, but couldn't bring it back in to my legs to complete the lift.
I stay in my knees a bit better, and that lift is good. At least we know my back is up for a good grind if need be...

Saturday - Started to dial back the intensity, and the overall volume of work. I feel pretty good for Week Four. I feel 100%% better than 10 months ago going into Raw Natls. Hard to believe that I've gone 10 cycles without a de-load. I'll be going cold turkey on caffeine until next Sunday, hoping for a bit of a boost on meet day.

I'm not sure what my attempts will be, coach doesn't have them to send out...maybe tomorrow. If I were to make a guess I'd say:
S: 147.5 / 157.5 / 165-170
B: 87.5 / 92.5 / 97.5-100
D: 190 / 205 / 215-220
I think I'm spot on for Openers and Seconds...

So meet day is Sunday, April the 3rd (not Saturday, boy would that have sucked to show up on the wrong day).

There isn't a livecast of the meet, but the Liftingcast link for the 1st Annual Powerlifting Got 'Em Mustache Classic is:

LiftingCast

Raw Masters 3 - 100kg - Chas Maloney

[gymdad150]

3/19/22

10th Cycle - Week Three

Squat - Went through a competition progression: 140 / 150 / 160kg. I haven't touched 160kg in two years, it moved pretty well all things considered. I was not on my game getting to the gym, had to go home to get my sleeves, ran into brutal traffic coming back to the gym, I'm surprised I did as well as I did.

Bench - Again, I went through a competition progression: 88.5 / 91.5 / 94.5kg. Handled the top single (with commands) nicely. I'm feeling more comfortable under the unracked bar. Normally I'm in "fight or flight" mode, with the emphasis being on "flight" after I unrack the bar. Now I'm ready to fight...

Deadlift - More competition progressions: 185 / 195 /205kg. Starting to get butterflies in the stomach now that we're moving towards bigger pulls. I'm needing all my mental game to calm myself down and be in the moment. Pulls weren't hard, I' was just to amped to remember my cues at 205kg. I was good for at least another pull, if not two more...

Saturday - Strong, beltless, paused SSBs at 120kg 2*4, Sneaky Tempo Paused Bench singles up through 87kg, my Bench is feeling really good at the moment, and my mind is in a good place. I'll be damned, I repped out Dumbbell Presses with 45lbs Dumbbells 12*2...I might have to try my hand at Barbell Pressing in the coming cycles.

So we're done with week three, and week four is looming large in my mind. Tentatively we're on schedule for: S - 167.5kg (PR); B - 97.5kg (ties PR); D - 215kg (haven't touched 215 in two years). Not gonna lie, I'm nervous...performance anxiety and all that. I know I've put in the work, I just need to get out of my way mentally, and let the training do the talking.

...oh, and we're two weeks out!