CANPL Canadian Central Championships recap and plan for next meet

Training Q&A [Moderated]
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The 2026 Central Championships went overall quite well. I stopped trying to cut to 59 kilos, since it became all but certain during the last cycle that I would lose strength if I ate any less than I tried eating. I had L knee pain and still have it a bit with squats, but it’s improving with rehab exercises and continued appropriate training. Bringing low-bar back after consulting with a local coach has helped considerably, I feel as though my squat has been ‘unlocked’.

I would like to stay at 66 kilo body weight and recompose now, so I’m meeting with a nutritionist on Wednesday to come up with a plan. In the meantime, I booked a meet for Jan 23rd 2027 (some local meet, nothing official, different federation) and I was wondering:

  1. I took a week off training, and training begins again tomorrow. There are 21 weeks 5 days between now and the next competition. Should I run the programs skipping week 10 each time? I think I did something like that last time, how do you decide which thing to skip / take out?

  2. I have 2 weeks of vacation in Europe scheduled for Oct 15-Nov 4. Deload train in hotel gyms and skip over to 2 weeks later in the training cycle? Or pause the program and pick it up again when I return?

Thanks very much. The QT for Nationals is 415 kg. I am at 377.5 I believe, so hoping to make up the kilos over the next 9 months if possible.

There are a couple of guys turning 40 in the next 1-2 years in my weight class, and they have been lifting for years. I’m probably going to get obliterated as soon as they enter M1 66 kg, but I am undoubtedly stronger and undoubtedly happier having found powerlifting and having competed, so I’m going to keep at it for now.

I have until about May 2027 to land a qualifying total and see about getting into the National Championships. I’m hoping to get the National QT up front this time, instead of trying to hit the Regional QT (387.5) and then hoping that I make up the National QT between May and August. I guess I’ll just have to see what happens and should be prepared to adjust accordingly.

Thanks very much.

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Hey Jeremy,

Really nice job at the meet! That singlet doesn’t look half bad either :wink:

To your questions:

  • I think you’re likely to be much stronger at a higher body weight. Whether that fits your personal goals is a separate question, but I think that’s your best strategy for making a national QT. If that’s not an option, I would plan on gaining wieght to be a little above your weight class during this off season.
  • I don’t think I’d skip any weeks unless you need to. I’m not sure what program(s) you’re planning on running, but if I were able to, I’d try and set it up where you didn’t have to skip any weeks, even if you’re mixing and matching programs.
  • I would pick up the program at the nearest deload/low stress week given the 2 week break.

-Jordan

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