10 Miles Back Again

[dagill2]

@alex_uk

Also in the same boat as @dagill2 on straps but your follow up comment interests me. I’ve got straps that I use mostly for rowing, never for deadlift

I’ve bought some straps recently, with the intention of using them for accessories and supplemental stuff. I’m sure they’ll eventually find their way into main sets too though. Like the belt and the knee sleeves.

@T3hPwnisher

Dead stops and low reps have their place, but they’re easier, which is why people like to do them.

For the record, I hate dead stop. I find them more difficult because it involves brain power to reset in comparison to touch and go, where the only consideration is “don’t fucking stop”

[Cyrrex]

@dagill2

Although there is also a thought that holding 50kg in your hands just isn’t heavy enough for a brace to be a factor. Having now held 80kg, that’s a totally different feel and i can definitely see the need to get a good brace there. Time to get working on that.

On the one hand, I totally agree with this. Because 50 kilo to me feels like I don’t need to brace anything to put it up.

On the other hand, had I forced myself to use a belt back when 50 was a problem for me, maybe I would know how to use the belt now when 80 is the problem.

[dagill2]

Agree with both of these lines of thinking. There will be an increase in belt use and front squats.

[alex_uk]

@dagill2

front squats

I didn’t realise you hated yourself?

[dagill2]

I thought that was pretty clear by now?

[Cyrrex]

Aside from the self loathing, why front squats? Front squats will never love you back, man.

[dagill2]

Because 80kg feels heavy in the front racked position. I’d like it to feel light.

Overhead squats might also be useful, but I’m not sure my flexibility is good enough to load them up.

[Cyrrex]

@dagill2

Because 80kg feels heavy in the front racked position. I’d like it to feel light.

I thought perhaps that was your thought process. I know what you mean. My current mindset is something like this: I am doing back squats to give me a solid platform. This solid platform lets me do heavy Push Presses. Doing heavy push presses makes regular Presses feel less heavy and also more comfortable in the rack position.

This works for me. No front squats nor self hate required.

[dagill2]

I plan to also do back squats (or maybe SSB squats) for higher reps, but front squats for my “heavier” work. I have an entire year of back squats ahead of me, so no rush to push them.

[T3hPwnisher]

@alex_uk

your advice

Perspective

[T3hPwnisher]

@dagill2

I find them more difficult because it involves brain power to reset

This is a big reason I don’t use cues. For dead stops I just grip and rip.

[dagill2]

Work for today:

Incline treadmill walking/running: 10mins

Deadlift:
5 x 5 @ 120kg

Front Squat:
3 x 8 @ 80kg

SSB squat:
1 x 20 @ 80kg

Sissy squats: some
Back extensions: some
Decline bench sit ups: some

Notes:

• Felt like shit today, but everything moved really well and easily. Lucked out and ended up with a super whippy Olympic lifting bar and was having a fair bit of fun seeing how much plate clang I could get at the top of the deadlift and front squats.
• SSB squats are absolutely awesome for 20 reppers, I made the right call there. Can fully focus on the things that are supposed to suck about high rep squats without worrying so much about holding the bar. I could even scratch my nose or clear the sweat from my glasses mid set: the luxury.

[hugh_gilly]

@dagill2

I could even scratch my nose or clear the sweat from my glasses mid set: the luxury.

The main reason the SSB is the best bar

[dagill2]

I used to have to take my glasses off for my high reppers in Mass Made Simple, and often ended up having to close my eyes as well to stop the sweat stinging them. Should have just joined a real gym and got my hands on an SSB.

[dagill2]

Work for today:

Pin press (from eye height):
5 x 40kg
2 x 60kg
3 x 1 @ 70kg
3 x (2-2-1) x 60kg
1:30 break to refuel and do a few taxi runs then:

Push press: 6 x 8 @ 60kg

Cable raises: some
Tricep pushdowns: also some

Notes:

• Very quick first half of the session today, while the better half was getting some dental work done. Nowhere to push press so subbed these in. Probably a good call, will work out a good progression on these and use them as heavy work for a while, cut cluster days out of my 531 progression.
• Second half went fine, nothing to add.

[aldebaran]

@dagill2

For the record, I hate dead stop. I find them more difficult because it involves brain power to reset in comparison to touch and go, where the only consideration is “don’t fucking stop”

Also, stretch reflex

[T3hPwnisher]

Should be some of that with dead stop too, unless you spend a LONG time between reps.

…which a LOT of folks do with dead stop, haha.

[aldebaran]

Yeha sometimes I see people doing squats or deads and I feel like they are doing clusters. I try to never wait more than 2-3 secs between reps

[dagill2]

Try doing a 50 repper with your bodyweight and get back to me in your rest times.

[dagill2]

Work for today:

Press:
40kg x 5
40kg x 5
50kg x 3
50kg x 10
5 x 10 @ 40kg

T-bar row: some
Crunch machine: some
Rear delt fly: some
Cable raises: some
Assisted dips: some

Notes:

• Topset was equalling a PR, probably with slightly cleaner reps. Pressing muscles definitely still sore from Fridays session, to the point I considered sacking it off today so probably some fatigue/early morning training affecting that.
• BBB sets were tough today. Really tried to focus on rep quality for the first 3 sets, then loosened up slightly and just got the work done.
• Skipped cardio today, due to time, but will probably hit a big(ish) chins, cardio and core session tomorrow morning so not too bummed about that.