Seeing as this was going to be my last workout before Christma I decided on the spur of the moment to do a mini-meet and try and get an idea of a total. I’ve never tried anything like this before and it went terribly, a real catalogue of errors.
Squat
1st attempt 407 lbs - A nice low opener, quite comfortable - GOOD LIFT
2nd attempt 442 lbs - Wasn’t feeling particular strong so a smarter person would not have gone for a PR here, would have gotten 430ish easy, but missed it after a battle - MISS
Wasn’t quite sure of the rules here and didn’t know if you’re allowed to lower the weight so I went for it again for my 3rd.
3rd attempt 442 lbs - MISS AGAIN
Bench Press
1st attempt 275 lbs - No problem - GOOD LIFT
2nd attempt 297 lbs - Set up too close to the uprights and just as I was about to lock out I got the right end of the bar stuck under the hook! Believe it or not I managed to push the bar forward and ground out the lock-out, but during my epic struggle the bloody batteries on the camera ran out!- I’m going to call this a GOOD LIFT but I’m sure in a meet making contact with the uprights would be a failed lift.
3rd attempt 308 lbs - Nothing to give, spent it all on 2nd attempt- PATHETIC MISS
Deadlift
Raised my bar on blocks to take my 350mm diameter plates up to the standard 450mm. (pic to demonstrate)
1st attempt 418 lbs - Wow that extra inch makes a nice difference, takes the lower back out of it a bit. Had a go at a mixed grip for the first time ever. I loved it!. Why the hell have I not been using it.
2nd attempt 451 lbs - GOOD LIFT - broke lifetime PR of 440 lbs.
3rd attempt 484 lbs - Decided to hold my breath during the lift. Note the beetroot head!, didn’t seem to help. GOOD LIFT - 44 lb PR. Before I would have been content with 450, retrospectively I think I was good for 500.
So in a nutshell, bombed out in the squat through stupidity, bench press was below average, but redeemed myself with the deadlift which exceeded my expectations.
whoa! nice set of PRs and you did them all in a much shorter timeframe than a real meet. A real meet might take 8 hours to get through all the lifts.
and yes, bashing the uprights would be a failed lift, but you would have had a liftoff and wouldn’t have been so close to the uprights anyway. You also did right in not lowering your attempt, you can only go up or stay the same.
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
I think you coulda gotten squat# 2 if you’d cursed the bar up. That was so close. 1 inch more and it would have locked out.
You have really,really clean deadlift form near max. Admirable.[/quote]
Agree totally.
Great work!! The batteries dying also cut off one of my favorite songs…have you heard the song “Boots” that the Killers wrote for this year’s Christmas?
(And I’m quoting the only guy that I’ve seen with better form on a max deadlift.)
Again, I have to say I’m a huge fan of your hardcore, yet somehow nonchalant attitude, while lifting heavy weights.
Brett, these are some truly inspiring videos on squat depth. We have the same squat rack here in my gym. I like it for squats, but its short and I’m not able to do any military pressing in it. Which actually works out kinda nice as I’m able to work on my cleans.
You didn’t “bomb out” on squat 'cause you got your opener. I think you missed that third squat attempt because of some tentativeness. Maybe psychological after that miss? And no, you can’t go lower after a failed attempt. You can only stay at the same weight or go up. Hence, the importance of picking the right numbers.
Remember, you get a liftoff for bench at meets. You save a lot of energy not having to unrack and rerack the weight yourself. And super awesome DLs. I really enjoy watching you lift because you have such beauteous form. Not to mention you’re so damn strong! You really should do a meet.
DCA, Bunny - It doesn’t seem to show so much on the vid, but that bar was rolling up onto my neck and I was in danger of falling forward so I had no choice but to dump it.
Soldog - I did my whole “meet” in under an hour, so spreading it out a lot more might have boosted my numbers fractionally.
Punnyguy - Thanks. No one has ever called me “hardcore” before.
UN42 - You’re right it is quite short. I’m only 5’8" and occasionally I clatter the top of it when pressing, but I’ve had it 15 years, got it for about 300 quid and it has served me well. If anyone asked me what my favourite possesion was, I’d say my power rack.
ECO, MJ, Joe - Thanks guys.
Jack - Weirdly I felt completely fine the next day. If anything was sore at all I’d have to say biceps from the DLs.
KP - I know “technically” I didn’t bomb on the squats, but considering I’ve hit more than 407 everyday for the last 2 weeks, I was gutted to have not gone higher. Relative to what I’m capable of the squat was most disappointing. As for doing a meet, I was looking at some of the British Raw Records for my age and weight group the other day and it did get me thinking. Maybe another productive year’s training and I might consider it.
Hope you all had a great Christmas and I wish you all an ache free, injury free and PR filled 2011.
I’ve had 4 days off and I’m raring to go. Looking forward to training later.
Video of 445lb PR attempt FAIL. If there’s anyone out there who knows a bit about bio mechanics and can analyse my lift and tell me where my weak link is so I can work on my weak points I would be extremely grateful. I think I have an idea but I would appreciate confirmation. Thanks.
You just did a full meet worth of lifts 4 days ago, which included two missed big squats. A full meet plus missed lifts is very, very taxing. I would have been very surprised if this would have gone. You might not have been sore, but that does not mean that you didn’t toast your CNS. I know, for me, personally, there is no way in god’s green earth that I could hit a squat PR 4 days after a full-power meet. That’s my two cents, maybe others will disagree.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
You just did a full meet worth of lifts 4 days ago, which included two missed big squats. A full meet plus missed lifts is very, very taxing. I would have been very surprised if this would have gone. You might not have been sore, but that does not mean that you didn’t toast your CNS. I know, for me, personally, there is no way in god’s green earth that I could hit a squat PR 4 days after a full-power meet. That’s my two cents, maybe others will disagree. [/quote]
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
You just did a full meet worth of lifts 4 days ago, which included two missed big squats. A full meet plus missed lifts is very, very taxing. I would have been very surprised if this would have gone. You might not have been sore, but that does not mean that you didn’t toast your CNS. I know, for me, personally, there is no way in god’s green earth that I could hit a squat PR 4 days after a full-power meet. That’s my two cents, maybe others will disagree. [/quote]
Jack is dead on here. [/quote]
Thanks guys, that aside, just viewing the lift in its own right, without prior knowledge of what I did last week etc, where would you say the weak link in the lift was? I’m looking at it more in terms of what specific areas to concentrate on in the new year to improve my squat. Am I right in thinking it’s a weak lower back issue? Maybe add in some good mornings?
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
You just did a full meet worth of lifts 4 days ago, which included two missed big squats. A full meet plus missed lifts is very, very taxing. I would have been very surprised if this would have gone. You might not have been sore, but that does not mean that you didn’t toast your CNS. I know, for me, personally, there is no way in god’s green earth that I could hit a squat PR 4 days after a full-power meet. That’s my two cents, maybe others will disagree. [/quote]
Jack is dead on here. [/quote]
Ditto… and the music… and the shoes. Need something to get you fired up, and shoes that do not allow you to lose the initial power out of the hole.
But… you need to deload for a bit… work yourself back up to your max… give it 4-6 weeks brother, you have a mind block right now, and you are tired. You can see it right after the lift, before you get back to your feet, you need a rest buddy…
