Will be taking a watch when I’ve got time today.
Enjoying your log btw
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Thank you! Sincerely appreciated
3/26
I’m enjoying the Russian squat programming. I threw in a few submaximal sumo pulls afterwards to try and feel out the technique; I figure that will put less stress on the QL than conventional, so I might play around with them until I’ve finished this training block. Barbell rows are still lighting up my mid-back. Fiancée says I’m getting thicker, so something must be working.
I’m editing the second part of the Arthur Saxon video, which focuses on his biography. Turns out 20th century lifters were just as petty about clout-chasing and throwing shade at each other as modern day Kabuki bar yanking SARMS goblins. I’ll also be recording the first episode of the Bulk Boys podcast with Jakob S, a powerlifter and strength coach who’s pulled 600 conventional on a stiff bar at the tender age of twenty; expect the interview to be up on the Storied Strength Youtube channel by the end of this week.
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Belated update. I’ve been running the Russian squat program for high bar, bench, and (probably stupidly) OHP. The initial block has you accumulating volume at 80%, and seems to be great at greasing the groove; today’s 6x5 felt easier than 6x4 at the same weight two days ago.
It’s crazy because I’m coming into the sessions with sore quads (hence the super slow descent on that first rep), but the weight somehow keeps moving easier. I’m excited to test my maxes at the end of the program, then to get my ass back to deadlifting. The QL tweak seems to have resolved, assisted by plenty of work on the reverse hyper.
I’ve posted the second part of the Saxon video (much better than the first), and the first installment of the Bulk Boys podcast. Sam Shethar just agreed to come on, and I’m beyond stoked to talk to him.
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4/1
Back is feeling funky, and I think it’s coming from tight glutes. I’d been skipping the lower volume sessions on the squat program (6x2 @80%), but I went ahead and implemented one. Strength was there, but my lower back felt like it was getting vacuumed toward my ass. I spent a lot of time on the reverse hyper and Jefferson curls. I don’t think (hope) this will delay me for any more than a few days, but we’ll see. I’ll definitely stick to the scheduled lower volume sessions from here on out to prevent future issues.
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Late on the update. Switched back to low bar for the first time in a couple of months because it let me squat without irritating my back. Hit a rep PR of 405 for 7 on Friday:
I hit doubles on bench on Saturday (supposed to be triples),
then came in for a top single and some backoff triples on Sunday,
at which point I was ground into dust and figured it would be better to go ahead and taper rather than pushing through another week before testing. Elbows are already feeling awful after only two sessions of low bar. Ergo, I’m taking it easy until I test my bench Thursday. I’ll test squat either Friday or Saturday, depending on how fatigued my back is after maxing bench. Haven’t had a drop of caffeine in two weeks, so I’m expecting a nice boost when I hit the coffee prior to testing. Looking forward to it.
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Two little PRs and one big one.
Tested bench yesterday and hit a (very sketchy) 315.2 lb. I think it counts for more because I’m training on calibrated plates now vs. the rubbery Anytime Fitness plates I was using in February and March.
Today I tested squat. 463, 484, and 500.5 lb. Helps to have Shane fucking Hunt spotting you. So, so happy with this. Means more to me than getting my PhD or publishing my first book.
I haven’t been deadlifting lately, but I figured I’d work up to something to get a number I could program off of for my next training cycle. Hit an ugly 528 on a deadlift bar. I expect this to see the biggest improvement in my next training block.
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484
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500.5. Do not take that .5 away from me
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Ugly scoliotic 528
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congrats on your pr’s
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Thank you!
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Congrats on PRs, no knee sleeves on the squats - you must be young!
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I’m very lucky with my knees. Elbows are another story
Great work!
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Looking good