So despite back cramp / strain I figured I’d go to the gym and get done what I could get done.
Bench
138 x 2
147 x 1
155 x 1 x 2
138 x 3 x 2
Deadlift
190 x 3
220 x 3
250 x 2 x 2
265 x 1
280 x 1 x 2
Preacher curls
55 x 3 x 3
Thick band one arm extension
8 x 3
So despite my back feeling off before, and since, it had absolutely no effect on my ability to deadlift. Despite the fact I feel the pain and cramping in a muscle I specifically feel during deadlifts.
Not complaining though. Apart from when I have to get up from the sofa, or get out of a chair, then my whole spine cramps up and I can’t breathe properly, then I complian, but other than that no can’t complain.
We have a word for this in my language but I found that the English translation lost the spirit of the term and essentially became a more generic derivative focused on the area where the pain is perceived. Our word for it is “ryggskott” which distinguishes itself from just general back pain, nor does it refer to a herniated disc. The English word appears to be lower-back pain/lumbago.
I’m no stranger to back pain, have it on and off for the last 10 years with a herniated L4, so i’m pretty good at working around it. This is just in such a weird place. My right spinal erector, just in line with the bottom of my scapular, so slap bang in the middle. Its just a very hard sensation to describe, a bit like a strain, a pull, a cramp, a knot, a trapped nerve, while not actually feeling liek any of them.
Guess ill just give it some more ‘wait and see’ treatment. As long as it doesnt ruin my training I can live with it for now.
Maybe see a naprapath or something. When the pain is on one side in particular, and you are moving non-trivial amounts of weight, any pronounced imbalance might make the house of cards come crashing down.
Squat and Bench 1RM tests tonight, Deadlift 1RM test on Saturday.
Not expecting anything from bench, am expecting an interesting squat session. Have never really tried a 1RM high-bar squat, and once I do I’ll follow up with my first ever wrapped 1RM low bar attempt which, hopefully, will be in excess of my unwrapped low bar from earlier this year. Exciting.
Guest passing at a gym in Bristol that has a deadlift bar, something something train as you intent to compete.
That feels tricky. I wouldn’t want to pull 2 max deadlifts close enough together to get meaningful results. Or I wouldn’t have when I could move real weight.
On paper yes, but in what order and under what conditions?
If i test them both in one day, I’ll be fatigued from whichever I pull first. If I test DL bar this week and normal bar next week then this week will be advantaged because of lower fatigue from this weeks training compared to next weeks training load.
I think my best comparison will be my 280kg warmup on the DL bar, and just seeing how that feels compared to the 280 singles I did last week.
