Awesome day, Mark! I especially liked the smile after your final deadlift.
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Just saw your lifts in IG. They all looked good mate. Nice job, can’t wait to read your write up. For now relax, eat and enjoy yourself, you’ve earned it mate.
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Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Much appreciated.
Woke feeling ok, but back was still not one hundred per cent, and that absolutely put my head in a different place to where I want it on meet day. I’ll also admit that it feels weird as shit to be up here while Mrs KO and munchkin are back in Canberra.
Got to the venue with plenty of time, so I could warm up without rushing. Now, they had two monolifts in the warmup area, which is impressive. What I didn’t notice until I got to work was that the bars were power bars. Because my elbows blow the fuck up if I squat with a power bar I figured I’d cut my warmups as short as possible. This helped. Except, I didn’t watch quite how fast the meet was moving and when I was about to take my last warmup I saw I was maybe six lifters out. I decided to go straight to my first attempt. That was a 135 lbs jump, but I figured I’d be fine. When I started wrapping for my first attempt the wrap unravelled. Great. I didnt have time to re-roll it so I just did what I could. As I waited to be called my heart started hammering and the adrebaline came on. I took some deep breaths and calmed down. Opener felt like 135 lbs, but I jumped the squat command. Same judge as when I did that at nationals. I completely blacked out as soon as the bar cleared the rack. Because of how well it moved I just went to my second at 595 lbs. Wrapping my knees, and the wrap unravelled again. Did the same, wrapped as best I could. The wrap roller was a lifesaver because I’d actually pre stretched the wraps, so even unravelled I could get what I needed. Made sure to get the squat command, but I think I sat back a little too much and felt my back give a warning in the problem area as I came up. I passed my third, because while I wasnt sure I’d get my third I KNEW attempting it could very well nix any real deadlift, and I needed that for my total.
We got 40 minutes between squat and bench because it was a one flight meet. I had a banana and started warming up for bench. My right elbow was a bit whiny after the power bar squats, but by the time I’d finished warming up it was fine. Waiting to be called heart went nuts again, except by now this and the breathing helped me focus. Opener moved well, but I got warned that my elbows weren’t locked out at the start. That’s good judging: telling the lifter the problem so they can fix it. Second attempt I made sure to lock my elbows as I unracked, and I got it fine despite clipping the rack. Because the contact with the rack didn’t help, it was legal. Went to 335 for my third and got it with a bit of a fight.
Right about now I started cheering up considerably: my back was holding up, bench had gone according to plan and all I had to do was make my second deadlift to get a PR total. That whole heart racing and breathing thing is also something of a win, because it looks like I can actually harness and direct my fight or flight response; and that it triggers as I approach the bar. I want to keep that happening.
I changed my warmups for deads a little, because I wanted to do as little with my back as possible; and because the meet was moving fast enough I was still pretty much warmed up. I went in singles, 154, 264, 374, 484. Belt went on at 264. They all moved well. Opener came up well too, and my second moved well enough I put in for the planned 650 lbs third. I hit the ammonia hard enough to make my eyes water and held on long enough to get a down command. I did get dinged for unlocked knee on my left, but two whites is all I needed. It was a good call, because I could feel something moving.
That gave me a 1581 lbs total via 595/336/650
Considering how the past week went I’m over the fucking moon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B85OyYzAtmy/?igshid=15y0t924jclwp
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Holy fuck dude, that’s AWESOME. How much of a meet PR is this?
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Man, you helped me get there! Your advice was pretty pivotal.
It’s a 38 lbs PR on my total, so I’m very pleased. It sets me up to pass 600 lbs on my squat next meet and deadlift 300 kilos. I like big round numbers where they’re convenient.
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How is that 38 made up in terms of PRs for each lift ?
Great write up mark. I was nervous just reading it and then started smiling when you got to deadlifts.
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I literally told you to do nothing, and I accept 0 responsibility for your awesome total, that’s all you, dude. The grind, the patience, the knowledge - this log has been a wealth of information for a lot of us for quite some time, now. Sit back and enjoy your new total, it’s been super fun riding the rollercoaster with you in here. The look on your face after that deadlift was fucking priceless!
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It’s 17.5 kilos, so 38 lbs. 595(plus five)/336(plus 11)/650(plus 22).
I’m glad you enjoyed, I tried to write it as it felt.
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I’m lying back and enjoying it right now. Your advice to just rest was a big help, no matter what you say.
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Epic stuff well done!
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Freaking F*cking well done Mark, well deserved.
That smile man, tells the whole story.
I got nervous when I started to read it, but settled down an knew it would be good, when you decided not to go for the third attempt on squat.
Again congrats and thank you, you’re such an inspiration.
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I feel like 350 would be a cool bench PR to add to this, plus it looks like you should get to 1600 for next meet.
Awesome stuff
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Four hundred will be the first cool PR from where I sit. That’s when things get a bit more interesting. Until I hit 400 my bench is just way too far behind. Sure, I’m glad for any progress but they’re just me clawing my bench out of shitsville.
Next peak I’ll hit 600/341/655, so that’ll put me somewhere around 615/347/665. So yeah, a bit past 1600.
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Maaaate just watcher your insta from the comp. Monster lifts brother! The smile after your deadlift said it all! Hard work pays off
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I was so happy. Relieved, too. I haven’t gotten all three deadlifts for a couple of meets.
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3 PR’s and a total PR. There is nothing at all wrong with that. Well done sir, your hard work and dedication has payed off yet again and is a lesson for us all.
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Mate, thank you. I’ve said it before, I’m just stubborn.
Massive well done my friend! I was on the edge of my seat for the write up. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: You deserve every little bit of success you got!
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Kudos, man! They all looked nice and smooth.
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Congrats on the meet Mark!
Also, I just noticed. Are those asics wrestling shoes? How are you finding them for PL? are they flat and sturdy enough?
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