way to go on the 265 pull!!
straddle L?! - wtf is that?
nice pulling indeed. i love watching people deadlift. sorry i don’t get to do that anymore 
i also have trouble working on my weaknesses rather than my strengths. i’m with you on the squats… at least you know you aren’t alone with that since a few of us here seem to struggle with developing a love of squats. of course once we learn to love them then it will be time to do something else…
i think it is cool that you get to compete against your younger self. i sometimes wonder what my younger self would have been capable of and how i’d stack up against that. i’ll never know, though. i do feel a bit sad for people who look back on younger selves that were elite athletes. but i guess most of them switch sports or exercises they focus on mostly to avoid getting their ass kicked too badly.
265lbs awesome!
I would also like to say x 2 on competing. 
Watchin’ and learnin’ over here. Nadia!! That 265 DL is awesomeness. Tell me where to find a belt. I don’t have one yet. With all the running, and pullups…you’re my new Tcrush!
Ok I just went back to see your pull up video. 17!! I may have to put that video up in my log for inspiration. I know, I’m a creepy stalker!! And the picture of your back at the wedding that you put in Frenchie’s log, too. I’m hoping my lats are starting to come on board. I’ve had no lat action. YAY pullups!!!
Nikki: I hope I’m good for more than 265, but if I’m not today, then I will be soon!
Thanks Frenchie, Cbear, Laststand, and Mim! I love, love, love 5-3-1. I swear that program is magic for me. And as I’m sure you all know 5-3-1 for powerlifting is out right now. I’ve got it downloaded, and I can’t wait to read it! Tomorrow. Jim Wendler’s writing inspires me.
Cal and Charlie: I looked into doing a powerlifting meet this winter, but it seemed like such an ordeal—too many effing rules for this anarchist. But, I will someday. Most things are worth trying. And I think I can get over myself.
Bre: Straddle L sit–I’ll dig up a video I made for kimba for you–it’s hard to describe.
Alexus: The DL is my favorite. It feels like the least dangerous of the lifts to me–so it is much easier for me to be aggressive with it. But you’re right with time–no reason we can’t own squats! I’ll be watching your log to see how you’re doing. Let me know if you figure out the secret to mastering that lift.
Puff: I think you’ve made amazing progress with the pullups. Your lats must be working! Seriously, pullups never get easier. I thought once I got to 10–it shouldn’t be so hard to get to 15–but it was. There was never a tipping point. You must be prepared to work and fight for every rep.
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Gymnastics yesterday. It was more crowded than usual, and I seemed to lack focus in my training. Still, I did some stuff. I think I’m getting better. Maybe.
Pullups tomorrow. I’m scared. I’m such a head case about the pullups. Seriously stupid. This all goes back to body weight. I’m strong right now–dl prs and bench prs this month–but I’m also heavy. Strength v. BW. I can get over the scale, the too tight pants. But not the pullups. Fucking pullups.
[quote]Nadia Comeandeat wrote:
Pullups tomorrow. I’m scared. I’m such a head case about the pullups. Seriously stupid. This all goes back to body weight. I’m strong right now–dl prs and bench prs this month–but I’m also heavy. Strength v. BW. I can get over the scale, the too tight pants. But not the pullups. Fucking pullups.
[/quote]
Here’s the Alpha article that at least got me thinking about working the negatives. For me, the fail is at the beginning of the movement from a hang. I went back and read this and there’s more just general tips than programming. I was remembering some of the details wrong. I think I got some of my other pull-up ideas from other places. I’m heavy right now too, which makes me think that means even if my pull-up numbers are the same, I’m a bit stronger, right? Well, I don’t care. I want MOOAARR! Anyway, here it is, His log is pretty cool.
well damn it. i was hoping that pull ups got easier. oh well…
Puff: Thanks for the article link–lots of good tips in there. But, I don’t think you need to do negatives anymore now that you can do pullups. With respect to your sleepy lats, here’s my advice. When you hang from the bar in a dead hang position, your shoulders are under the bar, and your head is neutral–you can’t see the bar. Before you bend your arms and initiate the pull, engage your lats by pulling down on the bar–keep those arms straight! Does that make sense? What you should feel is your shoulders move from directly under the bar to a position slightly in front of the bar–your head is still neutral, but your eyes are now in a position to look at the bar. Don’t take your eyes off the bar. Keep that tension in your lats through every rep.
Also, if you want to increase the number of pullups you can do in a max effort set–start by increasing the volume. I can do 17 pullups or so right now, but my pullup workout today was 2 sets of 10, 3 sets of 8, 2 sets of 7 and 3 sets of 5= 73 pullups. If I started with a near max effort set and did 15–I wouldn’t have been able to get this kind of volume in. Volume is key! Weighted pullups are also a good idea, and I did them with Harry, but not until I had a good base of BW pulls under my belt. I’m looking forward to reading about your progress! Pullups are really awesome. I hate them, but they’ll help your bench and your DL to no end.
Alexus: I’ll clarify. I think that first rep is the hardest to get. Once you can do one though, no reason you can’t increase the reps. It takes consistentency and effort. You have to add up the volume.
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5-3-1 Military
Anyone else get the shits before their pullup day? Seriously, I have issues. So, then underconfident and anxious, I cheated, and did my pullups first, which I’m not supposed to do, and I rested a lot. But, I got them. They were all clean and smooth. No resting while hanging on the bar as is my typical bullshit MO. I got that going for me today anyway.
Pullups
BWx10x2
BWx8x3
BWx7x2
BWx5x3
MP–jack shitted it again. I need to regroup.
barx5x2
55x5
62.5x3
70x5 (+1 rep pr)
75x3 (+1 rep pr)
80x1 (+2.5lbs pr)
Running. What I really wanted to do this morning. Finally.
I ran reckless like an animal. My legs felt strong out the door, and I bounded down the sidewalk. I pushed the pace until I was panting. I replayed the same song over and over on my ipod, loud, as I tried to drown out my breathing. I gave up trying to control it. Fatigue set in quickly then. My legs didn’t hurt. But they grew heavy. I felt like I was being slowly smothered by a blanket, and I wanted to give in and stop. I fought against it and tried to stay ahead of it for awhile. Not long. And then I slowed my pace trying to regroup. Up a hill and down, around a corner, a mile or so from home, I stopped. I don’t know why I choose that moment to stop. But that moment fascinates me.
My nike sensor is dead. I don’t know how far or how fast I ran today. I could guess, but it doesn’t matter. I only know that I ran until I “had” to stop. Until that moment. I train to push the boundaryies of that moment. Back. Back. Back.
EEEYEAH!! ! ! !
Na-Na-NA-NITRO POWER :D! !
SUPERB!
Damn Nadia, I’m hating that you weigh a lot less than me yet chasing my numbers =D
Nice MP PR.
My ass about your weight, those are some fine pull-ups.
heavy squats upset my stomach. pull-ups don’t - but i’m only good for a single on the latter with LOTS of rest. still working up to 10x1 in a single training session (proper ones from dead hang). i’ll get back to you when i’m good for reps.
your run sounds wonderful. a little slice of what you get out of it. thanks so much for sharing that.
Interesting about the stopping. I almost never stop, even if I’m suffering (unless it’s temporarily, for traffic, or to cross some mud that I can’t run on, or because I sprained my ankle). And my god, I wanted to stop during that half marathon, but I wouldn’t let myself.
The only time I’ve had to stop because my legs couldn’t deal was when I did that 6 mile cross country last autumn. And once I’d stopped once, I had to keep stopping. It’s like I’d lost my momentum. I’d like to have another go at it this year and get round without stopping at all. That race was a wound to my pride and I need to rectify that.
[quote]Nadia Comeandeat wrote:
I ran reckless like an animal. My legs felt strong out the door, and I bounded down the sidewalk. I pushed the pace until I was panting. I replayed the same song over and over on my ipod, loud, as I tried to drown out my breathing. I gave up trying to control it. Fatigue set in quickly then. My legs didn’t hurt. But they grew heavy. I felt like I was being slowly smothered by a blanket, and I wanted to give in and stop. I fought against it and tried to stay ahead of it for awhile. Not long. And then I slowed my pace trying to regroup. Up a hill and down, around a corner, a mile or so from home, I stopped. I don’t know why I choose that moment to stop. But that moment fascinates me.
My nike sensor is dead. I don’t know how far or how fast I ran today. I could guess, but it doesn’t matter. I only know that I ran until I “had” to stop. Until that moment. I train to push the boundaryies of that moment. Back. Back. Back. [/quote]
Just wanted to pop my head in and say hi.
Your running talk makes me feel like I’m missing out not running. And then I think back to the last time I ran and I remember why I never run for exercise. It effin’ sucks. Anyway, I enjoyed your description here. Its really cool to see what someone who enjoys it has to say about their run.
And congrats on the PR.
Yeah Brute! Thanks for your enthusiasm.
Nikki: On my bestest day (on the three big lifts) I’m like 250lbs behind you! You can breathe easy. But yes–progress on the pullups! It’s stupid for me to worry. I know I’m getting stronger.
Alexus: My stomach gets upset in anticipation of pullups. Nervous. I’m that crazy.
Cal: I don’t usually stop either if I have planned to run a set distance. This game is different. With no plan in your mind, set out running like you’re being chased (as fast as you can with pulling a hammy) and with no set distance in mind. YOu can’t run forever, but that is what you are trying to do. When do you start to slow (or stop) allowing that tireless and ineludible pretend predator behind you to overtake you? I’ve never been able to finish a full marathon without walking–same idea–but a different game–because I’m running at a comfortable pace. You stop every time you run. You just decide before you start how far you are going to go.
BG: Thanks for stopping in. Running does suck quite a bit a lot of the time. But the hardness (that sounds dirty) is what I like about it. Running and lifting aren’t really so different in the mental fortitude that they require. That’s why I like both. YOu push barriers with lifting. YOu push barriers with running.
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So, I’m supposed to run a 10k road race tomorrow. I’m not well prepared for it because of my hips, but I was still planning on trying to post the best time that I could. I have that virtual racing challenge with my sister. Anyway I wake up this morning to an email from the race director that the 10k ( a 6.2 mile race) is in fact not a 10k (it’s 6.4 miles). Seriously, move the fucking start or finish line. Runners pay money to run in these events to set PRS in standard distances–5k; 10k, whatever. No one wants to race an arbitrary- you’ll never race it again- distance.
I’ll still run it, but now just as a recovery run. 5-3-1 Squats are back on the menu for today.
[quote]Nadia Comeandeat wrote:
Puff: Thanks for the article link–lots of good tips in there. But, I don’t think you need to do negatives anymore now that you can do pullups. With respect to your sleepy lats, here’s my advice. When you hang from the bar in a dead hang position, your shoulders are under the bar, and your head is neutral–you can’t see the bar. Before you bend your arms and initiate the pull, engage your lats by pulling down on the bar–keep those arms straight! Does that make sense? What you should feel is your shoulders move from directly under the bar to a position slightly in front of the bar–your head is still neutral, but your eyes are now in a position to look at the bar. Don’t take your eyes off the bar. Keep that tension in your lats through every rep.
Also, if you want to increase the number of pullups you can do in a max effort set–start by increasing the volume. I can do 17 pullups or so right now, but my pullup workout today was 2 sets of 10, 3 sets of 8, 2 sets of 7 and 3 sets of 5= 73 pullups. If I started with a near max effort set and did 15–I wouldn’t have been able to get this kind of volume in. Volume is key! Weighted pullups are also a good idea, and I did them with Harry, but not until I had a good base of BW pulls under my belt. I’m looking forward to reading about your progress! Pullups are really awesome. I hate them, but they’ll help your bench and your DL to no end.
Alexus: I’ll clarify. I think that first rep is the hardest to get. Once you can do one though, no reason you can’t increase the reps. It takes consistentency and effort. You have to add up the volume.
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[/quote]
Got it, Coach. Thanks for the tips. I’m going to try it today. And I’m going to copy this into my log so I can find it when I want it. VOLUME! Going to try activating my lats by pulling down…We’ll see how I do. And…pullups don’t get me nervous but Squats make me want to pee my pants.
Puff: I’m not deserving of the coach title! But, I hope my lat activation tip works for you. I’ll be curious to read if you feel a difference.
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5-3-1 Squats.
Jack-shitted my workout again. Shit. I need a deload. That starts now.
BWx25
barx10
65x5
85x5
95x5
Slow to warm up today…
105x5
115x3
125x8 (+3 rep Pr)
I’ve determined that I suck at repping squats, and I hate repping squats. I’d much rather do a 5x5 type program with squats. But 5-3-1 has been so damn good for all of my other lifts. Am I pussing out training my squats differently? I vote yes. Anyone else?
135x5 (+4 rep pr)
155x3 (+2 rep pr)
The disparity btw my DL and my squat is too great. I’m squatting aggressively from here on out.
175x0x3 Mother fucker. I’ve never squatted more than 155. But, I don’t care. I’m hitting this weight on my 5-3-1 day next month.
I love all the aggression in this log lately.
Awesome deadlift PR! You are way ahead of me on that lift. Keep killing it!
I shan’t breathe easy. I know you’re on my tail =D
Nice squatting.
I don’t think that you’re pussing out. Do what you like! If you don’t want to do 5-3-1 for squats, then don’t.