I Come From the Land of the Ice and Snow

[Platus]

Here's hoping that both of our performances on Saturday reflect all the struggles and sacrifices of our training. I'm looking forward to your meet report my friend.

Good luck! I'll be competing this Saturday as well. I look forward to hearing about your experience on the platform.

[hbriem]

Thank you Platus.

Sunday Nov 21st 2010 - Meet Day - 2010 Icelandic Powerlifting Cup

Something of a clusterfuck of a meet for me. In short, I made my openers.

Squat (Titan Centurion NXG size 44)

190kg (419 lbs) x 1
205kg (452 lbs) x F (depth, although a lot of ringside judges disagreed)
210kg (463 lbs) x F (depth, no ifs or buts, but very easy)

Actually the missed squats, 205 and 210, felt piss-easy. Just didn't
make depth. My coach wrapped my knees extremely tight with new,
stiffer wraps, much, much tighter than I've ever been wrapped before.
The wraps were excruciatingly painful and on both squats, I felt
as if I simply couldn't get any lower. My knees are a mass of bruises
which has never happened before. I might be able to squat 230 or
more wrapped this tight.

Bench Press (Titan F6 size 46)

135kg (298 lbs) x 1
142.5kg (314 lbs) x F (too heavy)
142.5kg (314 lbs) x F (too heavy)

Deadlift (raw)

220kg (485 lbs) x 1
235kg (518 lbs) x F (too heavy)
235kg (518 lbs) x F (too heavy)

A 545kg (1202 lbs) total and 3rd place (560, 580). I could
have placed higher if I hadn't been trying for PRs in my
2nd round lifts. Bummer.

[slowjoe]

Gutted.

Well, at least there were no injuries (hoping the knee bruising is just that).

Better luck next time, buddy.

[hbriem]

Thanks slow. I'm not too bothered about it. I could have played safe with 200-140-230 and gotten 2nd place but this time out I was only thinking of getting PRs and not being too fatigued when I tried. It didn't work out, but it's not the end of the world.

I squatted 205 in the eyes of the most senior international IPF judge in the room and I benched 142.5 and deadlifted 230 in the gym the other day, so the actual meet numbers are a trivial technicality.

Moar training!

[hbriem]

Tuesday Nov 23rd 3010 - Squat Day

Speed Squat (half supersetted with press)

30kg (66 lbs) x 10
45kg (100 lbs) x 8
65kg (143 lbs) x 5
100kg (220 lbs) x 3,3,3,3,3,3

Military Press

30kg (66 lbs) x 10
45kg (100 lbs) x 8
60kg (132 lbs) x 3
65kg (143 lbs) x 3,3,3,3,3,3

Harder than I expected. I haven't really pressed for a month.

Chinup

BW x 10,10,6

Biceps ran out of gas.

Extra Wide Grip Bench Press (outside rings)

70kg (154 lbs) x 10,10,10

Again, harder than I expected. Pec pump.

[hbriem]

Thursday Nov 25th 2010 - Bench Press Day

Overhead Squat

35kg (77 lbs) x 10
50kg (110 lbs) x 10

Military Press

50kg (110 lbs) x 5
60kg (132 lbs) x 5
65kg (143 lbs) x 3,3,3

Front Squat

65kg (143 lbs) x 5
80kg (176 lbs) x 3
90kg (198 lbs) x 3
100kg (220 lbs) x 1
110kg (242 lbs) x 1

I wish I could do a front squat that worked something other than my wrists.

Bench Press

70kg (154 lbs) x 5
100kg (220 lbs) x 3
110kg (242 lbs) x 3,3,3,3,3,3

So hard. I can hardly believe I was doing 120 for 6x3 three weeks ago. Where did my strength go?

DB Snatch

36kg (79 lbs) x 2
40kg (88 lbs) x 2
44kg (97 lbs) x 2
46kg (101 lbs) x 2

DB Hammer Curl

28kg (61 lbs) x 5
32kg (70 lbs) x 5
34kg (75 lbs) x 5

Power Shrug

130kg (287 lbs) x 5
180kg (397 lbs) x 3 (too heavy for now)

[hbriem]

Friday Nov 26th 2010 - Deadlift Day

Power Snatch

20kg (44 lbs) x 5,5
40kg (88 lbs) x 3,3
55kg (121 lbs) x 3,3
60kg (132 lbs) x 2
65kg (143 lbs) x 2,2

Power Clean

65kg (143 lbs) x 2
75kg (165 lbs) x 2
80kg (176 lbs) x 2
85kg (187 lbs) x 2

Sumo Deadlift

140kg (309 lbs) x 3
180kg (397 lbs) x 2
200kg (441 lbs) x 1
210kg (463 lbs) x 1 (PR)
220kg (485 lbs) x F,F,F

Well, at least I've established that the sumo deadlift is not some magical panacea. 210 popped up easily, easier (subjectively) than conventional, but I just couldn't find the leverage to get 220 started off the floor. BTW, I wore no belt or anything. I'll keep testing, but perhaps a suit is required to get the best out of sumo.

Deadlift

200kg (441 lbs) x 3

Close Grip Bench Press

60kg (132 lbs) x 8
90kg (198 lbs) x 5
100kg (220 lbs) x 5
110kg (242 lbs) x 2

100 will be the work weight for this, starting at 5x5 or so.

[hbriem]

Monday Nov 29th 2010 - Squat Day

Squat

20kg (44 lbs) x 20 (10 overhead, 10 front)
70kg (154 lbs) x 8
100kg (220 lbs) x 5
125kg (276 lbs) x 3,3,3,3,3,3

Military Press

40kg (88 lbs) x 8
65kg (143 lbs) x 3,3,3,3,3,3

Better than last week. Speed throughout.

Weighted Chinup

15kg (33 lbs) x 5,5,5,5,5

Extra Wide Grip Bench Press

70kg (154 lbs) x 10,10,10

[hbriem]

Wednesday Dec 1st 2010 - Bench Press Day

I helped my sister-in-law move yesterday and managed to hurt my left knee somehow. Nothing big, but I'll take it easy on the leg work for a couple of days.

Bench Press

70kg (154 lbs) x 8
100kg (220 lbs) x 3
110kg (242 lbs) x 4,4,4,4,4,4

Front Squat

50kg (110 lbs) x 5
60kg (132 lbs) x 5

Started getting twinges so I stopped.

Military Press

50kg (110 lbs) x 5
60kg (132 lbs) x 3
65kg (143 lbs) x 3,3,3,3

DB Hammer Curl

32kg (70 lbs) x 5
36kg (79 lbs) x 8 (PR!)

DB Snatch (per side)

36kg (79 lbs) x 1
40kg (88 lbs) x 1
44kg (97 lbs) x 1
48kg (106 lbs) x F+1L,1R+1R

[hbriem]

I came down sick with a stomach bug Thursday and spent all day hunched over the toilet, throwing up. Friday was better, just diarrhea. I'm feeling much better now, but skipped the Friday session. Will resume as normal on Monday. My left knee still hurts a bit.