hrat's log

[hrat]

Far too much booze and not enough sleep over the weekend. Sunday went climbing outdoors. Very small crag (~30ft tall) but had some nice routes on it.

Monday:
squats 70x5 no belt, 75x2x5 loose belt. Trying to stop the butt flick. 2-3 reps of the first set felt dead on, second set just felt heavy. Needs work.
Power cleans: 40x3, 45x3, 47.5x2,2,3,1f1,2
snatch/power snatch/snatch balance (messing about) at 20kg
RDLs 50x8, 60x8 (hamstrings sore today, I think 60 was about right: very deep, to the mid shin, almost to the floor)

Today: Press 25x3, 27.5x3, 28.5xamrap=8
singles 3x1 at 32.5 easy enough.
bench 35 5x10 with chins, 3,3,3,2
30mins swimming. Rescued a key from the bottom.

Chins were interesting: I can't reach the bar from the floor, so have to monkey up the rack. Probably look like a loony (more so than usual...)

[hrat]

45 mins "easy" run. Again with the friend training for the marathon. I guess about 3 miles. In pouring rain - this is a bonus, not a downside. I love being out in warm rain.

[Gillian Mounsey]

I love that you run, climb and play sports. I miss doing that stuff and need to get back to it.

I do remember how invigorating it is to run in the rain.

[hrat]

Gillian I was thinking about this tonight. I'd like to train "properly" i.e optimally, because I get racked off at how slow I make progress. But I like far more being able to do stuff on a whim, and as I don't "need" to be strong for anything and do all of this only for fun, it doesn't make sense to restrict things. Still want to pull 400lb some day, but I'm happy for it to take a long time, and I have no ambitions on 500. Basically I'm perfectly happy being mediocre.

Tonight: squats: 40x5, 60x5, 70x3, tight belt: 75x5 slow. 80x5 felt good, 85x3 done in.
the 80 set felt best, and felt easy. All the previous were really slow, trying to get the technique. On the 80 I said screw it, and it felt like at least some of the corrections stuck.
bench 37.5x3, 40x3, 42.5x12 Last rep super slow but line good.
DL: 100x1 no belt (woah that was fast) belt on: 110x1 (ditto!) 120x5 5th rep lost the chest.
Using my older, thinner belt, didn't feel as solid as my 10mm.

That's the 120 I should have had 2 weeks ago, when I hurt my back instead. I have changed a few things (lounging on the sofa), that I hope will help in the long run. We'll see.

[Gillian Mounsey]

Excellent deadlifting hrat.

You have inspired me to add back the athletic activities that I love so much. Being happy and enjoying activity comes before a 500lb deadlift for me.

I think you are doing a phenomenal job balancing everything that you do.

[hrat]

Weights room shut Friday. Just did the usual game of 5 aside football -scored a wicked goal (far top corner of the net from the sideline, neatly past the goalie's face), then headed off to Oban for the weekend.
Saturday: bit of sailing, bit of messing around driving a rubber dingy with an outboard.
Sunday bike ride with my 14 yo nephew. Realised afterwards my gears were shot, and I couldn't get half the cogs on the back wheel including the easiest ones. About 15 miles, few hundred ft of ascent. I found it way easier to lean well forwards and pedal sitting than to stand up. That's what squats do I guess.

I have been eating a ton, still not really sleeping enough, but I feel OK. Back issues seem far better. Only remaining issue is tight hip muscles, and the bruising that I keep accidentally causing while trying to get the knots out of them. One week left, then a week in the Lakes, then another week to train before a comp I think I'll enter. Need to get some heavy squats in before then somehow.


ETA: I really didn't think carrying my bag on one shoulder would be an issue, but it had gotten such that using other side felt really uncomfortable. After a week of alternating sides, I think I feel a difference already.

[yonkyogirl]

Which comp is it?

[hrat]

One of the Scottish Powerlifting ones, Sept 9th in Kilmarnock. There's a LOT of politics, SP split from the Scottish GBPF years ago over fees, and are trying to get back together, but I've seen them on facebook, and there's a lot of bad mouthing goes on. The girl who suggested I try competing (nearly 2 years ago now, wow!) lifts with them, so I started, and they're friendly, and have plenty of comps that are easy to get to.

[hrat]

A bit of junk in tonights session, because I felt strong (finally), and nothing hurt (also finally). Felt awful between sets, but then they went strong. It's sticky and humid again, only about 20degrees, but near 100% humidity, and the gym is packed and windowless.

Squat (ascending 5's, tight belt, because loose is back to uselessly loose) 70, 72.5, 75, 77.5, 80 x5
Felt good. Stopped worrying about tech. and went for it, going for knee break and knees out. Felt good, don't have proof, but hey.
Power cleans, 47.5 4x3
RDLs 60 2x8
Plank +15kg 2x1min, side plank 2x30sec each side.

Doesn't look like a lot, but it took 1.5 hours, and felt hard!

[mariawolters]

This would take me even longer, what with all the warm ups etc. good session, nice mix!