Long Way to the Top

[poser]

4/17/17 VD

Backsquat
4x5 290#

Bench press
5x5 207.5#

Power Clean
5x3 185#

Good workout. Everything was solid and consistent.

[poser]

4/19/17 RD

Front squat
3x3 235#

OH Press
3x5 135#

power snatch
4x2 135#

Chins
4x5

[poser]

4/21/17 ID

Backsquat
1x5 325#

Bench press
1x5 225#

Deadlift
1x5 340#

Shitty sleep most of this week, but managed to get through this just fine. Squat was hard, but I felt like I could have done another set of desired. -should start getting into PRs on 5s next week.

Bench Press was ok -a little frustrated with progress here.

*there was a gal at the gym with a remarkably nice ass today [emoji6]

[poser]

4/24/17 VD

Backsquat
4x5 295#

OH Press
5x5 142.5#

Clean
4x3 187.5#

For no explicable reason, that was a brutal workout to grind through. -plenty of sleep last night.

[poser]

4/26/17 RD

Front squat
3x3 237.5#

Bench press
3x5 200#

Power Snatch
4x2 135#

Chins
3x8

It's worth noting that my Front Squat floundered for awhile, but it's been feeling rather solid lately and seems to have some momentum.

[poser]

4/28/17 ID

Backsquat
1x4, 1x1 330#

OH Press
1x4, 1x1 157.5#

Deadlift
1x5 340#

I felt good today, but couldn't finish my programmed sets. -maybe didn't eat enough the last couple of days. I'm going to do both of those sets again for 5.

[poser]

5/1/17 VD

Backsquat
4x5 295#

Bench press
5x5 210#

Power Clean
5x3 187.5#

Been moving the last 2 days so stress is kind of high. There was a "HIIT" class (if "HIIT" equals old women shanking battle ropes in slow motion) in the room I always lift in so I had to squat in the awful rack in the Bro room. You have to walk the bar out 5 steps (one of those graduated racks) and the floor is slick. I did 2 sets in there with the Ivanko iron and then moved into the other room once the class was done. The off brand bumpers were noticeably heavier than the iron plates.

Bench Press was really solid. Not sure why my ID sucks. Power Cleans felt heavy -even missed a rep in there which I haven't done in a long time.

[poser]

5/3/2017 RD

Front squat
3x3 240#

OH Press
3x5 135#

Power snatch
5x2 135#

Chins 3x8

Good workout, though OH Presses felt heavier than they should have.

[poser]

5/5/2017 ID

Backsquat
1x4 330# (same as last week: 1st 3 felt good, 4th was a Uber grind).

Bench press
1x5 227.5#

Deadlift
1x4 345# Backoff: 1x3 315#

Well, I believe I have run TM into the ground. It's been interesting and enjoyable, but I'm not moving forward and if I start running it out again, I'll likely end up in the same outcome as the previous run. My run of TM was not without mistakes, outside factors, and athletic pursuits. My first cycle was interrupted by a very stressful, long distance move to much higher altitude. The resulting reset was significant. The 2nd cycle was productive, adding 20 pounds to my 5 rep max during peak snowboard and fatbike season -gained about 20 pounds. Phase two was cut a bit short by a week long adventure. I started the 3rd cycle with a reset and reduced squat volume to 4x5 which doesn't appear to have been sufficient stimulus to drive ID.m since installed out on 5s at the same weight as the previous cycle. I was planning on getting 10 pounds past the previous 5s PR.

My plan was to spend May running TM out and then switch into heavy conditioning/ strength maintenance during the month of June for a trip. Instead, I'm going to transition into HLM next week for the month of May and add in conditioning to ramp up for June.

Interesting to note that my VD bench press has improved in recent weeks but ID has not felt progressive. 5x5 VD was within 17 pounds of ID and the ID weight felt really heavy. -hoping to drive some Bench Press progress on HLM and I'm going to add backoff sets on Deadlifts as well.

[poser]

I'm going to structure HLM as follows:

Monday
5x5 backsquats (continuing TM VD)
5x5 bench press (Same)
Deadlift 1x5 + 1x3 backoff

Wednesday
3x3 Front Squat (continue TM RD)
3x5 OH Press
5x2 Power Snatch
Chins

Friday
3x5 backsquat -20% of Monday
3x5 CGBP
5x3 Power Clean (continue TM VD)