Codger's Quest

[codger]

Started a peaking program today to prepare for a meet on December 14.

Squat with belt: 310x1x1@8; 250x5x1; 285x3x3. Four minutes rest.

Competition bench: 225x1x1@8; 207.5x3x5. Four minutes rest.

Pin bench: 170x4x1@6; 185x4x1@7; 200x4x1@8.5; 190x4x1. Four minutes rest.

BB rows: 170x12x3@8. Three minutes rest.

DB curls: 32.5x12x3@8; triceps press-downs: 70x15x2@8; 70x13x1@8. Supersets with two to three minutes rest. I might drop the curls down to 30 pounds next week.

[codger]

Second peaking workout:

Deadlift with belt: 445x1x1@8; 430x3x1@9; 410x3x2. Four to five minutes rest.

Close-grip bench: 220x1x1@8; 215x3x1@9; 200x3x3. Three to four minutes rest.

Squat, no belt: 250x6x1@7; 260x6x3@8. Three minutes rest.

I weigh a bit under 195 now so I'm happy with these numbers--getting close to what I was doing when I weighed 205. I've been training consistently now for about 2.5 months, after missing most of the summer because of traveling for work.

[codger]

Peaking day 3.

Two-count paused squat, no belt: 300x1x1@8; 290x3x1@9; 275x3x2. Four minutes rest.

Two-count paused bench: 225x1x1@9; 220x3x1@9.5; 205x3x2. Four minutes rest. I should have gone with 220 and 215 for the first two sets.

Press: 110x6x1@7; 115x6x3@8. Three to four minutes rest.

DB curls: 30 (each) x13x3@8, supersets with triceps press-downs: 70x12x3@8. Two to three minutes rest.

[codger]

Two days of peaking this week, prepping for Saturday's meet. I weighed a bit over 194 this morning before eating or drinking anything.

Today:

Squat with belt: 315x1x1@8; 310x3x1@9; 295x3x1. Four minutes rest.

Competition bench, one-sec pause: 225x1x1@8; 220x3x1@9.5; 210x3x1. Four minutes rest.

Deadlift with belt: 445x1x1@8.

On Thursday I'll practice my openers for the squat and bench. Friday afternoon I'll drive to Albuquerque; Saturday morning it's go time!

[codger]

Worked up to my openers on the squat and bench today for Saturday's meet.

Squat with belt: 315x1x1@8.

Comp bench: 225x1x1@8.

I'll report back on Sunday about how the meet went.

[Browndog]

White Lights...

[codger]

Thanks, Chas. Now it looks like 10 people will be competing, so still a pretty small meet.

[codger]

Meet recap:

Had a great time, despite feeling a bit under the weather. The meet was small, only 14 lifters, so everyone--men and women--lifted together in one fight on one platform. A very friendly venue, with some excellent lifters. Great judges and spotters. Most impressive was a slender, quiet teenager in the 74 kg class (163 pounds). He set state records for all his lifts, including a 217.5 deadlift (479 pounds).

I made all my squats, though each one felt pretty heavy, even the 140 kg opener. Second squat: 150: third: 155, which set a state record for the 93 kg masters 3 class. (Keep in mind that New Mexico is one of the least populous states in the country, somewhere below Nebraska, I think, so not a big pool of geezer competitors.)

Made my first two bench attempts: 100 and 105 kilos. My third attempt at 110 kg only went up a few inches over my chest and just stayed there. I was kind of surprised--I thought 242 pounds would be very doable.

Deadlifts went pretty well. I opened with 200 kg; made the second attempt with 210 kg, and decided to go for broke with 222.5kg for the third attempt but couldn't even get it above my knees.

This morning I was surprised to find out that I set state records for the squat, deadlift, and total for all lifts for my class.

Still feeling a pleasant post-meet buzz. I'm planning to enter a NM state championship meet in February--there should be a lot more lifters at that event. With a bit of luck maybe I'll add a few pounds to all my lifts.

[Browndog]

Good show, good show...

For having a tough time getting steady training scheduled, those are good numbers.

Plenty of time to get a few more kgs on the bar before February.

[codger]

Thanks again, Chas. I am pretty happy with the numbers considering they're the result of two and a half months of training after a spring and summer of very spotty training. I hope this year my work schedule will lighten up a bit so my training can be more consistent. (Skewed priorities?)