Geoff's Intermediate Log, v2.0

[Geoff Bischoff]

I find myself in the unenviable position of having to abandon a *successful* Texas Method variant to do something else starting next week.

Annual APFT is coming up, so I'll be tapering volume while maintaining/increasing intensity, doing a 1-lift-a-day variant hybrid of Baker's 852 and Wendler's 531, which will allow some running work for the APFT.

I'm thinking of it as the Arizona Method, kind of tongue-in-cheek of course. The five weeks will be 8-5-3-2-1, which is the zip code for Ajo, Arizona.

A week of 8s, then 5s, then 3s, then 2s, then 1s leading into the APFT. We'll see how she runs. I intend to transition back into Texas when complete.

Still got 2 more days of my Texas variant this week, first, though.

[Geoff Bischoff]

GIP W11D2.1

Deadlift: 455x3x2 (V6 PR!) Set 1 at Geoffrey Bischoff on Instagram: “455x3. Part of a V6 PR for Texas Method ID. Grip was strong on both triples. SDG #22000lbs4johnson #22miles4johnson #weights #wendler531…”

Got them done without grip problems. Good times.

T = 2730
TW3Sep = 18505

[Geoff Bischoff]

GIP W11D3 (Squat and Bench ID)

Squat: 410x3x2 (3PR!) (V6 PR!)

Bench: 330x3x2 (3PR!) (V6 PR!)

Video of first set of each at Geoffrey Bischoff on Instagram: “Red letter Texas Method day. Bench ID: 330x3x2 (Best triple, best 6rep). Squat: 410x3x2 (Best triple, best 6rep). SDG. #22000lbs4johnson…”

So today was a great day.

1) Went to the gym before Julie got there for her session, and had my squat warmups up to 370 done before she showed; the head start made all the difference.

2) Did my best squat triple ever, and then repeated it for another set.

3) Did my best bench triple ever, and then repeated it for another set.

4) A young man came up to me during my bench warmup and asked if I do any training on the side. I told him I'd consider it, that right now I only coach family, and they're free. I gave him my contact info, and hope he uses it.

I'm really regretful about abandoning Texas Method while it's succeeding, but I need to do a competent job on my Army test. May God grant that I return to great gains after the APFT is done.

T: 4440
TW3Sep: 22945 (Goal MET)

[Jr_Geezer]

GIP W11D3 (Squat and Bench ID)

Squat: 410x3x2 (3PR!) (V6 PR!)

Bench: 330x3x2 (3PR!) (V6 PR!)

Video of first set of each at Geoffrey Bischoff on Instagram: “Red letter Texas Method day. Bench ID: 330x3x2 (Best triple, best 6rep). Squat: 410x3x2 (Best triple, best 6rep). SDG. #22000lbs4johnson…”

So today was a great day.

1) Went to the gym before Julie got there for her session, and had my squat warmups up to 370 done before she showed; the head start made all the difference.

2) Did my best squat triple ever, and then repeated it for another set.

3) Did my best bench triple ever, and then repeated it for another set.

4) A young man came up to me during my bench warmup and asked if I do any training on the side. I told him I'd consider it, that right now I only coach family, and they're free. I gave him my contact info, and hope he uses it.

I'm really regretful about abandoning Texas Method while it's succeeding, but I need to do a competent job on my Army test. May God grant that I return to great gains after the APFT is done.

T: 4440
TW3Sep: 22945 (Goal MET)

Congratulations, Geoff, that was indeed a great day. You just crushed those all those lifts! (I include the deadlift from your previous post)

-Rob

[Geoff Bischoff]

Thanks Rob! Great PR pull on the deadlift, today!

[Geoff Bischoff]

Arizona Method, W1D1 and W1D2

So I've begun the 85321. I'm crunched for time this week because reasons, so I conducted Press-8s and Deadlift-8s today. Additionally, I wanted to see if I could do an entire week of "22000lbs4johnson" in a single day, so I threw some high-volume benching in at the end. Derpdy derpdy doo. Video of top press and DL sets at Geoffrey Bischoff on Instagram: “Introducing the Arizona Method. It's as dumb as it sounds. Also: Press 180x8 (8PR!) And Deadlift 405x8 (8PR!). Not pictured: Bench…”

Press: 140x8, 160x8, 180x8 (8PR!)

Deadlift: 315x8, 365x8, 405x8

Bench: 225x12x4

Yes, four sets of 12. Bodybuilder crap, amirite?

T: 23320
TW4Sep: 23320

[Jr_Geezer]

Oh, man, you crazy! 315x8, 365x8, 405x8!

Seriously, if you want 500, you've got it. Just gotta put the weight on the bar and pull it.

-Rob

[Geoff Bischoff]

Rob, all the formulas say so, but my grip strength and pulling endurance disagree. I expect my next Texas Method cycle will result in a 500 pull though.

For now:

APFT prep, Run 1:

1 Mile: 10m48s

Very slow. Glad I'm taking time to work on this. Notes to self:

1) Right now the greater stressor is joint impact; I've been doing non-impact work exclusively. It took a quarter of a mile before my ankles and knees got used to it.

2) As that works itself out, points of weakness include lower back endurance and hip-flexor endurance. Low back: Used to pulling deadlifts and absorbing/returning squats. Not used to maintaining upright posture through 1000+ ballistic foot impacts. Hip flexors: Haven't given them any instances of having to pull my feet up in awhile.

3) Conditioning. Don't know how bad this is yet; issues 1 and 2 absorbed enough energy that I wasn't able to push my heart/lungs to any kind of truly aerobic capacity.

Days until official test: 31

[Geoff Bischoff]

APFT prep, Run 2:

1 Mile: 8m14s

Much better; a 2.5 minute cut from day 1 to day 2.

1) Joint impact: Warming into this took a tenth of a mile versus a quarter yesterday.

2) Hip-flexor and low back enduranct: Hip-flexors were quiet. Low back began to bark at me only the final quarter mile.

3) Conditioning: I was able to run fast enough today to challenge my poor conditioning.

So far so good. This 1-mile pace, if maintained for 2 miles, would give me 75 points on the test; passing is 60. I'm in a good place; just need to keep at it. That's all the running for me until next Tuesday night; I'll either do 1.25 or 1.5 miles Tues/Wed next week. We'll see how that goes.

Days until official test: 30

[Geoff Bischoff]

Arizona Method, W1D3

Bench: 205x8, 250x8, 290x9 (9PR!) Video of 290x9 at Geoffrey Bischoff on Instagram: “290x9. 9PR! Beat the old best 9 by 15lbs. Arizona method still intact. SDG #22000lbs4johnson #22miles4johnson #arizonamethod #weights…”

T:5960

TW4Sep: 29280