The Next Step

Tonight I decided to go into the gym and expose my deadlifting to public gaze, with those who know nothing about my condition no doubt wondering why a world champion bench presser should be straining away with so little weight on the bar.

Things went well. I started by warming up with a set of 5 reps with 40 kilos, and followed that with further sets of 5 with 50, 60 and 70. Then I did a set of 3 with 80 and 2 with 90. My first single was 100, which equalled my personal best. I followed that with 110 (242 pounds) for a new pb and then pleasantly surprised myself by managing 115 kilos and breaking through the 250 barrier.

115's not exactly earth-shattering within the larger scheme of things in the powerlifting world, but for a nearly-52 year old with my ailments to lift over 250 pounds off the floor in only his second ever session is something I am really chuffed with.

After my singles, I progressively reduced the weight of the bar and did a set of 3 with 90 and sets of 5 with 80, 70, 60, 50, 40.

The sets you do after finishing your top weights are called "down sets", and in my down sets tonight I focussed entirely on technique. If you instill good technique from day one, it'll stay with you in the hurly burly of competition, because the body doesn't know any other way to do it!

Any aspiring lifters reading this would be well advised to forget the weight on the bar and focus entirely on technique when they are starting out. Once you get the technique right, the weight will fly up and the chance of injury will be greatly reduced.

When I went into the gym tonight, I was 85 kilos away from the British qualifying standard. When I walked out, I was only 70 away, and I ain't finished improving yet...