Catching Up

Saturday 9th February:

Deadlift

50 for 5 x 2 sets
70 for 5 x 2 sets
90 for 5
110 for 5 x 5 sets
90 for 5
70 for 8

Overhead Press

Bar for 10
30 for 8
40 for 5
50 for 3
60 for 1
65 for 1 (PB)
70 for 1 (PB)
60 for 3 x 3 sets

The deadlifts were a real grind today, but I got my five fives. My back felt under a bit more pressure than usual, even on the down sets. Oh well, no injury and I managed to do what I went in to do, which is always the main target. The overhead personal bests (pbs) were a bit of a misnomer, because I'd never tried singles before, but we've all got to start somewhere. 70 kilos felt right at the outer fringes of my capabilities and I thought I was going to topple backwards at one point. I'm still very inflexible at the starting position (wrists and, especially, shoulders) and that doesn't help. On the plus side, 60 kilos felt lighter than it did last week. I think the trick with these is to keep it around the 50/60 range for the time being - and get someone to stand behind me!

My next deadlift session will be Wednesday. Now that I've lifted five fives with 110 the weight on the bar goes up again, but before deciding what that weight will be I'll be finding my new 1RM and then going back to five threes, probably with 115.

At my current rate of progress, I suspect that the qualifier in May is going to come a little bit too soon for me. That's not negativity, just realism. If I can lift 130 on Wednesday, that leaves me 55 kilos short of the standard, and I'll have to improve at a rate of about 15 kilos a month. That might be asking a bit too much and invite injury.

I'll just plod on and see where my training takes me, and I'll enter the qualifier come what may. This was always going to be a long term project.

Since starting deadlifting, my back feels much stronger and healthier and my posture has improved. Another reason to keep at it, irrespective of the competitive side of things.

Wednesday 6th February:

I've just realised that my Wednesday lifts had been omitted. That might be something to do with the fact that it was my birthday! 52 years young, and getting younger and younger as each year goes by! At this rate, I reckon that by my 60th birthday they'll be asking me for ID when I try to buy a drink.

Very briefly, I did a thorough warm up, followed by five sets of four with 110 and a couple of down sets, then left for a slap up meal with the kids (their treat!).

There's dedication for you - not letting a birthday get in the way of the programme!