Back To Work

I've not had the opportunity to do much deadlifting recently and the blog has been a bit inactive. On Saturday 12th April, before I flew out to Bratislava, I did this little workout...

50 for 8
70 for 5
90 for 3 x 8 sets.

Then yesterday I got back on track with my Saturday workouts and did...

60 for 8
80 for 5
100 for 5 x 5 sets.

Prior to that I did overhead press for the first time in ages - only 5 sets of 8 with 40 kilos, but when I hadn't done them for so long I didn't want to go heavy and tweak something.

I've accepted that there's no realistic prospect of me hitting the British qualifying standard by 18th May, and that's taken the pressure off. My deadlifting muscles, and all the tendons and ligaments that are used during the lift, need to be developed gradually. I can spend the next few months focussing on technique and core strengthening, and hopefully come May 2009 I'll be way above the standard.

I'll also not be pushing myself to the limit on bench press for the next few weeks. I'm on a 'deloading' phase and that will leave me with more energy to work on my deadlifts.

And my performance in Bratislava? There's a full report on my Golden Blog, but I managed to get a 192.5 opener and then attempted a new British record of 202.5, which was just too heavy on the day. But opening with a weight that was a target only a few weeks earlier shows promise.

Yesterday's technique actually felt perfect and shows that I'm moving in the right direction. Lots to be optimistic about.