Relentless meet write up

It has been a few weeks since the meet and I am finally getting some time to sit down and put everything down on paper.

Being a part of Relentless is one of the most amazing things I have ever done.  It is about lifting but it is not.  These meets are about HOPE.  As a whole we raised over $214,000 to help kids and families with life threatening illnesses.

When people talk about the relentless family they truly mean it is a family.  It is like a reunion at these meets.  Lifters helping other lifters even though it might hurt their own performance.  The meet atmosphere is different.

Going into the meet I had some goals.

1. Get through a full meet and put up a total
2. Set myself up for a bench and deadlift PR
3. Squat 525, bench 535, deadlift 740.  (planned 3rd attempts)

I de-loaded a little longer than I had planned so I wasn't sure how things would totally end up.

Friday we drove out and I made weight at 239.2 after my wife decided to play the heat game to cut the last few pounds and make weight.

Meet day 

Squats

Planned attempts 475, 500, 525

Since I was squatting in just briefs I was first in the flight.  I opened easy at 475.  Everything felt good so I jumped to my planned 3rd attempt of 525. Three white lights so I jumped to 550 and it ws good as well.  Looking at the video I should have gone heavier but I still would have been short of a PR total so it didn't really matter.

Actual attempts 475, 525, 550 - 3 for 3

Bench press

Planned attempts 500, 515-520, 535

A few weeks out from the meet I found a run and a small hole in my single ply shirt.  i wasn't sure if it would hold up through the meet but I was going to use it until it blew.

The weights felt light in the warm up room and my shoulder didn't give me much trouble as I warmed up.  I opened with 500 and had some difficulty touching but I touched and pressed very easily.  I was urged to take a big jump.  I decided to go for 525 since I was in the meet and my squat was above what I had planned.   My second attempt again flew up and I was urged to take a big jump.  Into uncharted water I went. Blowing past my PR of 530 to 550.  Taking jumps like this make me nervous because I have never pressed this much before.  My third attempt was good and this looked to be about the right call.  Six for Six!

Deadlift

Planned attempts 685, 715, 740

My lifting has always been about the deadlift.  It is my lift.  Training went well and my indicators shows I should be good for about 750.  My indicators we dead on.  After an easy opener and second attempt I took my planned third of 740.  My second attempt was a small pr and my third would be 25 pounds more than I had ever deadlifted from the floor.

740 came up like an opener!

9 for 9

 It is always exciting to see your training come together and do exactly what you set out to do.  Yet it is almost disappointing knowing that you left so many pounds on the platform.  I am now eagerly awaiting some down time to recover and relax.  It won't be long before prep for Relentless Minnesota begins.

Relentless Detroit 3 weeks out

10/13 Dynamic Effort Lower

TRX leg curls 4x10

Speed deadlift 455 5x1

Yoke bar goodmornings 145 3x8

Single leg hypers 4 plates 4x8

Situps on ghr 2x8

10/15 Speed bench

Speed bench – Short mini and long micro mini 165 5x5, 185 1x5, 205, 225x1

Db press on steep incline 80 x12, 9, 9

Banded scap rows – avg band 2x12

A1 neutral grip pushdown 4x10

A2 side raises 4x15

10/16 Bench assistance

Neutral grip pulldowns 4x8

Alternating db curls 3x8

Barbell rows 2x10

Drag curls 2x8

10/17 Max effort Lower

Tuesday my knee felt great. After the soft tissue work my swelling was down to as good as it gets.  Wednesday morning I took my dog for a walk and my knee was tender to talk on. It felt like I had a bruise next to my knee cap. The problem is I did no lower body and don’t remember hitting it on anything. Needless to say I tried to keep things simple and put as little pressure as possible on the joint.

Suspended yoke bar good mornings

Worked up to 365x2 – Very good for me from this position.

A1 long strap hypers 9 plates 4x10

A2 side bends 70 4x12

I trained a client then did Serrano slplit squats with a Purdue Barbell lifter. I think this caused my knee to swell more or stay swollen. I felt alright. I have a feeling my Lateral quad is tight and pulling my kneecap over enough to cause some issues.

10/19 Max effort upper

Had a visitor come in and train with me today. We had a good pace and he pushed me to work harder today. I am always grateful for those workouts.

Reverse band bench with elitefts strong bands

225, 275, 315x5

365x3, 405x2, 455x1, 495x1

515x1, add grey catapult 545x1, 565x1

Relentless Detroit - 5 weeks out

9/30 Rep lower
Ball leg curls 3x12

Speed squats with light onyx band
225 4x2, 245 2x2, 275x1, 315x1

This was the first time I have done traditional speed squats in a very long time. I love it but my body just can't handle it.

stiff leg deadlift w/ 2 chain
315x6, 365 2x6

10/1 Speed bench
3 board
325 3x5

4 board
345x3
370x3
395x3

speed bench with short monster mini band
185 6x5

10/2 upper assistance
A1 dumbell rows
130 3x8

A2 pulldowns
4x12

B1 preacher curl
B2 hammer curl

trifecta
15x1

10/4 and 10/5 at the elitefte compound.
I was able to participate in the UGSS at elitefts.  Things went down like this.
Squat worked up to 510 in briefs

deadlift 4x isometric deadlifts superset with CAT deadlifts at 495. The last two speed deadlifts were 545 and 585.  These felt great even with it being the first time in a new jack sumo deadlifter.

Bench
Shoulder felt pretty good. The prehab work and neck stretching has helped.
Worked up to 530 in my single ply bash. I got some tips on how to twist the sleeves and how it should work.  I didn't get many reps but I am very happy with the end result.

I had a fantastic time with the elitefts family. I can't wait to go back.

Relentless Detroit - 6 weeks out

9/22 REP lower

band leg curl
TKE

box squat
235x3
285x2
315x11

Speed squat 235 and 120# of chain  3x2

long strap hypers 8 plates 4x10
abs

9/24 DE upper
Right shoulder felt normal with no issues but my left is still catchy and giving me issues.

If I push the bar very straight with the right grip I could do my board work but speed work was out.

3 board
315 3x5

4 board
315x5
330x5
345x5
370x7

4 board was 2 off my record and if my shoulder were healthy I think I could have gotten 10. But as long as I got 5 I can live with this for now.

band pushdowns - avg x50

serrano ohp 15 2x10
tates 40 3x12

9/25 upper assistance 
straight arm grenade pulldown 30 3x12

db curls
grenade facepulls
barbell curls

9/26 Max effort lower

Rackable camber bar box squat  with halfed monster mini band
185, 225, 275, 315x1


Stiff leg deadlifts
275 2x6

9/28 Max effort upper
Shoulder was still bothering me so I took it easy again.
bench w/ 120# of chain
black catapult 275 x3

reverse band jm press 185 5x6
reverse band rows 3x6
hammer curls

Relentless Detroit meet prep - 7 weeks out

After my last bench session both shoulders were really ate up.  So I had to play things by ear.

9/16 Rep lower

GHR
3x8

box squat
235x3
265x3
295x11
325x1
350x1
375x1

My best box squat post surgery. Knees were achy but I did feel strong.

back raise
60 2x12

calf raise
situps on ghr

9/17
No pressing - Shoulders still hurt.

JM press
95 3x6

serrano ohp
12 2x12

tates
45 3x12

pushdowns
4x10

9/18 upper assistance 
scap rows + tbar rows 4x12

Sled t and y

9/19 Lower max effort

bodyweight 237

isometric deadlift and CAT deadlift
2x against pin 2 and 2x pin 3

CAT - 465 + 2 pair of chain.

9/21 max effort upper
shoulders are slightly better. Good enough to do something.

Steep incline
205x3
225x1
255x1
280x1
295xmiss

DB press with light band around back
80x12, 100x12

A1 rear delt rows
30 4x25

A2 rolling db ext
45 4x12

serrano ohp
db curls

Relentless meet prep - 9 weeks out

I was down for the count the last few days with a stomach bug. Weight dropped to about 231 and has not budged since. Even with carbs during the day. We will see what happens.

9/3  Dynamic effort upper

Speed bench with monster mini  155 6x5

185x1, 205x1

Db press

100x8, 130 x8,8,7,6

A1 klokov press 95 3x10

A2 incline bb extension 95x8, 115x8, 135x8

9/4 Upper assistance work

Meadows rows  75 4x12

Strip the rack ohp  3x6

Rotator pulldowns 2x12

9/5 Max effort lower

Ankle weight leg curls  2x12

Low box squat

Up to 355x1 – Stopped when my knee started to bother me. Had a little more left in the tank.

 I did a few other things but it was a mix of coaching Purdue barbell club and training. 

9/6 Max effort upper

Bench

225x5, 275x5, 315x5, 345x2

Add black catapult 365x2

Add silver catapult 385x2, 405x1 ½

Add single ply bash 425x2, 455x1, 495x1 (sloppy), add 1 ½ board 515x1

A1 Rolling db ext 60 3x10

A2 close grip pushups 4x8

9/7 Upper assistance

A1 sled Y+T  3x distance

A2 Keg (66#) ohp x8,10,12

Side raise with 5 second lower 12x12, 15x12, 20 2x12

Arnold press 25 2x12

Fat DD pulldowns 120 4x12

Fat gripz bb curls 3x12