13 Jan Lab Rat – Pre Contest Week 2 Day 1 & 2

I’m training for the XPC Finals at the Arnold Sports Festival® March, 7, 2015.  I’ll be competing as a 242lb raw lifter looking to improve my best meet lifts of 575, 430 and 600. 

Saturday’s training session was filled with energy and motivation, we held a quick pace for squats and most of the deadlifts.  Warm up consisted of the McGill Big 3, KB squats, and a couples sets of KB swings.

Squats – Everything was moving with ease, top set was my opening lift at the last competition.  Very happy with where I currently stand.

• Bar 3 x 8
• 150 2 x 5
• 240 x 3
• 330 x 2
• 420 x 2
• 470 x 2 (light wrap)
• 500 x 2 (medium wrap)

Pause squat – 315 3 x 3

Deadlift –  135-315 was pulled from the floor 405+ from 4″ blocks, something out of my comfort zone.  I’ve never felt strong from this starting position, until now.

• 135 2 x 3
• 225 x 3
• 315 x 2
• 405 x 2
• 495 x 2
• 545 x 2

 

Monday’s training session had DISASTER written all over it.  Floridian’s can’t drive in the rain.  I left work just after 5:00pm and got to the gym around 7:10pm.  Typically it’s a 30 minute drive.  Enough complaining onto training.  Threw on a healthy amount of capsaicin and elbow sleeves and setup on the bench.

• Bar 2 x 8
• 135 2 x 5
• 225 x 3
• 275 x 1 and shut it down.

The goal for the night was a top set in the 345-355 range for a double, my body had different plans.  Elbows just had too much pain in them, I could have pushed through but I felt it smarter to shut down and start next weeks deload early.  No doubt in my mind I’ll make something happen in the coming weeks.

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