Tag: Bench Press

A Big Retest

My low back isn’t feeling the greatest from yesterday’s deadlift session. Otherwise feeling good though. In at 10am.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 Air Dyne
  • PVC Pass-thrus

Strength

5/3/1 Bench Press – Cycle 1 Week 3

  • 5 @ 85# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 105# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 135# (60% – warm)
  • 5 @ 160# (75%)
  • 3 @ 180# (85%)
  • 1+ @ 200# (95%)

I used the Reactive Slingshot again for the working sets. I got 8 reps on the last set, but had a little issue with my right arm flaring out again. Gives me an estimated max of 253#, down from the 271.5# last lift.

Pullovers

3 x 15 with 60# DB

Olympic Lifting

I loaded up a training bar so it was only 35# to work on my snatch technique. Worked on keeping the bar close on the first pull and then getting to the hips on the second pull. I need to do this type of stuff a lot more often. I think we did 5-10 minutes of work.

WOD

  • 10 -> 1 HSPU
  • 10 -> 1 Ring Dips
  • 30 DU

Kevin had planned out just the first two movements and I remembered an almost identical WOD I did back in Phoenix, so we modified it for a retest. Back in January it took me 24:24 to finish. It’s the only WOD to ever put me in bed for the rest of the day and make me think I had rhabdo. I’d never done that many HSPU in a day before. Today I finished in 17:49 and feel great! Broke the HSPU up into 2 sets each round until I got to 4. Ring dips were 3 sets for most of the way and then some sets of 2 before doing the last 3 sets unbroken. Too many misses on middle rounds of DU. Huge improvement though and shows how far my strength has come.

Feeling Wrecked in the Morning

Feeling pretty beat up this morning, especially in the posterior chain. Went in at 10 with Kevin and Ellen for strength lifts though.

Warm-up

5:00 Air Dyne

Strength

Bench Press – 5/3/1 Cycle 1 Week 2

  • 5 @ 85# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 105# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 125# (60% – warm)
  • 3 @ 150# (70%)
  • 3 @ 170# (80%)
  • 3+ @ 190# (90%)

* Working sets completed using the Reactive Sling Shot

In the set with 170# I realized if I came a little lower on my chest I could keep my right elbow in a lot better. I think I was benching too high on my chest, which makes it hard to keep that elbow in. Went on to knock out 13 reps at 190, which is the same number I hit at 180# on Sunday! And I didn’t have a single issue with the right elbow flaring out to cause that arm to lack behind. Estimates my max at 271.5#, which is a joke, but I’m improving!

Deadlift – 5/3/1 Cycle 1 Week 2

  • 5 @ 165# (40% of Training Max – warm)
  • 5 @ 205# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 245# (60% – warm)
  • 3 @ 285# (70%)
  • 3 @ 330# (80%)
  • 3+ @ 370# (90%)

Felt good. Pulled 8 reps at 370# and it actually felt better than the 9 at 350# I did on Saturday. New estimated max of 467.5#.

Maybe I should lift more often when I’m not feeling great! Cut the session after those lifts because I’m going to a class this afternoon with a friend who wants to try out CrossFit. Went in at 4pm to a pretty big class.

Warm-up

  • 30 Air Squats
  • 20 PVC Pass-thrus
  • 10 Burpees
  • 300m Run

Strength

Wasn’t too big on doing another big strength lift with 2 already this morning, but I can always use an extra squat session. Front squats on the menu today.

  • 5 @ 135#
  • 3 @ 185#
  • 3 @ 225#
  • 3 @ 245#
  • 3 @ 255#

Fuck it, go big! Matches my best 3RM, but the two sets before were higher than I’ve gone before, and legs got some solid work with the hill sprints last night and deadlifts this morning. When I last did this a couple of months ago I used 155-175-195-225-255, so this is a nice improvement in overall weight moved.

3 Rounds NFT

  • 8 Ring Dips
  • 8 Ring Rows

I still suck at ring rows. Did all of my dips strict and unbroken though.

WOD

12 Rounds

  • 1:00 AMRAP (continue next AMRAP where you leave off)
    • 5 Pull-ups
    • 10 Hand Release Push-ups
    • 15 Air Squats
  • 1:00 Rest

I was getting over a round per minute the entire way. In the 10th round I thought my hand felt a little funny on the bar. I got stuck to some old tap glue and it ripped it right open because I couldn’t slide around the bar on my butterfly. Ugh, just what I needed a few days before the Warrior Dash. I finished with 14+1 rounds, with the push-ups being my limiting factor. Probably could have gone a little faster on the air squats too, but all pull-ups were unbroken.

PR Fails

My left calf is tight, either from push presses on Friday or all of the double unders yesterday. Went to the gym at 2 with Kevin and Ellen.

Warm-up

  • DU
  • 3:00 Air Dyne

Knocked out a streak of 81 DU in a row. Thought maybe it was the day I finally join the century club, but it was not to be.

Strength

Bench Press – 5/3/1 Cycle 1 Week 1

  • 5 @ 85# (40% of training max – warm)
  • 5 @ 105# (50% – warm)
  • 3 @ 125# (60% – warm)
  • 5 @ 135# (65%)
  • 5 @ 160# (75%)
  • 5+ @ 180# (85%)

* Used the Reactive Sling Shot for the working sets.

Still trying to force that right elbow to stay in, but in the last set it still kept leaking out. The Sling Shot is a pretty weird feeling. I got 13 reps with 180#, which I’m pretty damn happy about.

Weighted Dips

Did 3 sets of 8 with 30# hanging from a belt.

Olympic Lifting

Snatch

Kevin helped me with my setup and some drilling to work on meeting the bar with my hips. Worked on this for awhile with a 45# loaded training bar. Then started going at snatches.

  • 2 @ 95# (power snatches)
  • 115#
  • 135#
  • 145#
  • 155#
  • 165#
  • 3 Failed attempts @ 175# (PR)

I had 175 on my first two. Just didn’t lock out my arms when I received it, but get under it and down to the bottom of the squat without a problem. On the 2nd attempt I had the weight there and in the hole, but then started losing it backwards, saved it, then lost it forward. Third attempt was pretty poor. Hit 165# easy though, which is only the 2nd time I’ve made it. I’ll get 175# next time.

Clean & Jerk

  • 155# (power clean)
  • 185#
  • 215#
  • 245#
  • 2 Failed attempts @ 260# (PR)

I got the weight much higher than needed and got my right elbow under the bar really fast. My left just didn’t want to get under for some reason and so I lost it in the hole. It was pretty scary too since one arm was under and one wasn’t, I couldn’t bail on it safely. Bounced off my right knee a bit, which is sore and stiff now. My second attempt I didn’t commit because the first was in my head too much. Glad I got the 245# without much trouble though, which is only 5# below my max.

Conditioning

0.5 Mile Sled Drag (135#)

Felt really good. I put the sled straps through the belt I use for weighted dips and pull-ups, which was much better than looping the thing over or through my shoulders.

Strength Focus

My legs are feeling a bit sore. Not sure if it’s from the Super Squats or the step-ups on Wednesday. Shoulders are a little tight from the pressing and muscle-ups last night. In at 11 this morning.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 Air Dyne
  • 2 Rounds
    • 10/10 Leg Swings (F-B, S-S)
    • 10/10 Flamingos
    • 10/10 Scorpions
    • 10 PVC Pass-thrus
  • 5 RDLs (135#)
  • 3 Pendlay Rows (115#)
  • 5 RDLs (225#)
  • 3 Pendlay Rows (145#)

Strength

10:00 E2M

  • 5 RDLs (275#)
  • 3 Pendlay Rows (155# first set, then 160# for 4 sets)

Got some new lifting straps that are much easier to use. Really helped with the heavy RDLs.

DB Bench Press

  • 20 @ 35# DBs (DB held with palms facing towards feet)
  • 3 x 20 @ 40# DBs (DB held with palms facing each other)
  • 20 @ 45# DBs (DB held with palms facing each other)

Switched to the other grip after the first round to try to work on keeping that elbow in. Should translate more to ring dips as well.

Sled Work

  • 150m Sled Drag (205#)
  • 3 Box Jumps (32″)
  • 150m Sled Backwards Pull (160#)
  • 3 Box Jumps (32″)
  • 150m Sled Drag (205#)
  • 3 Box Jumps (32″)

Planned on doing 3 of the drag and 3 pulls, but it started raining.

Tough Mudder tomorrow with nearly 30 people from Survival Fitness!

Ready for Sunday

I was worried I’d wake up and barely be able to move today. My body was pretty trashed yesterday after the strongman circuit. Also surprised I didn’t get sore from the 140+ wall balls after 10 sets of 3 back squats. Something must be working. In at 10am today.

Warm-up

5:00-10:00 DU

Strength

Bench press today. Warmed up with 5 @ 135#, 3 @ 185#, and 2 @ 205#. Then did seven singles with 225#, resting about 60-90 seconds between each one. Right arm was still going out on some of them, but I got every rep in. Haven’t benched that much since I set my 235# PR back last year.

Olympic Lifting

Did the jerk footwork drill for a while and then went into some jerk balances with 95#. Did about 4 sets of 2 and then a set of 4 I think. Moved to C&J from there, doing 4 doubles with 135# and a double with 185#. Legs feeling fatigued from the last two days.

WOD

Wanted to try out the 2nd event for the competition this Sunday to get a feel for the pace of it.

3 Rounds

  • 10 Plate Burpees
  • 8 Pull-ups
  • 6 Clusters (95#)

I kept a steady pace through each round, right at about 1:30 per round. Finished in 4:29. Could probably go a little faster in competition, but felt like solid work. Everything was unbroken, but I did drop the bar after 3 clusters in the last round; didn’t stop though.

Kind of a lighter  and less intense day, but it was needed. Took my time and was there almost 2 hours.

Epic Session

My hamstrings are pretty sore from doing the RDLs yesterday. Need to do those more often and pay more attention to the hamstrings. Went it an 10:30 this morning and we had a big group. Best session we’ve ever had.

Warm-up

  • 300m Run
  • 2:00 Jump Rope
  • Stretching

XWOD / OLY

7:00 EMOM

  • 3 Explosive Squat Snatches (95#)

Felt great and really tried to drop under the bar fast.

Strength

OHS

  • 3 @ 135#
  • 3 @ 145#
  • 3 @ 155#
  • 3 @ 165#
  • 3 @ 180# (PR)
  • 3 @ 190# (PR)

Booyah! I just had set a 3RM with 175# about a week and half ago.

Close Grip Bench Press

  • 5 @ 135#
  • 3 @ 165#
  • 3 @ 175#
  • 3 @ 195#
  • 3 @ 205#
  • 3 @ 215#

Still fighting that right arm flaring out, but when I keep it in, it’s money. Matches my 3RM for regular grip bench press, so maybe I’m back on the upward swing.

WOD

Wanted to try the 100s workout from Regionals, but not quite for that long, so we dropped the reps to 50s. Still brutal.

  • 50 Wall Balls (20# MB, 10′ target)
  • 50 C2B Pull-ups
  • 50 Pistols
  • 50 Alternating One-Arm DB Snatches (60# DB)

Did the wall balls as 25-25 without a problem and then did 5 C2B at a time through 20, with one 4 and the rest 3s. Tried to get 6-10 pistols at a time and started doing the foot hold to keep myself from tapping the foot on the ground. Worked well for the first time trying that. Then survived through the snatches. They used 70# at Regionals. My time was 16:28 and I feel pretty good about it, but Froning did 100 reps of each with a heavier dumbbell in just over 19 minutes. Think about how sick that it!

Off to get a massage!

Thursday Before Regionals Road Trip

Legs are still feeling those back squats from Tuesday. In at 10am with Brad and Kevin for a quick workout. May hit up a box in Columbus later today.

Warm-up

  • 500m Row
  • PVC pass-thrus
  • Stretching

Strength

12:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 8 Ring Dips
  • Evens: 8 Ring Rows

Bench Press (Close Grip)

  • 10 @ 45#
  • 5 @ 135#
  • 5×5 @ 185#

This felt so much better for me than my benching has been lately. Kind of surprising considering the ring dips and rows we had just done before it.

WOD

  • 50 American KBS (53#)
  • 30 Burpees
  • 50 Goblet Squats (53#)

Nice little burner. Finished in 5:56, going unbroken in the KBS and burpees, then breaking up the goblet squats quite a bit due to quads burning up.

Now off to Columbus for the weekend to watch the beasts of the Central East.

Just Another Thursday

In at 10am with Kinde and Monica. Not many people training this week after “Murph” destroyed us all.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Air Dyne
  • PVC pass-thrus

Strength

Bench Press

Warmed up with 10 @ 45#, 5 @ 135#, and 2 @ 185#.

E2MOM 12:00

  • 1 Bench Press (205#)

We were supposed to use 95%, but since my bench press has been a struggle lately and there were no other guys there to spot me, I didn’t want to push my luck. The 205# felt pretty good throughout.

OHS

Find 3RM

  • 3 @ 135#
  • 3 @ 145#
  • 3 @ 155#
  • 3 @ 165#
  • 3 @ 175#

I’m not using wrist wraps or lifting shoes for a few weeks, so this was interesting. My wrists were killing at the end of those last couple sets. That’s 15# more than I’ve done for 3 reps, so I’ll take it!

WOD

21-15-9

  • Burpees
  • Air Dyne calories

Fun little metcon here. I finished in 5:09.

Finisher

7 x 12 GHD Sit-ups (Romain Chair)

Was supposed to do 10 sets, but my back started to light up, so I called it quits.

Rest day tomorrow to golf!

Looking for More PRs

Kevin and I went to the gym at 1:00pm after classes to do some lifting. I warmed up with about a 300m run, some PVC pass-thrus, and stretching.

Cleans

  • 2 @ 95#
  • 2 @ 135#
  • 2 @ 165#
  • 1 @ 185#
  • 1 @ 205#
  • 1 @ 225#
  • 1 @ 240# (PR)
  • F @ 250#
  • 1 @ 250# (PR)

Hitting 240# was a 10# PR and was no problem. Then I psyched myself out on 250# and didn’t even try to get under it. Went again and nailed it, but had a pretty ugly first pull with my ass raising up a ton to start.

Bench Press

  • 5 @ 45#
  • 5 @ 95#
  • 3 @ 135#
  • 2 @ 185#
  • 1 @ 205#
  • F @ 230#
  • F @ 230#

On both attempts at 230#, I had the bar moving good and then my right arm just hit the brakes. Weird. I can’t even get back to my 235# PR from last November. Disappointing.

Snatch

  • 3 @ 45#
  • 2 @ 95#
  • 1 @ 115#
  • 1 @ 135#
  • 1 @ 145#
  • F @ 155#
  • F @ 155#

I should have shut it down earlier, but I was stubborn and wanted to go for it. Not trying to make excuses, but just wasn’t feeling it in the snatches at all today.

Finished the Squat Program

In at 10am. Trained with Kevin and Kinde.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Air Dyne

Strength

Front Squats

Last session of the 6 week volume squat program. Warmed up with 5 @ 45# and 5 @ 135#.

  • 5 @ 205#
  • 4 @ 215#
  • 3 @ 230#
  • 2 @ 240#
  • 1 @ 260#
  • 6 @ 205#

I went a little over the prescription since loading 200# on the bar is not convenient and then also added 5# on the set of 1 so I could set an easy PR. Forget the reps and did an extra one on the last set. I’m really happy I did this program and can tell my squats are better. I’m excited to test out my maxes next week.

Bench Press

Had a disappointing showing a couple of weeks ago for 1RM bench, so needed to get back on track. I looked back to the last time I did sets of 3 and went for the same weights.

  • 5 @ 135#
  • 3 @ 155#
  • 3 @ 175#
  • 3 @ 195#
  • 3 @ 215#
  • MAX @ 175# (Did 10)

The set with 215# wasn’t exactly easy today, but at least I know I can still do it. Had to really concentrate on keeping my right elbow in close today and it helped.

WOD

  • 5-4-3-2-1 Clusters (135#)
  • 10-8-6-4-2 OTB Burpees

This one was inspired by a WOD Briggs and Valenzuela did.

I dropped the bar every rep, but didn’t take any breaks. Took me 4:22.

Finisher

5 Sled Drags of about 100m (135#)