One More week until I bench again!!

The past seven weeks have been very productive for my squat and dead lift. While spotting for Sid on bench Tuesdays I have been hitting the leg press and seated rows with a vengeance. Last Sunday after warm ups I did my standard work set of 4 sets of 5 reps with a weight of 285 lbs. next Sunday that will go up the usual 5 lbs to 290. After my work sets I put 355 on the bar and did 2 sets of 3 reps a major pr (personal record) for me, squatting out of the racks. I have done more in the Smith machine but it is not the same. After squats I pulled (dead lifted) 3 reps at 435, 1 at 475 and a new recent (lower weight class) pr at 505. The 505 went up much cleaner than the 500 did two weeks ago.

A few thoughts on feeling sorry for oneself:

Because I did not make the Masters World bench team, I was feeling a little sorry for myself and questioning my ability as a power lifter. When I first chose to compete in 2003, my goal was to set a state bench press record in the 50 to 54 age division of the 275lb weight class. The record was held at that time by Willie Morris with a 407lb lift.
I went to Ken Ryder, who owned the Bull Run Athletic club at the time and was the power lifting “Man”, and asked if I could train with his crew. He allowed that I could, so I did. The training went well and at the 2003 USAPL Virginia Open I went to the platform for my first meet. I took a token at the squat, then wearing an old school Inzer blast shirt, I went out for my first attempt on bench. The bar was loaded to 385lbs and I took the hand off from Steve Horton. I brought the bar down to my chest then smoked the lift and racked it. The head Judge said “start” and everybody had a good laugh. I had jumped all the signals so received three red lights and a no lift. I went to the jury table to give my number for my second attempt. John Shifflet asked if I was going to take the lift over at the same weight, which is the custom. I replied that I had lifted that weight and my plan was to go to 395lbs so I did. This time I paid attention to the commands and smoked it again, three white lights good lift. For my third and final attempt I called for 410lbs, this would be a new State Record if I was successful. This is what I came to do. My wife has a 6x8 framed picture of me on the bench. Thacker is in the head chair and a crowd of power lifters is gathered around the platform. Ramsey is notable in his red bench shirt. The lift went by the numbers and I was the new state record holder. This record still stands 5 years later.
In the past five years I have competed in three major federations, the USAPL / IPF, the APA, and the 100% Raw. I have won state, national, and world championships. I went back through the records of these feds and discovered that I still hold 42 state records, 15 national records and 8 world records combined in these three federations. In 2008 I won two National Championships and set four new national records.
Now let us go back to where I am feeling a little sorry for myself, I guess I can let that go!!

Recovery!

As we know from previous posts, before Raw Nationals I added another work out day for speed bench. The concept was good , but the reality for a lifter my age was not so good. I believe this extra bench workout is probably responsible for the recent impingement I have been trying to rehab. Back when I started training with Ken Ryder and his crew, they recommended that I not lift more than two days a week and definitely not bench more than once a week. I had forgotten this advice. As a matter of fact, the reason I started squatting and deadlifting was to have another day of lifting during the week.
I tested my shoulder last night on the bench to see if after four weeks it was recovering.
After a quick warm up, I smoked 315, 335, and 355 with no problems. I had some slight discomfort in my shoulder while lifting but no pain this morning. I am going to continue to take off from benching until after Thanksgiving as planned.
Sid, my neighbor and one of my current training partners, has been feeling some pain in his shoulder as well. We decided last night to take Fridays off from benching to see if it helps our recovery and overall feeling of well being. We will continue accessory work and cardio.

I got an e-mail from my buddy Kevin Hutchinson. He told me that the Geudreaus are having a hard time filling in the masters world bench team. I am sure that this is due to the economic situation and the cost of the trip to New Zealand. Pat (my lovely wife) and I discussed it and decided that if I was asked I would decline this year. We will save the money for a run at the worlds in Sophia Bulgaria in 2010. I will be in the M5 (60 to 64) class and will take a shot at the world record. The qualifying meet will be the bench nationals in 2009.