A great bench night again. Joffrey and Shany came, Scott MacDiarmid visited for the first time from Cornwall, Joanick, Chris, Shawna and me.
bar x reps
135 x 10
135 x 10
225 x 4
315 just hold and rack
put shirt on
405 x 1
455 x 1
tighter shirt on
475 x 1
495 miss one arm not locked out
525 miss
Came in not feeling strong or wanting to push hard, but the weights kept going up then at 525 felt really good and motivated but it didn't go. I am still at 228 lbs and the shirts are not as tight as I would like, but I am feeling stronger and eating better so this should change soon.
Shany came to bench for the first time since her big 407 lb bench at the Metal Militia Power Wars in June at Montreal Barbell which put her at #4 in the World All-time rankings. She hadn't been in her shirt since then which is about six months and her form was off in many ways but she quickly dialed in and benched up to 365 lbs at 10 lbs less bodyweight. She was very happy with her bench tonight and so was I. Joffrey was able to touch for the first time today in his shirt. He took a very long time bringing down 545 lbs, but he was patient and held his form. He took so long he said he felt himself starting to pass out from lack of air, but got the press call and pushed back up for a good lift. He then took 575 lbs and went down faster with it, touched and pushed it all the way up again. Great job Joffrey. A huge PR.
Scott MacDiarmin said he never touched in his double ply Super Katana, but tonight on his first set in his shirt with 405 he came so close, I thought he touched. Then he touched easily with 455 and then benched 495 very easily.
Shawna was the star again tonight. She just entered another whole realm of benching and got another 20 lb PR. She went 185 lbs, 215, 235, 255, 265 PR, 270 PR, and then a big 280 lbs PR. She just amazes us with her strong mind and her attention to every detail of getting her form right. When she took out 280 lbs it felt like it crushed her, so she held it longer to get the nervous system used to it, then she maximized every part of the bench to get it right and looked like her arch was going to collapse in the bottom but she patiently held it and pushed harder. Then at the press call, she drove her heels and sailed the bar backwards and it went up very smoothly straight to lock-out. A beautifully executed lift. She was very happy and we were all very impressed and happy for her too.