The heavy squats on Sunday are taking more out of me than I expected and it almost takes me a week to recover. When I squat heavy, that's all I want to do, I don't  want to bench or deadlift, just want to wait until next week to squat heavy again. but I only have four training weeks left before the meet, so I have to bring up my other lifts.

Tues Light Bench

bar x reps

135 x 15

225 x 5

225 x 10

This day of training is now only for getting blood in the muscles. I am not going to build any more raw strength before the meet and that is what this day was originally planned for. So, before the meet, I will go light on Tuesdays and just before the meet, I may eliminate these days from the training plan and give more time to recover. The weights felt heavy today which means to me that my nervous system is not recovered yet. When I feel like that, I don't feel like lifting or training and all I want to do is rest and sleep. I feel tired all the time.

Wed Deadlift - All Sumo

135 x 10 singles for form and warm up

225 x 6

315 x 3

briefs and suit on

405 x 2

495 x 1

585 miss at the top

Was very happy with this session. Had a good massage on legs the day before and was surprised that the quads did not hurt and I deadlifted straight with both legs even right up until the last deadlfit. Six plates went up well, just too slow at the top and I wasn't willing to fight to get it. Was not planning to go this heavy, so I was happy.

Friday Bench

This was the day I was going to test my tricep and put the bench shirt on. Many people did not show up tonight, so it was only Carmine and Shawna and me.

bar x reps

135 x reps

225 x 6

315 hold only then rack

loose shirt on - loose shirt was tighter for the first time, finally my arms are getting a bit bigger.

405 x 3 no touch, normally I would force the touch but I didn't want to push the tricep, so I just took it down lower each time till it stopped, then back up

455 x 2 no touch, tricep was still good, very happy

500 x 1 no touch

500 miss, forced the touch but missed at lockout

Only had Carmine to hand off and spot. Didn't want to push the tricep too much so I was happy with finishing the day without reinjuring the tricep. I did what Al Mehan suggested to protect the tricep. With duct tape, I wrapped up the lower bicep and tricep tight but not too tight, then the same on the forearm then connected the two with tape. This kept the tricep from pulling away from the elbow and straining the cord that crossed under the elbow. It worked very well and I will do it again next week. Meanwhile I will have the tricep massaged often to heal faster. I will give myself one more week to baby the tricep and then I will forget about it and not think about it when I bench.

I pushed hard in this training cycle preparing for the meet and now a few weeks before the meet, for me it is a matter of active recovery and  balancing how hard to push without causing an injury. My head wants to push harder, but I want to be smart about it too. I want to make it to the meet with no excuses. I am actually getting quite excited about the meet.