Patrick: Max Bench

We did another max day, with similarly exciting results.

2x135, 1x145, 1x160, 1x175, 1x185, failed 190 twice

Needless to say, I'm extremely pleased. 185 is a 30lb PR over the last recorded single back in January. Although everything from 160 up felt heavy, and 185 enormously so, they came up remarkably easily, at least the 160 and 175 anyway. As usual, the guys get many thanks for the encouragement through the lifts.

Brian observed that on my first and best attempt at 190, I slowed down at the bottom of lowering the weight, which might have sapped my strength.

Patrick: Max Squats

Back to post today's PR for the record.

Warmup: 3x95, 3x135, 3x185

Working: 2x225, 2x245, 1x265, 1x285 (30 lb PR), 3 fails at 300.

The 285 is a 30 lb PR over the last single day I did in January. I'm not actually sure I did a max single since then; I think our intensity has only been doubles or triples since then.

The failures were decent fighting attempts and the third was the best of the three. The first two I only got a bit past parallel on the way up. The last one I focused on going down faster to get a stretch/aggressive push out of the hole, getting me much further. I got a bit off balance and then couldn't make it about halfway up. It may have been there if I didn't waste time correcting for having leaned too far forward. Kik and Brian think it was there. I'll try again in a week and kick it's ass. I need to focus on pushing at 100% not just at the bottom, as can work during volume, but throughout the lift.

2/11/2010: Patrick Volume Bench

Bench:
4x135, 4x135, 4x135, 4x140, 4x140, 4x140

I'm also experimenting with Brian's new leg position and find that it works quite well. I'm also pleased to be working with over a plate for volume week, doing quads with one left over.

Narrow grip:
4x135, 4x145, 3(failed last)x165, 4x155

Accidentally jumped weights a bit, found out that I can only do 3 and not 4 at 165, but it was nice to do some work with that much weight in terms of getting used to it.

Shoulder press:
3x6x85

Patrick 1/17/2010: Intensity Benchlifts

Bench:
Warmup: 1x85, 1x125
Working: 1x135, 1x145, 1x155, 3 attempts at 160

I'm glad that I was able to replicate the 155 again, but I still couldn't quite get the 160. I did a better job of getting it off my chest for at least one or two of the attempts and then failed in the middle of the lift and not at the bottom.

Medium Bench:
Working: 1x135, 1x135, 1x145, 1x145, 1x145, 1x155, 1x155

Narrow Grip:
8x135, 10x135

Patrick: 1/16/2009 Intensity Deadlifts

Deadlifts:
Warmup: 3x135, 3x185, 2x225
Working: 1x255, 1x285 (10 lb PR), 2xfailx295

The deadlifts went well, but not quite like I hoped. The 285 is a nice improvement, but I was able to triple 275, my old PR, last week. So it seemed like 295 should have been there, but it wasn't. Rene believes I'm reaching CNS exhaustion from intensity week, given how strong my improvements were for triple weeks at the beginning of this intensity round.

After discussions, I need to work on setting up faster and possibly sitting down less. Finally, Brian and I tend to fail on the bottom, so we plan to replace our rack pulls with deficit deadlifts.

Squats:
Warmup: 2x85, 2x135, 1x185
Working: 1x225, 1x245 (high, didn't count), 1x245, failx255

The successful 245 was a great fight to the finish. I believe I actually stopped halfway up and managed to get moving again. Added on top of an otherwise tough day, I'm pleased with the strong lift to end it up.

Patrick: 1/12/2010 Max Squat

Squats
Warmup: 3x135, 3x135, 3x185, 2x225
Working: 1x245, 1x255 (PR), Failx265

The 265 attempts felt very close, but I guess weren't quite there today.

Rack pulls:
3x135, 3x225, 1x315, 1x405 (PR), Failx435

I'm very pleased with my improvement on both of these lifts. Guess I just have to keep at it.

Patrick: Squats and Deadlift, Intensity

Deadlift:
Warmup: 3x135 3x185
Working: 3x225, 3x245, 2x265 (failed the last), 3x225

Seeing as 265 was my old single PR, I'm satisfied with progress here.

Squat:
Warmup: 3x135, 3x185
Working: 3x205, 3x225, 3x235

I may have failed the last rep, I'm not sure. In any case, a very difficult day.