Planet Rugby Forum

Good Sunday Gunday session before the Leinster game today.

Friday: Upper push/pull compounds
Bench: 75 x8, 4 sets
DB incline: 30 x8, 4 sets
Pull up: +8.5 x5, 5 sets
Seal row: 60 x8, 4 sets
OHP: 45 x8, 4 sets
Narrow lat pulldown dropsets: 55 x10, 45 x10, 3 sets

Saturday: parkrun. 22:56

Sunday: Uppers/vanity
OHP: 57 x5, 5 sets
Incline bench: 70 x8 / Pull up: BW x10, 3 sets
EZ curls / Dips, x8, 4 sets
Incline curls
Hammer curls
KB skullcrushers
TPDs

Monstrous lower body strength session this morning. Best session I've had in months, up there with the best I've had in years.

Squat: 140 x1,1,1; 130 x3,3,3
DL: 170 x1; 175 x1,1; 150 x3,3,3
Glute hip thrusts: 140 x10 / G-H falls: x5, 3 sets

Arse and hammies were ridiculously pumped after that. Waddled back to the changing rooms.

I failed 140 squat the last two times I went for it. Was fine today. The DLs felt great, too. No strain on the lower back and good strength up off the floor.


I've discovered a brilliant way of stretching my tight shoulder. It involves lying face down on with a KB on its side with the corner of the handle facing up and digging into the front of my shoulder. I rest my forearm on a foam roller to elevate it and allow easy movement up and down. Means I can really dig into the upper peck and front delt region. Frees up shoulder movement a lot and makes various weights exercises much easier, even lower body stuff.

I need to start posting graphics.

Feeling left out.

I need to start posting graphics.

Feeling left out.

Gents,

How do I lift my chest further up when squatting?

A lad in the gym said to me that he noticed that I was leaning too far forward going down and the bar wasn’t in line with my heels coming up. He took a video and it’s a fair comment.
I’ve started looking higher up and he mentioned that I should stick my big toes in the air when coming down so I’m putting the weight through my heels. Anyone have any other suggestions?

Jim Lahey wrote:Gents,

How do I lift my chest further up when squatting?

A lad in the gym said to me that he noticed that I was leaning too far forward going down and the bar wasn’t in line with my heels coming up. He took a video and it’s a fair comment.
I’ve started looking higher up and he mentioned that I should stick my big toes in the air when coming down so I’m putting the weight through my heels. Anyone have any other suggestions?

'Chest up' is a bit of a misnomer, what you generally need to work on if you find yourself dipping forward in the squat is core strength. Chris Duffin has a good video on this.

Weight through heels is also generally a bad cue, the weight should be through the middle of the foot. Think of your heel, big toe and little toe as three points, with the weight balanced through each point equally.

The best video I've seen on the squat is this one by Max Aita, particularly from 4:30 to 7:00.

You may not want to hear this but if you have a form issue you should drop the weight until you can sort it.

Are you doing high bar or low bar squat? Low bar requires a little bit of shoulder flexibility but once you get the bar positioned properly and the elbows pulled back and down, it keeps the chest 'big' almost naturally.

You could also try working on front squats, having the weight in front means you have to keep back on your heels & chest up more.

Edit: a pair of weightlifting shoes also helps with form.

Jim Lahey wrote:Gents,

How do I lift my chest further up when squatting?

A lad in the gym said to me that he noticed that I was leaning too far forward going down and the bar wasn’t in line with my heels coming up. He took a video and it’s a fair comment.
I’ve started looking higher up and he mentioned that I should stick my big toes in the air when coming down so I’m putting the weight through my heels. Anyone have any other suggestions?

It will probably sound contrary to the advice PourSome gave above, but I've been squatting for a very long time and never had a problem (in fact I credit squatting for fixing a dodgy knee that I had). I guess everyone is built differently, but for me personally, the best form is definitely "chest out and bum out". Rest the bar across your shoulders with no weight on it and pull your shoulder blades together so that your forearms are vertical and at right angles to the bar. That should stick your check out automatically. The first movement is a bum-backwards movement, not a "dip down" movement. I have also always consciously pushed through my heels, although what PourSome said also makes total sense, it should be a straight line from the weight through to the floor and that would go through the middle of your feet, not your heels. It's probably just a mental thing to make sure I don't have the weight too far forwards. Probably feels like I'm pushing through my heels even though it's really more through the middle. For whatever it's worth, I did concentrate on pushing through my heels, and I got to a point where I could do full deep squats with all my toes off the ground.

You may have to work on flexibility more than anything else.

Lifting heavy objects really is not rocket science, some people really just way over analyse things. With heavy weights and things like squats, having solid fundamental knowledge, both in practise and theory is important, but every body is built differently, there is no one "right way" to do things, just a guide.

Pretty much what the others have said. Chest up is one of those comments that has a place but probably gets thrown around too much.

With regards to your feet, toes should be “gripping” the floor and you should be trying to “spread” the floor with your feet. This puts your hips in a good position to open up. It’s not easy to describe in words

Might be worth putting some small weights under your heels (2.5kg plate) and seeing whether form improves. If it does, it’s probably ankle mobility letting you down.

newportblue wrote:Pretty much what the others have said. Chest up is one of those comments that has a place but probably gets thrown around too much.

I just really disagree with this. Maybe it's just how my body is built I don't know. It was exactly the same feeling packing in a scrum too. Chest out, shoulder blades together, bum out, chin up. It just naturally straightens out your back like a table. But maybe that's just my body.

newportblue wrote:Pretty much what the others have said. Chest up is one of those comments that has a place but probably gets thrown around too much.

With regards to your feet, toes should be “gripping” the floor and you should be trying to “spread” the floor with your feet. This puts your hips in a good position to open up. It’s not easy to describe in words

Might be worth putting some small weights under your heels (2.5kg plate) and seeing whether form improves. If it does, it’s probably ankle mobility letting you down.

This.

The other question I would ask is what is happening with the angle of your shins?

Mog The Almighty wrote:

newportblue wrote:Pretty much what the others have said. Chest up is one of those comments that has a place but probably gets thrown around too much.

I just really disagree with this. Maybe it's just how my body is built I don't know. It was exactly the same feeling packing in a scrum too. Chest out, shoulder blades together, bum out, chin up. It just naturally straightens out your back like a table. But maybe that's just my body.

It’s not bad advice particularly but it’s used a lot and not always understand. It can lead to being over extended in the back as well.

It’s a simple phrase for a complex movement.

Having your chest up is generally a by product of a number of other things going on

Like

Bar position
Shoulder mobility/ upper back mobility
Ankle mobility

Well fair enough I guess. I know you're strong as f-ck and know what you're doing and have total respect for your strength and your know-how.

But just personally, I will advise bum-out, chin-up, chest-out, pull your shoulder blades together, and push through your heels. Although on the last one, I take the point that it's probably more through the mid-foot, but it feels like the heels. Like I said before, I can do a full deep squat with all my toes in the air. And more controversial mog advice: if you can't do it, don't start shoving shit under your heels and buying special shoes - just go as low as you can, even if it's only a bit, and in the meantime work on your flexibility. Balls to the floor is great if you can do it, but nothing to be embarrassed about if you can't do it and keep form. Keep working on it. If anything, put some weights under your toes and get flexible (although in the example below, I have to question why he's got plates under his toes and Oly shoes on - they're just cancelling each other out! ) ... take the damn shoes off! (which is basically how I always squatted - barefoot if I could get away with it, or converse if I couldn't). He explains in the article why he doesn't, but whatevs.... this isn't even my world anymore. I'll opt out and leave all the muscle stuff to you beefheads. I'm an ex beefhead now.

... 6.5km run this morning, sitting on 92kg, down 12kg from this time last year. Woowoo.


(source)

Thanks for the advice lads.
Will go for the old adage ‘go light and get it right’

"Chest up" is a good enough cue for high bar squats, where your torso is much more upright; but I find that "big chest" is more accurate. It hold for high and low bar positions, whether your torso is very upright or a bit more forward.

I've recently changed my grip to a good bit wider than it had been and it's made a big difference yo my ability to lock everything in position through a tough rep. Takes me a bit of effort to limber up and be able to achieve the shoulder range of motion to do it comfortably, mind you.

All the previous points about driving through the flat of your foot are spot on.

I've also changed my approach to each rep to include a very exaggerated deep belly breath, retract the scaps back and down hard (this involves the lats a lot, as well as the lower traps), and clench the abs throughout. Squeeze the glutes hard through the rep and everything will then look after itself in terms of torso staying tight and the lower back feeling happy.
Keeping the elbows pointed down and the scaps retracted stops you from hunching your shoulders forward and maintains that big chest.

If you're tipping forward a bit, get someone to record you doing singles at about 60%and review them. You'll see what rep looks best and know what it feels like, meaning it's easier to replicate again and again.


Also, prior to squatting, stretch your calves against a wall with knee bent and straight. For knee bent, gently rotate your knee outwards of your toes and build the pressure for a few seconds. This massively helps your knees to track nice and wide over your toes and improves your dorsiflexion ROM; which all helps you drop cleanly into the bottom of the squat. Ankle mobility is surprisingly important.

Further comment on technique.

This instagram page is brilliant. Simple illustrations highlighting technical pointers for loads of different lifts.

Mog The Almighty wrote:Well fair enough I guess. I know you're strong as f-ck and know what you're doing and have total respect for your strength and your know-how.

But just personally, I will advise bum-out, chin-up, chest-out, pull your shoulder blades together, and push through your heels. Although on the last one, I take the point that it's probably more through the mid-foot, but it feels like the heels. Like I said before, I can do a full deep squat with all my toes in the air. And more controversial mog advice: if you can't do it, don't start shoving shit under your heels and buying special shoes - just go as low as you can, even if it's only a bit, and in the meantime work on your flexibility. Balls to the floor is great if you can do it, but nothing to be embarrassed about if you can't do it and keep form. Keep working on it. If anything, put some weights under your toes and get flexible (although in the example below, I have to question why he's got plates under his toes and Oly shoes on - they're just cancelling each other out! ) ... take the damn shoes off! (which is basically how I always squatted - barefoot if I could get away with it, or converse if I couldn't). He explains in the article why he doesn't, but whatevs.... this isn't even my world anymore. I'll opt out and leave all the muscle stuff to you beefheads. I'm an ex beefhead now.

... 6.5km run this morning, sitting on 92kg, down 12kg from this time last year. Woowoo.


(source)

Haha thanks but I’m not strong at all and mostly know fudge all.

I don’t disagree with your squat set up but like others have said I guess it’s not a one size fits all approach.

The risk you run with the chest out is becoming over extended.

Hopefully my picture works. Edit - Didn’t work

fudge me sideways, it was cold out this morning. Struggled to unlock my front door when I got back.

Saw a buggy crash a tip over just after the start of my parkrun this morning. Don't know what caused it. Baby was OK, strapped in well. The mother was a few paces behind and shrieked when she realised it was hers and sprinted up to it. Then she slipped, collided with the overturned buggy, and fell heavily on her arse. Would have been funny if not potentially serious.

When it happened just in front of me it was like one of those pile-ups in the peleton in bike races. Was only a couple of hundred metres from the start so the place was packed. TBF to those immediately around them, loads of people stopped to shield them and make oncoming runners aware. I continued running once it was clear that enough people were on hand. Told a marshall at the next corner, who went back to check on them.

Saw the mother sitting aside with the baby on the second lap, so all seemed fine in the end. I have a feeling that next week the organisers will enforce the rule about buggies and dogs starting at the back, regardless of how fast they go.

Nolanator wrote:Saw a buggy crash a tip over just after the start of my parkrun this morning. Don't know what caused it. Baby was OK, strapped in well. The mother was a few paces behind and shrieked when she realised it was hers and sprinted up to it. Then she slipped, collided with the overturned buggy, and fell heavily on her arse. Would have been funny if not potentially serious.

When it happened just in front of me it was like one of those pile-ups in the peleton in bike races. Was only a couple of hundred metres from the start so the place was packed. TBF to those immediately around them, loads of people stopped to shield them and make oncoming runners aware. I continued running once it was clear that enough people were on hand. Told a marshall at the next corner, who went back to check on them.

Saw the mother sitting aside with the baby on the second lap, so all seemed fine in the end. I have a feeling that next week the organisers will enforce the rule about buggies and dogs starting at the back, regardless of how fast they go.

I've only even been to two different parkruns but that seems to be the rule for them over here, however it might be an unwritten one and just what people do.

Earlier in the summer the race organiser specifically mentioned it at one of the races. Was humbling being overtaken by a buggy dad knowing that they'd started way further back and pushed through the crowd with a wide and awkward buggy.
Haven't heard the rule mentioned since and I've certainly noticed buggies starting closer to the front of the crowd. There were 945 registered runners this morning (a nearby parkrun was cancelled for the day, so we had some spillover), it's so bloody crowded at the start. I just keep on the grass to the side for the first 200m or so and stay out of it.

The only other one I've done just had 20 people, so there were no issues with crowding!

Interesting video with Eric Helms talking about the history of steroids; when can we realistically assume that they were widely available etc.
Some interesting discussion about the cultural evolution of lifting as a sport and pastime.

https://youtu.be/Vzipma6TpvA

Nolanator wrote:Earlier in the summer the race organiser specifically mentioned it at one of the races. Was humbling being overtaken by a buggy dad knowing that they'd started way further back and pushed through the crowd with a wide and awkward buggy.
Haven't heard the rule mentioned since and I've certainly noticed buggies starting closer to the front of the crowd. There were 945 registered runners this morning (a nearby parkrun was cancelled for the day, so we had some spillover), it's so bloody crowded at the start. I just keep on the grass to the side for the first 200m or so and stay out of it.

The only other one I've done just had 20 people, so there were no issues with crowding!

The one I go to gets 60-80 on a good day.

ElementFreak wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Saw a buggy crash a tip over just after the start of my parkrun this morning. Don't know what caused it. Baby was OK, strapped in well. The mother was a few paces behind and shrieked when she realised it was hers and sprinted up to it. Then she slipped, collided with the overturned buggy, and fell heavily on her arse. Would have been funny if not potentially serious.

When it happened just in front of me it was like one of those pile-ups in the peleton in bike races. Was only a couple of hundred metres from the start so the place was packed. TBF to those immediately around them, loads of people stopped to shield them and make oncoming runners aware. I continued running once it was clear that enough people were on hand. Told a marshall at the next corner, who went back to check on them.

Saw the mother sitting aside with the baby on the second lap, so all seemed fine in the end. I have a feeling that next week the organisers will enforce the rule about buggies and dogs starting at the back, regardless of how fast they go.

I've only even been to two different parkruns but that seems to be the rule for them over here, however it might be an unwritten one and just what people do.

Common sense seems to prevail most of the time at my (Bushy Park) Run where all the buggies and dogs start at the back. You still some 'competitive dad' twat now and again trying to push little Noah in his off-roader three wheeled contraption through the field like a snow plough.

The number of buggies is pretty bad in the summer when you can get over a thousand people rocking up. That said I was highly amused when two dogs shagging a few km into the race caused carnage as the two owners tried to separate them with one women complaining that her dog is a thoroughbred

danny_fitz wrote:

ElementFreak wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Saw a buggy crash a tip over just after the start of my parkrun this morning. Don't know what caused it. Baby was OK, strapped in well. The mother was a few paces behind and shrieked when she realised it was hers and sprinted up to it. Then she slipped, collided with the overturned buggy, and fell heavily on her arse. Would have been funny if not potentially serious.

When it happened just in front of me it was like one of those pile-ups in the peleton in bike races. Was only a couple of hundred metres from the start so the place was packed. TBF to those immediately around them, loads of people stopped to shield them and make oncoming runners aware. I continued running once it was clear that enough people were on hand. Told a marshall at the next corner, who went back to check on them.

Saw the mother sitting aside with the baby on the second lap, so all seemed fine in the end. I have a feeling that next week the organisers will enforce the rule about buggies and dogs starting at the back, regardless of how fast they go.

I've only even been to two different parkruns but that seems to be the rule for them over here, however it might be an unwritten one and just what people do.

Common sense seems to prevail most of the time at my (Bushy Park) Run where all the buggies and dogs start at the back. You still some 'competitive dad' twat now and again trying to push little Noah in his off-roader three wheeled contraption through the field like a snow plough.

The number of buggies is pretty bad in the summer when you can get over a thousand people rocking up. That said I was highly amused when two dogs shagging a few km into the race caused carnage as the two owners tried to separate them with one women complaining that her dog is a thoroughbred

Jesus, I just had a look at their page and there were 1435 runners last weekend

What in the actual fudge? I've done races with about 1000 less people than that.

danny_fitz wrote:

ElementFreak wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Saw a buggy crash a tip over just after the start of my parkrun this morning. Don't know what caused it. Baby was OK, strapped in well. The mother was a few paces behind and shrieked when she realised it was hers and sprinted up to it. Then she slipped, collided with the overturned buggy, and fell heavily on her arse. Would have been funny if not potentially serious.

When it happened just in front of me it was like one of those pile-ups in the peleton in bike races. Was only a couple of hundred metres from the start so the place was packed. TBF to those immediately around them, loads of people stopped to shield them and make oncoming runners aware. I continued running once it was clear that enough people were on hand. Told a marshall at the next corner, who went back to check on them.

Saw the mother sitting aside with the baby on the second lap, so all seemed fine in the end. I have a feeling that next week the organisers will enforce the rule about buggies and dogs starting at the back, regardless of how fast they go.

I've only even been to two different parkruns but that seems to be the rule for them over here, however it might be an unwritten one and just what people do.

Common sense seems to prevail most of the time at my (Bushy Park) Run where all the buggies and dogs start at the back. You still some 'competitive dad' twat now and again trying to push little Noah in his off-roader three wheeled contraption through the field like a snow plough.

The number of buggies is pretty bad in the summer when you can get over a thousand people rocking up. That said I was highly amused when two dogs shagging a few km into the race caused carnage as the two owners tried to separate them with one women complaining that her dog is a thoroughbred

The cavalry charge start at Bushy is something to behold. Any unwary person in the park could imagine they have got caught up in the charge of the light brigade.

At my old parkrun as Run Director we enforced the rule that dogs had to start either at the very front or very back. Ideally they would all start at the back but the proper canicross ones are safer at the front. parkrun isn't really suitable for the canicross type dogs though. With buggies we had both the Male and Female marathon world record holders for pushing double buggies so they had dispensation to start at the front too. Its when dogs and buggies start in the middle that it becomes unsafe. The new parkrun starting on the 17th that I am Event Director at doesn't allow dogs or buggies, the buggy rule will get relaxed but we need to ensure its safe for them first being narrow and bumpy.

blindcider wrote:The cavalry charge start at Bushy is something to behold. Any unwary person in the park could imagine they have got caught up in the charge of the light brigade.

Southampton is the same, and it's even slightly less busy.

The noise as the crowd moves from tarmac to gravel in a couple of spots is impressive.

blindcider wrote:

danny_fitz wrote:

ElementFreak wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Saw a buggy crash a tip over just after the start of my parkrun this morning. Don't know what caused it. Baby was OK, strapped in well. The mother was a few paces behind and shrieked when she realised it was hers and sprinted up to it. Then she slipped, collided with the overturned buggy, and fell heavily on her arse. Would have been funny if not potentially serious.

When it happened just in front of me it was like one of those pile-ups in the peleton in bike races. Was only a couple of hundred metres from the start so the place was packed. TBF to those immediately around them, loads of people stopped to shield them and make oncoming runners aware. I continued running once it was clear that enough people were on hand. Told a marshall at the next corner, who went back to check on them.

Saw the mother sitting aside with the baby on the second lap, so all seemed fine in the end. I have a feeling that next week the organisers will enforce the rule about buggies and dogs starting at the back, regardless of how fast they go.

I've only even been to two different parkruns but that seems to be the rule for them over here, however it might be an unwritten one and just what people do.

Common sense seems to prevail most of the time at my (Bushy Park) Run where all the buggies and dogs start at the back. You still some 'competitive dad' twat now and again trying to push little Noah in his off-roader three wheeled contraption through the field like a snow plough.

The number of buggies is pretty bad in the summer when you can get over a thousand people rocking up. That said I was highly amused when two dogs shagging a few km into the race caused carnage as the two owners tried to separate them with one women complaining that her dog is a thoroughbred

The cavalry charge start at Bushy is something to behold. Any unwary person in the park could imagine they have got caught up in the charge of the light brigade.

At my old parkrun as Run Director we enforced the rule that dogs had to start either at the very front or very back. Ideally they would all start at the back but the proper canicross ones are safer at the front. parkrun isn't really suitable for the canicross type dogs though. With buggies we had both the Male and Female marathon world record holders for pushing double buggies so they had dispensation to start at the front too. Its when dogs and buggies start in the middle that it becomes unsafe. The new parkrun starting on the 17th that I am Event Director at doesn't allow dogs or buggies, the buggy rule will get relaxed but we need to ensure its safe for them first being narrow and bumpy.

Fair play

Years ago before I was really aware of park run I set off one Saturday morning round Bushy Park as part of my marathon training and came head to head with the park run mob. I felt like that Luftwaffe pilot in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom flying into the flock of birds. Had to quickly turn around and join them.

I'm surprised there are not more injuries at Bushy Park as the start line is about 40m wide but funnels down quickly to a path about 3m wide, its all a bit Ben Hur.

ElementFreak wrote:

danny_fitz wrote:

ElementFreak wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Saw a buggy crash a tip over just after the start of my parkrun this morning. Don't know what caused it. Baby was OK, strapped in well. The mother was a few paces behind and shrieked when she realised it was hers and sprinted up to it. Then she slipped, collided with the overturned buggy, and fell heavily on her arse. Would have been funny if not potentially serious.

When it happened just in front of me it was like one of those pile-ups in the peleton in bike races. Was only a couple of hundred metres from the start so the place was packed. TBF to those immediately around them, loads of people stopped to shield them and make oncoming runners aware. I continued running once it was clear that enough people were on hand. Told a marshall at the next corner, who went back to check on them.

Saw the mother sitting aside with the baby on the second lap, so all seemed fine in the end. I have a feeling that next week the organisers will enforce the rule about buggies and dogs starting at the back, regardless of how fast they go.

I've only even been to two different parkruns but that seems to be the rule for them over here, however it might be an unwritten one and just what people do.

Common sense seems to prevail most of the time at my (Bushy Park) Run where all the buggies and dogs start at the back. You still some 'competitive dad' twat now and again trying to push little Noah in his off-roader three wheeled contraption through the field like a snow plough.

The number of buggies is pretty bad in the summer when you can get over a thousand people rocking up. That said I was highly amused when two dogs shagging a few km into the race caused carnage as the two owners tried to separate them with one women complaining that her dog is a thoroughbred

Jesus, I just had a look at their page and there were 1435 runners last weekend

What in the actual fudge? I've done races with about 1000 less people than that.

Bushy Park is the original Park Run so has had way longer to build up a participant base. You see plenty of people with '500' t-shirts on.

danny_fitz wrote:

ElementFreak wrote:

danny_fitz wrote:

ElementFreak wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Saw a buggy crash a tip over just after the start of my parkrun this morning. Don't know what caused it. Baby was OK, strapped in well. The mother was a few paces behind and shrieked when she realised it was hers and sprinted up to it. Then she slipped, collided with the overturned buggy, and fell heavily on her arse. Would have been funny if not potentially serious.

When it happened just in front of me it was like one of those pile-ups in the peleton in bike races. Was only a couple of hundred metres from the start so the place was packed. TBF to those immediately around them, loads of people stopped to shield them and make oncoming runners aware. I continued running once it was clear that enough people were on hand. Told a marshall at the next corner, who went back to check on them.

Saw the mother sitting aside with the baby on the second lap, so all seemed fine in the end. I have a feeling that next week the organisers will enforce the rule about buggies and dogs starting at the back, regardless of how fast they go.

I've only even been to two different parkruns but that seems to be the rule for them over here, however it might be an unwritten one and just what people do.

Common sense seems to prevail most of the time at my (Bushy Park) Run where all the buggies and dogs start at the back. You still some 'competitive dad' twat now and again trying to push little Noah in his off-roader three wheeled contraption through the field like a snow plough.

The number of buggies is pretty bad in the summer when you can get over a thousand people rocking up. That said I was highly amused when two dogs shagging a few km into the race caused carnage as the two owners tried to separate them with one women complaining that her dog is a thoroughbred

Jesus, I just had a look at their page and there were 1435 runners last weekend

What in the actual fudge? I've done races with about 1000 less people than that.

Bushy Park is the original Park Run so has had way longer to build up a participant base. You see plenty of people with '500' t-shirts on.

500 seems a long way away. I am on 160 something and averaging about 30 parkruns a year.

I'm on 17.

Nolanator wrote:I'm on 17.

Ordered your Junior 10 T-shirt yet?

blindcider wrote:

Nolanator wrote:I'm on 17.

Ordered your Junior 10 T-shirt yet?

Saving myself for 25.

blindcider wrote:

danny_fitz wrote:
Bushy Park is the original Park Run so has had way longer to build up a participant base. You see plenty of people with '500' t-shirts on.

500 seems a long way away. I am on 160 something and averaging about 30 parkruns a year.

I'm on 7

Slowly on my way back after my meniscus tear in June. Managed to squat 385 for a triple and 5 sets of 10 with 225. A long way to go, but it felt pretty good.

I went for a gentle swim after the gym yesterday. Haven't been in a pool for a good few years, now that I think about it.
Felt nice to move the joints around with minimal stress.

Advice time from the meathead corner.

Think I want to get a belt. When training heavy squats for singles, I fail halfway through the rep. My torso fails, rather than my legs.
Feel.like I can't overload my legs, as the weak point is elsewhere.

No issues getting out of the hole, and locking out the top half is fine.


Who else uses a belt? Think I'd only be using it for maximal effort reps.
Any advice on how broad it should be, buckle type etc?

Nolanator wrote:Advice time from the meathead corner.

Think I want to get a belt. When training heavy squats for singles, I fail halfway through the rep. My torso fails, rather than my legs.
Feel.like I can't overload my legs, as the weak point is elsewhere.

No issues getting out of the hole, and locking out the top half is fine.


Who else uses a belt? Think I'd only be using it for maximal effort reps.
Any advice on how broad it should be, buckle type etc?

I use one of these https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-ohio-lifting-belt

Works for me.

Can’t quote from it on my phone, but there’s some good advice in Starting Strength about belt selection for power lifting and what to look for (my friend says the book is easily downloadable for free via google, if you don’t have it already)

I rate my strengthshop belt (and all of the other stuff I’ve had from there) and their delivery and customer service is excellent - https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/belts.html

To be honest I don’t think the thickness or type of belt make much difference. Personally I’d just go to amazon and buy 20/30 quid generic single prong powerlifting belt.

The gold standard is a SBD lever belt and it’s like 150quid. I just can’t see what difference it will make.