Unfortunately the weights are set at 120-140-160. My circus Dumbbell is a particularly nasty one with a 2” handle which makes lt very awkward. I’m hoping he competition Dumbbell will have a 1.5” handle that I can get hold of. Apart from the grip issues I’m having trouble coordinating the jump and the catch so after the competition I’m going spend a lot of time working on it.
My bicep is holding up ok, I had loads of PT on it.

Did you die, FW?

Worked up to three singles at 100 on the bench this morning. Technique was really good, coming along well. Happy with that.
Next mini goal is to be able to to do more than 1 rep at 100. I feel that if I can build up my volume close to my max, I'll be able to maintain my form better under heavier loads. Currently, my point of failure comes about because I can't maintain my back squeeze and I lose my shoulder posture once the struggle happens. Keep that tight and the weight flies up.

Doing a fair bit of assistance bench variations to maintain that form. Incline, narrow, paused variations of everything. All with BBs as I can brace myself off the bar. Think it's helping.

Are you doing longer pauses or tempo? Like 2 count pause bench, just thinking the longer you spend in that position the better.

My mine goal for this year is on bench.

I’m pressing 3 times a week at the moment. Recently introduced some DB bench, which I haven’t done consistently in years. Hoping it will help grow my tiddies, to help me add weight.

Not doing any tempo reps, but doing paused reps for a 2-3 count as significantly lower weight (not resting the bar on my chest, keeping the tension in the muscles). Usually like 75-80 for sets of 6-8. As I'm ramping up to 95-100 I'll do a couple of paused reps around 80-90 just to wake everything up and get my back squeezed tight, shoulders stretched out etc.
I also do some paused incline at 60-65 for sets of 8 with at least a three second pause.

Two bench focused sessions a week. One is 5x5 at a high weight (most recently pushing 90), the other is working up to singles/triples for like 6 or more working sets. A selection of all the above variations as back-off afterwards.

Might look at tempo reps, teach me to maintain technique through the movement.


I'm pressing 3 times a week, in total. Basically a 5x5 bench, a "heavy" bench, and a "heavy" OHP day. The last day is more shoulder and arm vanity than, though. It's also a weekend session, so I don't mind missing it if I'm away etc.

Managed my heavy squat session last night despite still being sub par from a piss-up weekend. Caffeine helped.
Squat: 135x1, 140x1,1,1, 130x3,3 120x3
Front squat: 80x6 / Back extension: +10 x10, 3 sets
Sumo DL: 110 x8, 3 sets
SL extensions


Was well fired up for this morning's session. Really happy with the benching. Form was tight and strength was good. Technique is really coming on.
Bench: 90 x5,5,5,5, 4+2*
Tempo paused incline: 60x8, 3 sets
OHP: 50x8, 3 sets
Narrow LPD: 60 x12,12,12, 40x15


* Failed on the final rep, really should have had it.

Ended up coming second in Connecticut’s strongest man masters division, not bad for my first competition.

Circus Dumbbell 2nd everyone crapped out on the 140lber and the guy that won the overall beat me by 2 seconds on the first Dumbbell (120).

Wagon wheel axle bar deadlift 1st 515lbs/235kg for 8 reps

Frame carry 3rd 500lb/227kg for 50’ in 13 seconds

Log press 1st 200lb/91kg 10 reps

Atlas stones 3rd 190-210-220-240-270 in 29 seconds.

Dominated the static strength events, I just need a bit more time on the technical stuff. Awesome experience.

Awesome flaps. Well done.

Those events mean nothing to me really but the reps you did at those weights look mental.

Only managed a triple at 210, three doubles at 210 and then a single. My hammy's were screaming!

I love the fact we have people here messing about with atlas stones!

I’ll post some videos soon.

Nice work, Flaps. Strongman challenges sound like a lot of fun. Much more multi-directional movement and forces than the really linear controlled movements in normal BB lifting.

Did 4 days on the trot this week as I'll be out of town this weekend and it was simpler to cram than plan where to go to get my sessions in.
Was very tough going this morning. Started the week not fresh as a daisy from going to the Heineken Cup final last weekend, and didn't get a 10 hour sleep in anywhere, which I probably needed. Really highlighted how much I need my day off on Wednesday. I get up later and just let my body recover. Weekend of being fed at home now, though, so I can flake out.

Wednesday:
DL 180x1,1,1, 160x3,3
Hip thrusts: 160x10, 3 sets
Pull ups: 10x5, 15x4,4, 10x5
Seal row: 70x6, 4 sets


Thursday:
Low bar squat: 110x6, 4 sets*
Bench: 95x2, 5 sets
Tempo paused bench: 75x6, 3 sets
DB incline: 27.5x10 / SA DB row: 27.5x10 each, 3 sets
SA DB OHP: 15x8 each, 2 sets

*Decided to give low bar squats a go for variety. Was only doing medium weight to just get reps in, so wasn't fussed about figuring out the technique as I went. I don't have quite enough flexibilty in my bad shoulder to properly open up my arms and hold it under a heavy weight.
Felt quite nice actually, will use it on volume days to keep things fresh.

Just realised that my legs will be a bit ouchie tomorrow. The lack of a day off has meant some leg movement for four days straight.

Monday: Squats, heavy singles and volume front squats.
Tuesday: RDLs, volume
Wednesday: DLs, heavy singles and volume hip thrusts
Thursday: Squat, low bar for volume

One of those multi directional forces almost ended up in my pants on the deadlift.😂

Got my first regatta of the season this Saturday, 1200m course along Putney Embankment

How long should that take at competition pace?

My modest gym progress is continuing, managed a squat 5x5 at 125kg which is a set/rep pr i think

Nice.

Good Sunday pump/ accessory session

Overhead press
5x5 70
Supersetted with band face pulls x20

Dumbbell press
4x12 30
Supersetted with rear delt fly x15

Close grip bench
4x8 90

First session in a while due to compressed nerve which has stuffed my right arm.

Hex DL 5 x 10 @ 110kg - RH grip is an issue
High pulls 40kg 5 x 10
Paused incline dumbells 5 x 10
Sled pulls +40kg x 6
Reformer ladder (10 min)

Won Putney Town Regatta yesterday in coxed 4

Well done You must be stoked.

Pretty happy, we have put in a big shift in terms of winter training so it was nice to win the first regatta of the season. Absolutely knackered though as two races were decided by less then half a length. Got pissed in Vesta clubhouse afterwards and was feeling fairly average this morning so was not happy when I had to go out in a single and do 4 x 2000m sprint pieces

Solid Sunday session. Mine was similar.
OHP
Shrugs/lat raises
Narrow bench
TPD
Cable lat raises

Noice

Well done Danny

Managed no not miss a session with a long weekend back home. Experimenting with the local council run pay as you go gyms near my folks. Basics generally covered, but a serious lack of squat racks. I feel guilty monopolising the only one for ages.

Decent squat session this morning.
Squat; 130x2, 140, 145, fail 145 (all X1), 140x1,1,1, 130x3,3
Front squat: 80x6,6,6

Would have done more assistance afterwards, but everything was taken so I just left. Got the essentials done well.

Got a few queries if I was ok after dumping the 145 off my back and on to the pins with a loud crash.
Think the gym is generally more tattoos and bench/curls than it is power lifting.

Congratters!

Was at your home regatta yesterday - BEAUTIFUL day for it.

Half the club are sunburnt. You might have got to see me lose my first ever singles race.

We are probably changing the course next year to take the bend out of it. Have the start at glovers Island and finish by eel pie.

Should have popped over for a beer by the band

I was definitely tempted by the beer but had a 2 hour drive home so not the BEST idea.

I'm sure I saw you race, afternoon was it? I was in launches all pm, Umpiring and then mentoring a trainee.

Hm, moving the course up will mean reintroducing conflict with the ferry.... Mind if the Finish was sufficiently far upriver boating and deboating would be far easier.

Wore a sleeveless for parkrun yesterday morning. Now I'm sunburnt and look like I'm wearing a white vest.

My singles race was at 13:46, got well beaten by some Quintin chap. Bit annoying really as I am Masters C but due to no other competition in that category I got dumped in the Open band. If in the unlikely event I got past Quintin and Reading I would have one of our GB Start kids in the final.

All said a good turn out with quite a few crews travelling from further afield then normal.

As for the course we just think the bend round glovers is shit and the race enclosure is not ideally located.

Racing young people is a mug's game I agree. Mind you the guy rowing 6 in the Broxbourne F 8 once won Novice 1x (4 rounds) and Masters C 1x on the same day at my regatta. But he's a big lump and rowed in the Boat Race back in the day.

The winner of Op 1x was as quick as the W8!

The bend ain't fair BUT it does make the event even more the traditional regatta.

The winner of the Op 1x is Ollie, one of our Start lads. Sitting next to him on the erg is intimidating.

We have a girl on the Start programme. 15 and she is taller than me and quicker on an erg. Not SURE she has killer instinct in a single but put her in the right crew......

What's your next gig?

Reading in a couple of weeks. Racing in a 4+ and an 8

Kewl

Good luck, we have a D 4+ there (Not me). They would be good opposition for you.

For me Peterborough next week and Durham the week after

Lads, anyone done the Snowdonia triathlon before?
It’ll be my first tri and one of the lads I’m doing it with reckons the run is 5km uphill with about 600m worth of climbing, then straight back down.
For the sake of my knees someone please tell me he’s talking bollocks!?

That question is probably one for Blindsider, Jim. The rest of us seem to be meatheads or rowers.


92x5x5 on bench this morning. 'Tis coming along nicely.