cesimpson

Sorry I didn’t post on Wednesday. Things got crazy at work and then crazier at home and I never had any time to post. Then, yesterday, I forgot to catch up.

Wednesday - Tall, Skinny Marathoner Returns and I hit a double 150# Clean & Press

I need to write better titles. That one pretty much gives it away, huh? I need more tease!

So, marathoner came back. Cursed my name from the squat-induced DOMS from last Friday’s experiment. Picked up his first deadlift ever…and not bad, either. Mine, on the other hand, was crap. Terrible.

Warm Up

3×7 Pull Ups @ BW+10#

3×1+15 Hang Snatch + Overhead Squat @ 45#, 65#, 95#

Marathoner’s OHS form is getting a tiny bit better, and better is better than not better. Some people get scared away by that which hurts the first time. Apparently not him, and that makes me happy.

I did notice one strange thing - he can’t keep his arms locked. As he squats, his arms (in sympathy for his hips and knees, perhaps?) bend too, meaning the bar is basically resting on top of his head at the lowest point. Strangest thing I’ve ever seen. It appears to be an involuntary movement.

If anyone out there has ever seen this or experienced it him/herself, please let me know. I have no idea how to fix it.

Clean & Press

Warm Up. Few @ 95#, 105#, 115#, 135#

2x @ 150#!!

5×1 @ 135#

150# is a PR for me and it went up VERY well - so well, in fact, I hit a double. That was awesome. Bar moved quickly, smoothly…tight grip, tight belly, push and up it went.

Marathoner worked up to 95#, then tried to hit 100#. He missed three in a row, but was so close on all of them. At that point I had hit my 150# and was doing singles at 135#. I said to him, “Let me do my last two, you’ll get some rest, then you’ll hit 100#. You just need a moment to recover.”

I did my last two singles at 135#, stripped and reloaded at 100# and he put it right up. It was hard work but he did it. I think I was happier he hit his 100# than I was I hit my 150#.

It’s just absolutely huge he struck with it, did not give up, and pushed himself over that mark. Very well done, Marathoner friend.

Deadlifts

Showed Marathoner some technique. Did a few singles and doubles at 135#, 185#, 205#.

4x @ 225#

4x @ 275#

2x @ 315#

1x @ 335#

I was hoping to work my way up to a few singles at 350-365# or so. Wasn’t going to happen. The 335# just barely moved.

I don’t know if I just haven’t been pulling enough lately or if my form has gone to hell or what, but my deadlifts have just crashed. I hit a 375# several weeks ago and haven’t come close to that again since. Very bummed about that.

Marathoner pulled a single at 215# (easily…could have pulled 225#, if you ask me) and called it a day. I pulled several more singles at 315# and also called it a day.

This Morning

There’s not much at all exciting to tell about this morning. It was all about trying to teach Marathoner to put a little hip into it…into everything, in fact. We did some basic learning-how-Clean stuff - RDLs, RDLs with pulls, triple extension, front squats, drop cleans. That was mildly successful. There are still a lot of flexibility issues to deal with before we’re too far along, but it was a reasonable introduction.

Then, some kettlebell stuff. Swings, the single-arm swing to snatch progression, some windmills and bent presses, and the TGU.

I think I’ve convinced him, come warmer weather, to join neighbor/drinkin’ buddy/workout partner and me on our Wednesday morning KB, sprint, Charlotte workouts. Even if not a lot of work was done this morning, that’s success enough. =)