cesimpson

…as I would an artist such as yourself. However, I can’t have you following me either.

This week has been a little bit crazy. I’ve finished (and rolled) the big project I was writing about last Friday. I’ve also thrown in on some maintenance work that needed doing. That rolled to a testing environment yesterday. And we had our very first requirements gathering meeting for the next big project.

I had to say ‘no’ to someone else requesting some of my time. I hate doing that. I will work myself into the ground before saying ‘no’ to a polite, reasonable request for help. Unfortunately, I’m already putting in way too much time, spread among too many things, to be able to really do a good job. And, I’d rather say “I don’t have time” than produce inferior work.

Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.

Workout

Today’s workout was a little unconventional. I’ve had a whole series of very strictly defined progressions lately, all laid out in spreadsheets (Yes, that’s plural. I’m a geek.) with accompanying charts and graphs. I needed to break structure a bit.

Start out with 45# bar. Do 4x (2x ea. arm) 1-arm snatch + 5x dip @ BW+25# + 5x chin ups @ BW+25#. Add some weight (progression below) and repeat. When you can’t do any more 1-arm snatches, switch to Clean & Press and Bent Over Barbell Rows. Then Clean & Jerk and Rows. Then Zercher Squats and Dips and Chin Ups. Then Deadlifts and Dips. All finished, it looked like this:

1-Arm Snatch + Dips + Chin Ups

4x @ 45# + 5x @ BW+25# + 5x @ BW+25#

4x @ 65# + 5x @ BW+25# + 5x @ BW+25#

Clean & Press + Bent Over Barbell Row

3x @ 95# + 5x @ 95#

3x @ 115# + 5x @ 115#

3x @ 135# + 5x @ 135#

Clean & Jerk + Bent Over Barbell Row

3x @ 155# + 5x @ 155#

Zercher Squat + Dips + Chin Ups

(Zerchers start from the ground)

3x @ 185# + 5x @ BW+25# + 5x @ BW+5#

3x @ 205# + 5x @ BW+25# + 5x @ BW+5#

3x @ 225#! + 5x @ BW+25# + 5x @ BW+5#

Deadlift + Dips

3x @ 245# + 5x @ BW+25#

3x @ 275# + 5x @ BW+25#

3x @ 295# + 5x @ BW+25#

3x @ 315# + 5x @ BW+25#

3x @ 335# + 5x @ BW+25#

(to be continued)

At this point I was pretty tired. Marathoner had dropped out after 275# so my rests were becoming, unconsciously, a little shorter. And the bar was getting heavier. The next step in the progression is 365# - only 10# less than my all-time 1RM. I was concerned. Got some water. Applied some more chalk. As I was mentally preparing for the 365#, and Marathoner was switching out the plates for me, I had some internal, imaginary dialog with the bar. I couldn’t help it. It just popped into my head.

Bar: (to me)

You are a wonderful deadlifter.

Me:

Thank you. I’ve worked hard to become so.

Bar:

I admit it. You are better than I am.

Me:

Then why are you smiling?

Bar:

Because I know something you don’t know.

Me:

And what is that?

Bar:

I am not 335#! (switches 10#s on each side for 25#s)

Me:

You’re amazing!

Bar:

I ought to be, after twenty years.

Me:

There’s something I ought to tell you…

Bar:

Tell me.

Me:

I have not removed my sneakers yet. [removes sneakers]

Deadlift + Dips (cont.)

3x @ 365# + 10x @ BW+25#

That’s right. You can laugh all you want (I did!). BUT! I pulled 3×365# after almost an hour of posterior chain work. Makes me want to see what I can do, for real, next Friday.