Some you win, some you lose.

Wendler 5/3/1 program, cycle 26, week 2

• Work Set – Deadlift (working max: 410#)
  • 165 x 5
  • 210 x 5
  • 250 x 3
  • 290 x 3
  • 330 x 3
  • 375 x 5
  • 290 x 6
  • 290 x 6
  • 290 x 6
  • 225 x 5
• Crunches
  • 11 x REP x 3
• Standing Calf Raises
  • 10 x 80 x 3
• Foam Rolling

The work-up went nicely. Felt good. Really focusing on glute activation and trying to make it more of a “leg press” than a “back/arm pull”. All went well, until the 375 set.

I’ve been reading about wearing your belt higher up for deadlifting. I tried it before and it didn’t work, but I recently saw a video about it that had some placement tips. So I thought I’d try again. I couldn’t get into position… just wasn’t working. Tried slightly lower, no dice. So I went back to where I always put it. But then, I was just not in the mental groove of things and didn’t really have things as they needed. I realized every one of thoe 5 reps had no air behind it… I mean, I was Valsalva and everything, but I recall no abdominal pressure against the belt. I was still tight and good, the reps actually went pretty well, but things just weren’t as tight and rigid as they should have been. I probably could have gotten another rep or 2, but meh… the 5 was pretty solid all things considered.

I went back to “first set last set”. The drop set stuff is actually working out kinda nice because it’s certainly working me well, but moreover it’s giving me a lot more reps and technique work. I can really focus on technique, which I guess in some respects is my “weak point” and so if assistance is to help bring up weak points, there we go. It’s not always about strengthening some muscle… this time, it’s about improving technique. It’s just all the “leg pressing” and “glute activation” stuff I need more work on. And to a small degree, things like flexing my triceps when in mixed grip so I don’t try to curl the weight and risk biceps problems, minding head and eye positioning to help drive upwards, and so on. All good.

But then as I worked my way down, my right knee started to feel really bad. I intended the last 2 sets to be a bunch of reps at 225, but I just had to stop short because the knee was giving me the “fuck you”. Even now a few hours later, my knee is feeling really stiff… a couple Advil, a little more fish oil, lots of protein and water today… we’ll see how she does.

Calf work… just slowing easing into it. Let’s go light, get that stretch at the bottom, squeeze at the top, but avoid calf cramping problems. I’ll get there… slow but sure, ramp it up.