I’m not sure I like sumo deadlifts. 🙂

Today was the second time trying them out. Last week was pure freeform experimenting, and today was about trying to actually do something. I still went light and easy, just start at 135 and go up by 25’s and 45’s doing a couple sets of 3 at each level. The goal was to try to do some actual work, but not any serious work because I’m still trying to understand it, make sure I have technique, etc..

I am allowing myself to bend forward probably more than you should, but in exchange I’m also working to get my butt down and back more — it’s purely flexibility for that position, and that will just take time.

I did find that not having the widest stance in the world is probably more suitable for me, but that too may change in time as I gain more flexibility. I also happened to play with my grip today too, finding that a slightly more narrow grip might work, but might not. It takes my hands off any knurling, and the bar felt a lot less balanced — less stable, teetered more. But it also gave me more of a straight drop to the bar. So, just more things to play with.

In other news, the past couple weeks were not focused on squatting properly according to Base Building principles — it was trying to just be very sensitive to form because of perceived imbalances favoring my right leg due to left knee issues. But today I felt I could keep that in mind, but get back to using C.A.T. with every rep. That felt good to do. Thing was? I’m not sure I really did 5 sets. I was so into things, so focused, and just ran on auto-pilot. I just remember scrolling up on my phone in the tracker app I use and was like “oh… that was the last set?” I honestly couldn’t remember if I had been properly recording stuff or what. I was that much on auto-pilot. So, it was what it was.

Plus I was a bit distracted by the eclipse! I was awake at the prime time, able to watch the whole thing. So I’d do a couple sets then step out and look at it. That may have been too much distraction.

Or mayabe it was because I was listening to the new Orange Goblin album, “Back From the Abyss” while lifting. 🙂

I also did some lunges. Again, this is a change to try to help with the knee/imbalance issue. I did just 3×10 with bodyweight only to try to see where my knee was and how it felt. It actually felt ok. There was some discomfort, part of why I only did 3×10, but overall it went OK. I think it will be a good thing for me. The fact I’ve been doing bodyweight squats every day at home I do believe has helped my knee situation. I am pretty sure there is something actually wrong or worn down/out in my knee, and it’s just a matter of time before I have to go under the knife. But until that time, I reckon the best thing I can do is work to strengthen the area. If lunges and other single-leg work will help me get there, then that’s the best thing for me to do.

Based upon Paul Carter’s Basebuilding

• Squats (model 1)
  • bar x 5
  • bar x 5
  • 150 x 5
  • 175 x 4
  • 205 x 3
  • 225 x 2
  • 260 x 1
  • 180 x 5
  • 180 x 5
  • 180 x 5
  • 180 x 5
  • 180 x 5
• Sumo Deadlift
  • 135 x 3
  • 135 x 3
  • 185 x 3
  • 185 x 3
  • 225 x 3
  • 225 x 3
  • 225 x 1
• Lunges
  • BW x 10
  • BW x 10
  • BW x 10