alek’s log

[cole]

yea, for me its always a coin flip whether or not im actually gonna show up to my meets - shit just seems to happen right before.

[DCR]

@alek, I hope things chill out but in any event you’ll be fine. I know next to nothing about competitive lifting or preparing to do it, but you’re strong af. It’ll work out.

[KarlM]

Hope things start looking up for you Alek!

[EricK]

Life stress is acutely high; I have a sinus infection thing going on; training is falling apart.

I'm 5 weeks out from a competition, and I ripped the skin off of my thumb today doing hook grip; I couldn't deadlift 445 x 1 for a second single after deadlifting 395 x 3, 420 x 2, and 445 x 1.

That is all.

Ouch. I used to tape my thumbs back when I did power cleans a lot. Hope it doesn't mess up your pull too bad...

[EricK]

Is the tear bad enough to scrap the meet?

[alek]

yea, for me its always a coin flip whether or not im actually gonna show up to my meets - shit just seems to happen right before.

Yeah, I dropped out of a meet in the fall because of "life", but I really want to do this one. Come hell or highwater...

alek, I hope things chill out but in any event you’ll be fine. I know next to nothing about competitive lifting or preparing to do it, but you’re strong af. It’ll work out.

Thanks, man. Things are generally good; it's just life is fast and busy, and when a few alligators get thrown in amongst the kittens, it's goes a little haywire. I think it's getting back on track. I'm actually logging a workout today.

Hope things start looking up for you Alek!

Thanks, Karl. I think it's getting better.

Life stress is acutely high; I have a sinus infection thing going on; training is falling apart.

I'm 5 weeks out from a competition, and I ripped the skin off of my thumb today doing hook grip; I couldn't deadlift 445 x 1 for a second single after deadlifting 395 x 3, 420 x 2, and 445 x 1.

That is all.

Ouch. I used to tape my thumbs back when I did power cleans a lot. Hope it doesn't mess up your pull too bad...

Is the tear bad enough to scrap the meet?

I'm actually going back to mixed grip. After watching, watching some more, and rewatching some video, I was progressively stooping lower and lower at the start of my deadlift, which is why my knee was pushing my arm. I corrected that today, and no arm pushing happened. I just have to be mindful of that moving forward.

[alek]

3/19/24 Tuesday [Training]

AMBW & Umbilicus
Today: 187.8 & 34.75
7-Day: 187.5 & 34.63

Deficit Deadlift (S)
365 x 3 @ 6
375 x 3 @ 6.5
385 x 3 @ 7; e1rm = 460
395 x 3 @ 8

Deadlift (T)
T for Technique
365 x 3 @ 5.5,5.5,5.5

Leg Press (H)
Sled + 450 x 8 @ 7,7,8; e1rm = 636

Session Length
0:49

Notes
Good session; I really needed that. That's a pr on the deficit deadlift.

The deadlift drama continues: I strapped to do the deficit deadlifts--beltless--but I went to mixed grip--also beltless--to do the regular deadlift. I watched video and found that I had been progressively dropping lower into my start position, which was causing the knee push into my left arm. In the regular deadlift today, I focused on not dropping so low, and there was no push of the arm and no tendon stuff afterwards either. I felt really strong, and comfortable.

[DCR]

The deadlift drama continues: I strapped to do the deficit deadlifts--beltless--but I went to mixed grip--also beltless--to do the regular deadlift. I watched video and found that I had been progressively dropping lower into my start position, which was causing the knee push into my left arm. In the regular deadlift today, I focused on not dropping so low, and there was no push of the arm and no tendon stuff afterwards either. I felt really strong, and comfortable.

Sounds like said drama has been satisfactorily resolved.

Once I get over this thing with the squats, deficit deadlifts may come calling me.

[alek]

The deadlift drama continues: I strapped to do the deficit deadlifts--beltless--but I went to mixed grip--also beltless--to do the regular deadlift. I watched video and found that I had been progressively dropping lower into my start position, which was causing the knee push into my left arm. In the regular deadlift today, I focused on not dropping so low, and there was no push of the arm and no tendon stuff afterwards either. I felt really strong, and comfortable.

Sounds like said drama has been satisfactorily resolved.

Hah! Yeah, I hope so. It's like a soap opera.

Once I get over this thing with the squats, deficit deadlifts may come calling me.

They have always done good things for me, but I have to make sure that I don't stoop too low in my normal deadlift when I set up.

[EricK]

The deadlift drama continues: I strapped to do the deficit deadlifts--beltless--but I went to mixed grip--also beltless--to do the regular deadlift. I watched video and found that I had been progressively dropping lower into my start position, which was causing the knee push into my left arm. In the regular deadlift today, I focused on not dropping so low, and there was no push of the arm and no tendon stuff afterwards either. I felt really strong, and comfortable.

Sounds like said drama has been satisfactorily resolved.

Hah! Yeah, I hope so. It's like a soap opera.

Once I get over this thing with the squats, deficit deadlifts may come calling me.

They have always done good things for me, but I have to make sure that I don't stoop too low in my normal deadlift when I set up.

Glad you figured things out and that you're still working towards your meet. You put in a lot of good work.

[broseph]

Yeah, I was authentically worried about that thumb and your meet. It seems like you have some really good momentum going into it.

[alek]

The deadlift drama continues: I strapped to do the deficit deadlifts--beltless--but I went to mixed grip--also beltless--to do the regular deadlift. I watched video and found that I had been progressively dropping lower into my start position, which was causing the knee push into my left arm. In the regular deadlift today, I focused on not dropping so low, and there was no push of the arm and no tendon stuff afterwards either. I felt really strong, and comfortable.

Sounds like said drama has been satisfactorily resolved.

Hah! Yeah, I hope so. It's like a soap opera.

Once I get over this thing with the squats, deficit deadlifts may come calling me.

They have always done good things for me, but I have to make sure that I don't stoop too low in my normal deadlift when I set up.

Glad you figured things out and that you're still working towards your meet. You put in a lot of good work.

Yeah, I was authentically worried about that thumb and your meet. It seems like you have some really good momentum going into it.

Thanks, dudes!! I think I'm getting back on track.

[alek]

3/21/24 Thursday [Training]

AMBW & Umbilicus
Today: 188.8 & 34.875
7-Day: 187.8 & 34.68

Comp Bench (S)
205 x 1
215 x 1
225 x 1
235 x 1
245 x 1
235 x nope
Elbow tendonopathy doesn't like intensity.

Machine Row (H)
170 x 10 @ 7
175 x 10 @ 7,8.5

Arnold Press (H)
35's x 15,13,8

Incline DB Curl (H)
20's x 12,12,12

Session Length
0:49

Notes
It seems I can do volume with bench, but intensity aggravates the tendonopathy.

[alek]

3/22/24 Friday [Training]

AMBW & Umbilicus
Today: 187.4 & 34.875
7-Day: 187.9 & 34.73

Comp Deadlift (S)
396 x 3 @ 6; e1rm = 487
420 x 2 @ 7
445 x 1 @ 8,9

TnG Bench (H)
185 x 7,7,6

S&M Machine (H)
455 x 10 @ 7,9; e1rm = 697
405 x 8 @ 9

Session Length
1:02

Notes
Getting back on track. I have another week of training, and then I'm taking a week off.

[DCR]

Getting back on track. I have another week of training, and then I'm taking a week off.

You decide to move up the time off?

[EricK]

Calling @alek

You ok bruv?

[alek]

Getting back on track. I have another week of training, and then I'm taking a week off.

You decide to move up the time off?

Calling alek

You ok bruv?

Hey dudes, I’m good.

We were at the Grand Canyon today, headed to Petrified Forest NP tomorrow.

The training I did last week was not very productive—the tendonopathy doesn’t like heavy squatting now either—but I trained 3 or 4 times. Life is just busy with work, kids, wife quitting/retiring from her full time job, going on this trip, kids…

I’ll get back at it on Monday.

[DCR]

Getting back on track. I have another week of training, and then I'm taking a week off.

You decide to move up the time off?

Calling alek

You ok bruv?

Hey dudes, I’m good.

We were at the Grand Canyon today, headed to Petrified Forest NP tomorrow.

The training I did last week was not very productive—the tendonopathy doesn’t like heavy squatting now either—but I trained 3 or 4 times. Life is just busy with work, kids, wife quitting/retiring from her full time job, going on this trip, kids…

I’ll get back at it on Monday.

Gotcha - glad you're well. Enjoy the trip!

[alek]

Getting back on track. I have another week of training, and then I'm taking a week off.

You decide to move up the time off?

Calling alek

You ok bruv?

Hey dudes, I’m good.

We were at the Grand Canyon today, headed to Petrified Forest NP tomorrow.

The training I did last week was not very productive—the tendonopathy doesn’t like heavy squatting now either—but I trained 3 or 4 times. Life is just busy with work, kids, wife quitting/retiring from her full time job, going on this trip, kids…

I’ll get back at it on Monday.

Gotcha - glad you're well. Enjoy the trip!

The Grand Canyon’s penis:

[EricK]

That's good to hear enjoy the penis trip!