Saturday, February 7, 2026

RTS Block 2. Week 5. Day 3.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 223

SSB - 260X5, 5, 5 @7.5

Bench - 190X5, 4, 3, 2 @8/7

Incline Bench - 140X9, 9, 7 @~10

Deadlift Paused Off Floor - 
-    315X5, @7
-    345X3 @7.5
-    370X1 @7

CS Rows w/Straps - 
-    125X12, 8 @10
-    100X13 @10

Solid session to end the training block. 

We suspected the second block would be a bit of a step back after the steep and rapid progress of the first block.  In fact, Squat was the only lift that regressed.  Bench took a big step back at the beginning of the block but made up all that ground here by the end.  Deadlift started strong, made improvements, and then dropped off at the end.

For Squats, I'm pushing personal lifting dogma to the back, and starting in with stiff knee sleeves next block.

For Bench, I think I had a bit of a technical breakthrough the last two weeks around general tightness and specifically around tightness at the pause.  Excited to see if that carries forward.

For DL, we'll see.  There was a lot of technical work in the back half of this block around building tension before the pull, standing tall at lockout (instead of leaning back with soft knees), and having the bar path on the descent mirror the ascent.  That may have contributed to the drop-off at the end of the block as all the technique work got to be...a lot.  Hopefully it will become more ingrained and lead to good near-term results.

All in all, I'm excited to have another block of data for me and coach to look at.  I figure we'll need at least one, and probably 2-3 more before we can really start to build out "greatest hits" blocks for both development and peaking.

Thursday, February 5, 2026

RTS Block 2. Week 5. Day 2.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 226

Squats - 
-    up to 330X2 @8.5
-    270X5, 5 @~6

Spoto Bench - 
-    170X3 @6.5
-    182.5X3 @8
-    192.5X3 @8

Dips - BW+25X7, 6 @~8

RDL w/Straps - 290X7(PR) @10

Pullups - BWX4, 4 @~10

Pulldowns - X8, 7, 5 @~9

Squats were still a bit of a struggle today, but not as bad as last week.

Everything else was awesome. 

Maybe unlocked something with my pause on the top set of Spoto Bench.  We'll see.

PR set of RDLs.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

RTS Block 2. Week 5. Day 1.

sRPE @7
BW - 228

Deadlift - 
-    up to 412.5X1 @9.5
-    315X4 @4.5
-    325X4 @6
-    340X4 @7

Larsen Bench - 137.5X10, 10, 10 @7.5/9

Low Pin Squats - 
-    245X5 @6.5
-    265X3 @7.5

DB Bench - 
-    65sX13, 9 @10
-    60sX10  @10

Incline DB Rows w/Straps - 70sX9, 8, 7 @10

Was hoping for a PR double on DL, but ended up only being able to pull a single chipping last week's weight.  I did some extra warm-up volume trying to work on a technical note from my coach.  Not sure if the extra volume, or the changes might have impacted top set this week or not.  Back-offs were fine, and all the other work was fine-to-good.

Monday, February 2, 2026

RTS Block 2. Week 4. Day 3.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 224

SBS - 255X5, 5, 5 @7/7.5

Bench - 185X5, 5, 4, 3 @8/8.5

Incline Bench Paused - 135X6, 6, 6 @~7.5

Deadlift Paused Off Floor - 
-    315X5 @7.5
-    340X3 @7
-    370X1 @8

CS Rows w/Straps - 
-    125X10 @10
-    115X10 @10
-    100X11 @10

Bounced back and had a normal session after Wednesdays drop off.  

Thursday, January 29, 2026

RTS Block 2. Week 4. Day 2.

sRPE @8.5
BW - 221

Squats - 
-    335X2 @9
-    270X5, 5 @~7

Spoto Bench - 
-    175X3 @7.5
-    185X3 @9
-    192.5 Fail on 3

Dips - BW+25X8, 5 @~8

RDL w/Straps - 290 Fail on 5

Pullups - BWX4, 3 @10

Pulldowns - X8, 7, 6 @10

Performance cratered across the board.  Gonna chalk it up to life stress and move on.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

RTS Block 2. Week 4. Day 1.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 224

Deadlift - 
-    410X2 @8.5
-    345X4 @5.5
-    350X4, 4 @7.5

Larsen Bench - 135X10, 10, 10 @8/10

Pin Squats - 
-    250X5 @7
-    265X3 @7.5

DB Bench - 65sX11, 9, 6 @10

DB Incline Rows w/Straps - 
-    65sX8, 6 @10
-    60sX7 @10

Solid session.  If I feel good next week, I'll likely go for a PR double on DL.

Finally got 3X10 with 135 on Larsens.  The burn is real.

Saturday, January 24, 2026

RTS Block 2. Week 3. Day 3.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 224

SSB Squats - 
-    260X5, 5 @7.5/8.5
-    240X5 @7

Bench - 190X5, 3, 2, 2 @9.5/8.5

Incline Bench - 
-    170X6, 6 @9/9.5
-    160X6 @8.5

Pause Deadlift (paused just off floor) -
-    315X5 @7
-    340X3 @7.5
-    365X1 @7

CS Rows w/Straps - 115X15, 10, 8 @~10

I pushed weight up aggressively on the first 3 lifts as a sort of RPE audit.  However, I definitely perceived the RPE to be higher so e1RM ends up being about the same as last week.  Still useful info.

I kept Pause DL weight the same to focus on a stricter pause.  Coach was looking for a full stop, and I was more slowing way down but still moving.