Tuesday, August 18, 2026

RTS Block 8. Week 3. Day 1.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 229

Pause Squats - 310X2 @7.5

Squats - 295X5, 5, 5 @~5.5

Larsen Bench - 
-    135X10 @6.5
-    140X10 @7
-    145X10, 10, @8.5/10

TnG DL - 325X6, 6, 6 @7.5/8.5

GHR - BWX14, 10, 9 @9/7.5
super-set with
Leg Extensions - X13, 13 @~6

Stationary Bike - S.I.T.; 10 minutes

Monday, August 17, 2026

RTS Block 8. Week 2. Day 3.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 228

Block Squats - 
-    250X6 @6.5
-    270X4 @6.5
-    292.5X2 @7

Bench - 
-    185X5 @8
-    217.5X1 @9
-    180X4, 4, 4 @~7.5

Low Pause DL - 352.5X2 @8

DL - 315X5, 5, 5 @~5.5

Machine OH JM Press - X13, 11, 9 @~9
super-set with
Leg Extensions - X17, 12 @6

Thursday, August 13, 2026

RTS Block 8. Week 2. Day 2.

 sRPE @6.5
BW - 227

SBS -
-    220X8 @7
-    180X8, 8 @~5

Spoto Bench - 
-    177.5X3 @7
-    180X3 @7.5
-    187.5X3 @9

Dips - BWX9, 7, 6 @~9

Cable Rows - X16, 13, 11, 11 ~9

RG Pulldowns - X13, 9, 10, 10  @8.5/9.5
super-set with 
Leg Extensions - X15, 14 @5.5

Stationary Bike - S.I.T.; 10 minutes

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

RTS Block 8. Week 2. Day 1.

sRPE @8
BW - 227

Pause Squat - 300X2 @7.5

Squat - 280X5, 5, 5 @~5

Larsen Bench - 
-    135X10 @6.5
-    140X10 @8.5
-    142.5X10, 7 @9.5/10

TnG DL - 325X6, 6, 6 @~8

GHR - BWX13, 10, 9 @7/8
super-set with
Leg Extensions - X16, 13 @~5

Stationary Bike - S.I.T.; 10 minutes

Saturday, August 8, 2026

RTS Block 8. Week 1. Day 3.

sRPE 28
BW - 227

Block Squats - 
-    245X6 @5.5
-    270X4 @6.5
-    290X2 @7

Bench -
-    182.5X5 @8
-    215X1 @9
-    180X4, 4, 4 @6.5/7.5

Low Pause DL - 350X2 @8

Deadlift - 315X5, 5, 5 @5.5/7.5

Machine OH JM Press - X12, 10, 9 @~9
super-set with
Leg Extensions - X15, 13 @5/6

This week looks a little rough on paper.  sRPE higher than I'd like for Week 1.  e1RMs on mains the lowest they've been since earlier this year.

The perspective I'm trying to take is that I've had LOTS of disruptions to regular training.  Muscle mass is unlikely to have atrophied much if at all, so I'm going to assume it's a loss of general fitness.

I'm not going to let myself try to force myself "back" to the highs of ~April, but rather just try to cruise a bit and see if fitness returns naturally with the more consistent schedule I should have over the next few weeks.

Also hoping the lingering knee pain recedes with the steps we're taking around that.

Thursday, August 6, 2026

RTS Block 8. Week 1. Day 2.

sRPE @6.5
BW - 225

SBS -
-    220X8 @6.5
-    185X8, 8 @5

Spoto Bench -
-    175X3 @7
-    182.5X3 @8
-    190X3 @8.5

Dips - BWX8, 7, 5 @~9

Cable Flexion Rows - X15, 12, 11, 10 @9/10

RG Pulldowns - X12, 10, 9, 10 @9/10

Leg Extensions - X14, 11 @~5

Stationary Bike - SIT; 10 minutes

Nice, low stress session.  Everything moved well.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

RTS Block 8. Week 1. Day 1.

sRPE @ 8
BW - 226

Pause Squat - 295X2 @7.5

Squats - 277.5X5, 5, 5 @~6

Larsen Bench - 
-    140X10 @6.5
-    145X10 @8
-    147.5X10 @10
-    140X10 @10

TnG DL - 325X6, 6, 6 @7/9

GHR - BWX12, 9, 9 @7/8

Leg Extensions - X13, 11 @5.5/6.5

Stationary Bike - SIT; 10 minutes

Training was pretty crap the last couple of weeks across illness, travel, and just general disruptions.  Also dealing with some tendinopathy in my right knee.  Hoping I'll get a solid 4 week run of training in this block.

Monday, July 20, 2026

RTS Block 7. Week 2. Day 3.

sRPE @9
BW - 228

Block Squats - 
-    315X4 @7.5
-    285X4, 4 @~6

Bench - 
-    207.5X3 @8.5
-    190X4, 4, 4 @7/8.5
-    1756X4 @7

Deadlift - 395X2 @9.5

TnG Deadlift - 330X6, 6, 6 @7/8

SM JM Press - 50X16, 11, 9 @~9

Stationary Bike - S.I.T.; 10 minutes

This session got real hard, real fast.  Not sure why.  Maybe heat, humidity, and wildfire smoke.  Hopefully next week bounces back a bit.

Thursday, July 16, 2026

RTS Block 7. Week 2. Day 2.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 226

High Bar Squat - 285X7(PR), 7, 7 @~7.5

050 Bench - 
-    170X2 @6
-    180X2 @7
-    187.5X2 @8.5

BSS - BW+39lb.ChainsX10 @7.5

CS Rows - 
-    130X12, 9 @~10
-    115X10 @10
-    100X10 @10

Pulldowns - X11, 9, 10, 9 @10

Weather is tough in the gym, but managed to push weight on just about everything including a 10lb. Rep PR on High Bar.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

RTS Block 7. Week 2. Day 1.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 232

Squats - 
-    342.5X3 @6
-    355X3 @7
-    372.5X3 @7.5

Feet-Up Bench - 
-    140X8 @5.5
-    150X8 @8
-    155X8 @7.5
-    162.5X8 @8.5

1" Deficit DL - 330X5 @7

RDL w/Straps - 270X7, 5, 4 @8.5/7

Hammer Incline -
-    80X8 @6.5
-    85X8 @7.5
-    90X8 @8.5
-    95X8 @9

Rower - S.I.T.; 10 minutes

Another solid session with heavier week-over-week top sets and e1RM increases on all movements.  This block will only be 3 weeks because of travel, so it would be convenient if we keep making big jumps.

Saturday, July 11, 2026

RTS Block 7. Week 1. Day 3.

sRPE @7.5
BW - 226

Block Squats - 
-    305X4 @7
-    290X4, 4 @~6

Bench -
-    205X3 @8.5
-    190X4, 4, 4 @7/9
-    175X4 @7

Deadlift - 385X2 @7.5

TnG DL - 325X6, 6, 6 @7/8

SM JM Press - BarX15, 14, 12 @9/10

Stationary Bike - S.I.T.; 0:20/1:40; 6 rounds

Was conservative on Block Squats, and then tried to push aggressive out of the gate for Week 1 on Comp Lifts.

Overshot just a smidge on Bench, so will likely repeat that weight next week and see if RPE comes down.

Undershot on DL (felt RPE 8, video says max RPE 7), so will look to push that aggressively again next week. 

Thursday, July 9, 2026

RTS Block 7. Week 1. Day 2.

sRPE @8
BW - 225

High Bar Squats - 275X7(PR), 7, 7 @7/8

5sec. Pause Bench -
-    170X2 @6.5
-    175X2 @7
-    182.5X2 @8

Bulgarian Split Squats - BW+35lb. Chain X10 @7

CS Rows - 
-    125X12, 10, 8 @~10
-    100X9 @9.5

Pulldowns - ladder downX8, 10, 12, 10 @10

Stationary Bike - S.I.T.; 0:20/1:40; 6 rounds

Unplanned back-to-backs always spike the sRPE a bit, but this went well despite the slog.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

RTS Block 7. Week 1. Day 1.

sRPE @7
BW - 231

Squats - 
-    340X3 @6
-    350X3 @6.5
-    367.5X3 @8

Feet-Up Bench - 
-    145X8 @7
-    147.5X8 @7.5
-    152.5X8 @9/9.5

1" Deficit DL - 325X5 @7.5

RDL - 267.5X7, 5, 5 @8.5/8

Hammer Incline - 
-    70X8 @5.5
-    75X8 @8
-    80X8 @8.5
-    85X8 @9.5

Rower - S.I.T.; 0:20/1:40; 6 rounds

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

RTS Pivot Block 7. Day 1.

sRPE @6.5
BW - 227

Beltless DL - 315X2 @6

Beltless TnG DL - 185X15, 15, 15 @4/6

303 Tempo Bench - 
-    115X5 @5.5
-    125X5 @6.5
-    135X5 @7.5
-    145X5 @8.5

050 Tempo Leg Press - 5 platesX6, 6 @6.5/7.5

Incline Bench (myo-reps) - 135X9, 3, 3, 3, 3 @9.5/8.5

DB Seated Press (myo-reps) - 
-    35sX13, 4, 4, 4, 4 @9/8
-    35sX12, 4, 4, 4, 4 @9/8

Air like mouth in gym today, so main goal was to get sets and reps in and keep sRPE sub 7.

Saturday, June 27, 2026

RTS Block 6. Week 4. Day 3.

sRPE @7
BW - 226

Pause Squats - 
-    305X3 @5.5
-    327.5X3 @7
-    340X3 @8

Bench - 195X5, 3, 3, 2, 2 @8.5/7

Deadlift - 372.5X3 @7.5

TnG Deadlift - 345X6, 5, 4 @8/6.5

Smith Machine JM Press - 50X15, 12, 10 @~9.5

Solid session to end the training block.  Weights and e1RM finishing up on comp lifts, and pushed weight up on Supps and Accessories as well.

Week-over-Week from the end of the last block to the end of this one was quite good at 3.2%.  However, the peak e1RM Total (1107) is still the lowest since I added knee sleeves to squats.  This is mostly due to the taper and peak for the mock meet at the end of last block having not gone well.  

If we can get comparable week-over-week improvement next block, that should put peak e1RM right around my best since adding sleeves (1143).  And then hopefully we can keep stacking mostly positive blocks from there.

Thursday, June 25, 2026

RTS Block 6. Week 4. Day 2.

sRPE @6.5
BW - 227

Spoto Bench - 
-    180X3 @5.5
-    190X3 @7
-    202.5X3 @7.5

BFE BSS - BW+57lb ChainsX9 @8

Low Bar PBN -
-    65X6 @8
-    55X8, 8 @6.5/8

Pulldowns - X17, 12, 8 @10

CS Rows - 120X13, 9, 9 @~10

Face Pulls - X13, 10, 8 @10

Spotos were feeling great, but I stayed conservative rather than go for a PR.  Don't want to sap my chance to make a bigger jump on Comp Bench on Friday.

Moved the grip out on LB PBN until I was able to return each rep to a low bar position.  Thinking about trying to gradually move grip in vs. trying to gradually move reps lower with normal Squat grip.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

RTS Block 6. Week 4. Day 1.

sRPE @8
BW - 227

Squats - 
-    350X4 @7
-    362.5X4 @8
-    375X4 @9

Larsen Bench - 
-    135X10 @6.5
-    145X10 @7.5
-    155X10(PR) @9.5
-    147.5X10 @9

Deadlift Paused Below Knee - 330X5 @8

RDL w/Straps - 300X5, 3 @~9

Hammer Incline - 
-    70X10 @7.5
-    80X10 @9
-    90X7 @10
-    80X8 @10

Tough session as I pushed weight a little bit on everything here in the final week.  Everything came in more or less on target except for the RDLs where coach called for a 25+ lb. jump that wasn't quite there for 6 reps @ RPE 8.

Saturday, June 20, 2026

RTS Block 6. Week 3. Day 3.

sRPE @7
BW - 225

Pause Squats - 
-    290X3 @5
-    310X3 @7
-    320X3 @7.5

Bench - 190X5, 4, 3, 4, 4 @~7.5

Deadlift - 365X3 @7.5

TnG Deadlift - 330X6, 6, 4 @~7

Smith Machine JM Press - 45X17, 13, 12 @9

Nice session.  Pause Squat bounced back from last week, Bench improved a little, an DL improved a lot.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

RTS Block 6. Week 3. Day 2.

sRPE @6.5
BW - 227

Spoto Bench - 
-    180X3 @6.5
-    190X3 @7
-    200X3 @8

Bulgarian Split Squats - +35lb. ChainX11 @7

Low Bar PBN -
-    85X1 @7
-    95X1 @9
-    100X1 @10

Pulldowns - X14, 11, 11 @10

CS Rows - 120X12, 10, 9 @10

Face Pulls - X12, 11, 9 @10

Technique feeling very dialed-in on Spotos, and may attempt a 3 rep PR next week if warm-ups feeling good.

Moved BSS to this day because I had a lot of quad discomfort on last Friday's Pause Squats after having 3 days off from any Squat movement. 

Tried going as heavy as possible on the low bar PBN to see if that helped the bar return to the low bar position after the Press, but it didn't.  Currently, I can start the movement in low bar position, but can't return any lower than the top of the traps.  The point of this movement is to increase my shoulder mobility slightly to see if it lessens elbow pain with heavier weights on Squats.  Probably we'll just roll with in the way it is and see if it improves over time, or possibly abandon in favor of something else.  TBD.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

RTS Block 6. Week 3. Day 1.

sRPE @7
BW - 228

Squats -
-    345X4 @7
-    362.5X4 @8.25
-    372.5X4 @9

Larsen Bench - 
-    135X10 @6.5
-    145X10 @8
-    152.5X10, 10 @8.5/9.5

DL Paused below Knee - 325X5 @7.5

RDL w/Straps - 275X6, 5 @8/7

Hammer Incline -
-    75X10 @7.5
-    80X10 @8.5
-    85X10, 10 @~10

Was originally targeting 375 for today, but backed off slightly after the first two ramping sets.

Repeated last week's weights on Larsens and Paused DLs, but at lower RPEs.

Pushed weight a lot on RDLs and a little on Hammer Incline.