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.

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.

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.

RTS Block 6. Week 1. Day 3.

sRPE @7

BW - 226

Pause Squats - 

-    325X3 @7

-    340X3 @8

-    350X3(PR) @9

Bulgarian Split Squats - +25lb. ChainX11 @7

Bench - 182.5X5, 3, 4, 4, 3 @~7

Deadlift - 350X3 @7.5

TnG DL - 315X6, 5, 3 @~7.5

Smith Machine JM Press - 

-    65X9 @9

-    45X11, 10 @9/10

Expected this session to be a bit of a bear, but it was really fun!  I didn't even realize that was a Pause Squat PR until the next day.

TnG DL is so much less fatiguing mentally.  I hope this block goes well, and we can keep that strategy for back-off sets.

RTS Block 5. Week 3. Day 3.

sRPE @8.5

BW - 227

High Bar Squat - 

-    275X6 @6

-    290X6 @7

-    300X6(PR) @7.5

Bench - 

-    235X1 @9.5

-    200X4 @8.5

-    185X4, 4, 4 @~7

High Paused Deadlift -

-    350X4 @8

-    330X5(PR) @7

-    315X5, 5 @6.5

DB Bench - 

-    60sX14, 12, 8 @10

-    50sX11 @10

Face Pulls - X17, 14, 12 @10

 Another PR on HBS, but Bench was slightly off compared to last week.  It's tentatively starting to look like a trend for comp lifts to be a bit flat in Week 3, but we'll just have to see how things go with next week's mock meet.

Really focused in on the DLs Paused below the Knee.  Used the same top weight as the last two weeks, and it felt much more in control.  First back-off set of 5 is a Rep PR.

RTS Block 5. Week 3. Day 2.

sRPE @7

BW - 224

Squats - 395X1 @8

Marrs Bar Squat - 

-    315X6 @7

-    305X4, 4 @5

Spoto Bench - 

-    195X2 @6.5

-    200X2 @7

-    205X2 @7.5

-    210X2(PR) @8

Low Bar PBN -

-    75X8 @8

-    65X8 @5

-    67.5X8 @6

CS Rows (pronated) -

-    115X13, 10 @10

-    90X11 @10

Pull-Downs - X14, 12, 10 @10

Squat stability wasn't quite there to meet or beat last weeks 405.  Hopefully we'll get a little bounce-back for next week's mock meet.

Spoto Bench came together in the last couple of sets for a modest PR there.

Finally finding the right weight for the "low bar" PBN.

RTS Block 5. Week 3. Day 1.

sRPE @8

BW - 231

Pause Squats - 

-    315X3 @5

-    325X3 @5.5

-    345X3(PR) @7

Larsen Bench - 

-    165X5 @5

-    185X5 @7.5

-    195X5(PR) @9

Deadlift - 

-    410X1 @8

-    350X3, 3, 3 @7/7.5

Incline Bench - 135X12, 10, 15 @8/10

GHR - BWX14, 13 @~9

PRs on Pause Squats and Larsens, and DL top single felt the best it has all block.

RTS Block 5. Week 2. Day 3.

sRPE @8.5

BW - 227

High Bar Squat -

-    275X6 @6

-    285X6 @7

-    295X6(PR) @8

Bench - 

-    232.5X1 @9

-    205X4 @8.5

-    185X4, 4, 4 @~7

DL Paused below knee w/Straps* -

-    350X4 @8.5

-    325X5 @7

-    315X5, 5 @~7

Hammer Incline - 60X16, 14, 12, 12 @10

Face Pulls - X16, 15, 12 @10

2+ Rep PR on HBS.  

Bench technique felt the best it's felt since I started to tighten up to comp standards.

Pinched the palm of my index finger between two plates loading DL, and raised a blood blister under one of my calluses.  Had to strap up from there on.

For DB Bench, the knurling on the handles definitely felt like it was going to take the top of the blister off, so I switched to Hammer Incline.

RTS Block 5. Week 2. Day 1.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 229

Pause Squats -

-    310X3 @5

-    325X3 @6

-    340X3(PR) @7

Larsen Bench - 

-    175X5 @7

-    185X5 @8

-    192.X5(PR) @9

Deadlift - 

-    405X1 @8

-    350X3, 3, 3 @~7

Incline Bench - 135X14, 12, 10 @~10

GHR - BWX16, 13 @~10

Solid session.

RTS Block 5. Week 1. Day 3.

sRPE @9

BW - 228

High Bar Squat - 

-    255X6 @4.5

-    275X6(PR) @6.5

-    290X6(PR) @7.5

Bench - 

-    230X1 @9.5

-    195X4 @8

-    180X4, 4, 4 @7

Deadlift Paused below knee -

-    350X4(PR) @8.5

-    325X5 @7.5

-    310X5, 5 @~7

DB Bench - 

-    65sX14, 9 @10

-    55sX8 @10

-    45sX12 @10

Face Pulls - X18, 15, 14 @10

Really tough session, but I got PRs on High Bar Squats and Paused Deads, and matched a 14 Rep DB Bench PR.  Pretty good for week 1, and hopefully I'll acclimate.  It's basically the same volume of SBD for Day 3 as last block so I should.

RTS Block 5. Week 1. Day 1.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 227

Pause Squats - 

-    305X3 @5

-    315X3 @5.5

-    335X3(PR) @7

Larsen Bench - 

-    155X5 @5.5

-    175X5 @7

-    190X5(PR) @9

Deadlift - 

-    410X1 @9

-    345X3, 3, 3 @7/7.5

Incline Bench - 130X12, 11, 11 @8/10

GHR - BWX16, 13 @~9

Solid session to start the block.  PRs on Pause Squats and Larsens.  DL was a bigger stepback to start the block than I'd hoped, but hopefully it charges forward from here.

RTS Block 4. Week 4. Day 3.

sRPE @8.5

BW - 228

SBS - 285X7(PR), 6, 7 @~7

Bench -

-    207.5X3 @8

-    235X1 @9

-    185X5, 5, 5 @6/7

Deadlift Paused below knee -

-    360X3 @8

-    340X4(PR) @8

-    315X4, 4 @6

DB Bench - 70sX12(PR), 8, 9 @~10

Tough session to end the block, but 3 Rep PRs on supplemental lifts.

Went 395X3, 235X1, and 405X3 on SBD this week.  On weight alone, that's a 1035 total.  That's 65 lbs. over my meet PR, and only 80 lbs. away from my lifetime PRs.  Those lifetime PRs include questionable depth on squats, and TnG on Bench with butt coming off the bench.  It will feel good to pass those strict.

Next block is a "Tier 1" peaking block that will end in a mock meet.  I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to beat my lifetime heaviest Squat of 410 if things go at least moderately well.  Beating 255 on Bench and 450 on DL seem fairly unlikely in just one more block.

I'm still looking for a meet in the fall to try and sweep my lifetime PRs in an actual meet, but we'll see.

Also need to work on strategies to mitigate heavy squats beating up my arms.  That'll be agenda item #1 for my live call with my coach next week.

RTS Block 4. Week 4. Day 2.

sRPE @8.5

BW - 229

Squats - 

-    395X3 @9

-    340X4, 4, 4 @6/7

CG Bench -

-    215X1 @8

-    185X4 @6

-    190X4 @7

-    192.5X4 @8

Pull-Ups w/Straps - BWX5(PR), 4, @~10

DB Incline Rows w/Straps - 65sX14, 9 @10

Pulldowns - X10, 8 @10

Sleep was bad the last two nights and flooding in the gym spiked the humidity so this session was rough.

Managed to add weight on Squats but RPE definitely went up, and I think depth was just passable.

Also, started to get a ton of arm pain across my brachialis area and triceps.  Tried relaxing my arms a bit, but then the bar started rolling down my back out of the hole. Then I tried brining my elbows up a bit to try and create a shelf that way, but it wasn't much better.

Lingering arm pain slapped an unexpected ceiling on close-grips.  12 lb. drop over last week.  Glad it's the last week of the block.

Unexpected PR set of pull-ups at this BW even after all the arm pain, so....wtf.

RTS Block 4. Week 3. Day 3.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 226

SBS - 

-    275X7(PR), 7 @~6

-    280X7(PR) @6.5

Bench - 

-    210X3 @8

-    232.5X1 @9

-    180X4, 5, 5 @6/6.5

DL Paused Below Knee - 

-    335X3 @8

-    335X4 @7

-    310X4, 4 @~6

DB Bench -

-    70sX11, 8 @10/9

-    65sX9 @9.5

Chipped last week's weight on Bench, couple of Rep PRs on SBS, and matched an 11 Rep PR on DB Bench.

Weights came up and/or RPE went down across the board, and sRPE was a bit lower for this session than in past weeks.  All around a pretty good day.

RTS Block 4. Week 3. Day 2.

sRPE @7

BW - 224

Squats - 

-    390X3 @8

-    345X4, 4, 4 @5.5/6.5

CG Bench - 

-    227.5X1 @8

-    195X4 @6.5

-    200X4 @8

-    202.5X4(PR) @8.5

Pull-Ups w/Straps - BWX5, 3 @10

DB Incline Rows w/Straps - 65sX10, 8 @~10

Pull-Downs - X9, 7 @10

4 plates getting oh-so-close.

RTS Block 4. Week 2. Day 2.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 228

Squats - 

-    up to 385X3 @8

-    340X4, 4, 4 @5.5/7

CG Bench - 

-    up to 225X1 @8

-    185X4 @6

-    195X4 @7.5

-    200X4(PR) @9.5

Pull-Ups - BWX4, 3 @~10

DB Incline Rows w/Straps - 60sX12, 9 @10

Pull-Downs - X10, 9 @10

Squats feeling pretty good.

On Bench  supplements this block, the back-off protocol is ramping RPE.  I've been doing straight weight with short-ish rests and letting the RPE ramp as fatigue builds.  Coach wants me to ramp weight on back-off sets instead of doing straight sets even if it means longer rests.  I was probably a little too aggressive with the weight jumps here, but Rep PR.

RTS Pivot Block 4. Week 1. Day 1.

sRPE @8.5

BW - 229

High Bar Squat - 

-    230X10(PR) @6

-    245X10(PR) @7.5

530 HBS - 245X5, 5, 5 @8/9

20 minute circuit - 

-    BSS - BWX16, 14, 10, 10 @8.5/10

-    Pendlay Row - 135X11, 10, 8 @10

-    Press - 90X7, 7, 7 @9/10

Stationary Bike - SIT; 0:20/1:40; 10 minutes

Add knee sleeves and get a 40 lb. HBS 10 rep PR.

I will say my knees actually didn't feel great after the tempo squats, and were pretty creaky on the BSS.

RTS Pivot Block 3. Week 1. Day 2.

sRPE @7

BW - 225

Bench - 

-    up to 197.5X4 @8.5

-    185X2, 2, 2, 2 @~6.5

Sumo DL - 

-    up to 355X3(PR) @10

-    315X1 @10 lol

Belt Squat - 140X14, 9, 8, 7, 7 2 @~9.5 (12 min AMRAP with 12RM)

Sumo was supposed to be X4 @8, but last warmup felt good, so I decided to go for something.  Missed on 4, but 355X3 is still a PR.  Fatigue plus bad technique turned back-offs into a train wreck, so I just moved on.

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.

RTS Block 2. Week 2. Day 2.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 227

Squats - 

-    up to 340X2 @8.5

-    280X5, 5 @7

Spoto Bench - 

-    160X3 @6.5

-    170X3 @7

-    182.5X3 @8

Dips - BWX10, 6 @9/8

RDL w/Straps - 285X7(PR) @9.5

Pullups - BWX3, 3 @9.5

Pulldowns - X7, 6, 7 @~9

Out late for the wife's birthday the night before, and was dragging some ass coming into the gym.  Squats felt unstable at the bottom on warm-ups and slow over 300lbs.  Just chipped last week's weight.

Also chipped top set on Spoto's just trying to rally.

Back half of the session was a little better with a Rep PR on RDLs.