3 Week Strength Block Week 1

I stayed very conservative at the start of this cycle.  I finally got it in my head that the race is not a 100 yards that it is 1000 miles. I had been focusing lately on one thing and one thing only the Memphis Fall Open (our local weightlifting meet).  I believed this was the only chance I had to qualify for the 2013 Collegiate Nationals Championship.  It isn't.  I have a long road ahead of me and weightlifting career; I am twenty three years old, and in pretty good health.  With that in mind I decided that I would start on a foundation of strength and build from there.

With that being said I set 85% of my lifts as my 5RM.  Next, I followed somewhat of Glenn Pendley's 5x5 approach and took about 15-20% of that as my training weight.  Each week I will add ten pounds to the lifts.  If my hypothesis is correct within a four week period I will be lifting 90% or more of my 1RM for a 5RM. This will continue into my next strength block or until my coach decides otherwise. I am eager to build strength. I am eager to get stronger.  Being stronger will help me Jerk, Squat, and Pull. 

The heavy volume has helped me with my problem areas.  I feel my upper back, core, glutes, and hamstrings have gotten stronger and built up better. The addition of close grip bench press has added more strength towards my lockout in the Jerk. I have great expectations for this cycle and my overall performance.