3rd Pull Strength Cycle Week 3 Review

Week three is over with and in the books.  I started out this week a little bit behind due to the long Labor Day weekend.  I am not complaining about the long break but I did have to double up on Tuesday with workout sessions.  I went in think that this week would be off due to the long break; however, I couldn’t have been more mistaken.  I set not only one PR this week, I sent five of them.  That’s right you read correctly, I reach down deep this week and managed to get five PR’s.  This is how the week went for me.

Day One (Tuesday): The morning started off with two PR’s.  I Jerked 100% of my training max for a double.  I originally was trying to a 4RM but I will take a 2RM any day of the week with 100% of my training max.  Next I set a new 3RM at my current body weight (189) with an easy 315 lbs.  Normally, when I start to lose weight my strength lift numbers tend to drop.  However, during this cycle my weight has dropped and my numbers have gone up.  The afternoon I PR’d again in both my Overhead Squat where I performed a 3RM with 225 lbs. (100 kilograms). As well as Snatch Push Press with 225 for a 1RM. 

Day Two: I was really sore from the day before, I didn’t believe that the day would be that great seeing that my body had just done some amazing things the day before.  However, to my surprise I hit another PR this time on Front Squats.  Originally, I was supposed to shoot for a 3RM on Front Squats however, I was only able to do a 2RM of 270.  Although this wasn’t a 3RM it was a 2RM and again I will gladly take a PR any day of the week. I did not have a great day on my other lifts (Tall Clean and Power Clean).  By this point I was extremely fatigued from the Front Squats.

Day Three: I woke up feeling pretty good.  The night before my success was met by a very important message.  Jon North had read my tweets about my training and my PR’s and posted friendly words of encouragement to me and my training. I entered the gym extremely happy and humble.  However, my body couldn't really handle another PR.  I was also extremely pressed for time.  My wedding is coming up soon and I was needed by my soon to be wife to handle wedding stuff.  I left the gym after only being there less than thirty minutes.

Day Four: I woke up feeling a little bit more rested.  I was again pressed for time so I had to lift in the morning.  After teaching my Physical Education class at the University of Memphis I lifted in the old Fieldhouse on campus.  It was probably the best place for me to lift because it was the only place with platforms and kilo plates.  While I listened to some heavy metal I began to slap plates on the bar.  I worked my way up all the way up to 90 kilos on snatch and 110 on clean.  These two were extremely difficult for me due to my inconsistency.  I did finally hit the weight and I did finally total 200 kilograms which is a PR for me and five kilograms short of the qualifying total I need to go to Nationals.

All in all this week was by far the best week I have had during this cycle.  Week four will be an unloading week.  It will be a week I won’t completely follow the program and I will listen to my body.  I currently do not have a competition schedule until after my wedding.  I have a total of two months or eight weeks before the next competition which is plenty of time to get those five kilos.  I am not stressing and I am staying positive.