Training Hiatus: Hawaii, Here We Come!

I'll be on a training hiatus until next weekend. Tomorrow morning my wonderful wife and I are headed to Hawaii for 9 days to celebrate our 10-year anniversary! I'm SOOOOO excited! We've never been anywhere really big; for our honeymoon we went to--brace yourself--Eastern Washington! Since, we've taken small trips here and there but nothing like this.

Best of all, my mom is taking care of the kids while we're gone, so Starr and I will have 9 days TO OURSELVES!!! Ahh, fewer than 24 hours to go. I wish I could go to sleep now and not wake up 'til the morning.

Day Three, Week Three: Deadlifts

My last workout before my trip to Hawaii and I was looking forward to successfully lifting 495. Unfortunately, I didn't quite make it. I got the bar about halfway up, at which point my grip was giving way and I let it down to avoid tearing a callus off. Still, I was close. Had I had chalk, and had I not lifted quite as many times leading up to that final lift, I would have made it. This leads me to believe I'll successfully lift 495 at my competition, if not more.

Deadlift Day
Exercise	5/7 2010	5/14 2010	5/20 2010	Week Four
Deadlift	135x3	135x3	135x3
	225x3	225x3	225x3
	315x2	315x2	315x2
	365x1	375x1	385x1
	405x1	415x1	425x1
	445x1	455x1	465x1
	455x1	470x1	480x1
	465x1	485x1	495x1
Face Pulls	140x12 (P)	160x12 (P)	170x12 (P)
	155x12 (P)	170x12 (P)	180x12 (P)
	170x10 (P)	180x10 (P)	190x10 (P)
Underhand Pulldown	160x12 (P)	160x12 (P)	165x12 (P)
	170x11 (P)	170x12 (P)	175x12 (P)
	175x8 (P)	175x10 (P)	180x10 (P)
Reverse Curls	55x12	55x12	55x12
	60x11	60x12	60x12
	65x6	65x8	65x10

(P) Machines at the PRO Club

A Superhero in the Eyes of My Kids

I cry every time I watch this video. Literally. Every time.

I love my sons so much, I can't express it. For the rest of my life I'm going to revel in countless joyful memories I have of my kids, and I desparately hope they have fond memories of us together, like those expressed in this song. Maybe that contributes to my love for powerlifting. Maybe part of me hopes I will be like a superhero in the eyes of my kids as they grow up because of my strength.

I think I do okay as a dad, but I make so, SO many mistakes, I honestly wonder how they'll remember me. Please pray for me. I have a lot of growing and improving to do.

Day Two, Week Three: Heavy Bench Presses

Heavy bench presses again, and I was pleased to make a bit of progress, particularly on the bench press. Pausing with the bar on my chest for a full second before pressing makes it difficult, but I managed to press 315 three times and then 325 twice more. I'm increasingly confident that I'll manage 365 in my competition (*crosses fingers*).

Heavy Bench Day
Exercise	5/5 2010	5/13 2010	5/18 2010	Week Four
Bench	135x8	135x8	135x8
	185x6	185x6	185x6
	225x3	245x3	245x3
	235x3	255x3	255x3
	245x3	265x3	265x3
	255x3	275x3	275x3
	265x3	285x3	285x3
	275x3	295x3	295x3
	285x3	305x3	305x3
	295x3	315x2	315x3
	305x3		325x2
	315x2
Medium Grip Incline Press	180x12	185x12	190x12
	195x10	195x12	195x12
	195x8	205x7	205x7
Shoulder Press Machine	50x12*	70x12*	80x12*
	65x12*	90x12*	100x12*
	80x12*	110x10*	110x10*
Triceps Pressdown	90x12 (P)	90x12 (P)	90x12 (P)
	100x8 (P)	100x10 (P)	100x10 (P)
	100x7 (P)	100x7 (P)	100x8 (P)

* Weight is per arm
(P) Machines at the PRO Club

Day One, Week Three: Squats

Back to squats today for week three. Like last week, this didn't aggravate my IT band pain much. Also, I was more successful with my heavy squats, squatting 435 in my last set of 3. I just hope I squatted deeply enough; without my trainer there, I'm not sure. I seem to be getting the hang of lunges. I still hate them, but they're feeling less awkward now.

Squat Day
Exercise	5/4 2010	5/10 2010	5/16 2010	Week Four
Squat	135x6	135x6	135x6
	225x5	225x5	225x5
	275x4	275x4	275x4
	315x3	335x3	335x3
	350x3	370x3	370x3
	385x3	405x3	405x3
	415x3	440x1	435x3
		425x1
		405x1
Floor Cleans	135x10	145x12	155x12
	145x10	155x10	165x10
	150x10	165x10	175x8
Good-mornings	185x10	195x12	205x12
	205x10	215x10	225x12
	225x10	235x10	245x10
Dumbbell Lunge	30x10	37.5x12	40x12
	30x10	37.5x10	40x10
	30x10	37.5x10	40x10