Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Smolov: Week 1, Days 1 & 2

I started the Smolov base cycle this week. It consists of: Day 1 = 70%1RM x 4 x 9, Day 2 = 75% x 5 x 7, Day 3 = 80% x 7 x 5, and Day 4 = 85% x 10 x 3. I started this after a week of relatively no training. The reason I am doing this program is obviously to increase my squat, but also because I tweaked my elbow in the OH state meet...so I'll be giving my elbow some much needed rest for this cycle. I am still doing the weightlifting movements, but they are very low intensity and volume. It will be very interesting to see how my body adapts to this very new training stimulus. I have squatted up to 4 days/wk before, but that was a mix of back and front squats. This time it is all back squats. Train hard, train smart!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Time Well Spent

I often wonder why I enjoy being in the same gym day-in and day-out, over and over again. Sometimes it may be because I am in a great training cycle and I feel like just being around the weights and the stronger lifters increases my performance. These are times when you can't go wrong with whatever you are doing, whether it be your training regimen, diet, or sleep patterns. Everything seems to be on key. On the other hand, I've been injured a time or two in the past year, yet seem to have the same feeling towards being in the gym. I want to be there, whether I can perform up to my standards or not. Then I realize....I want to be there because I enjoy seeing others succeed. Not only to see them succeed, but to also see them strive for success, which is all the better. This is especially true when you become close with some of the members/trainees within the gym. You may not get to know them outside the gym, but for the couple of hours you spend with them in the gym, you are friends. You want to see each other succeed and push each other to greater heights of performance...beyond anything any of you thought you could ever achieve. THAT is why I spend so much time in the same gym. I want to push others to succeed and I want them to push back!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Changes in Training

So, I just competed in the state meet for Ohio on the 17th and hurt my elbow on my third snatch attempt of 102kg. Whippeeee! :( I was able to finish the meet and actually attempted a PR clean and jerk attempt of 122kg. Because of the elbow injury, I will be taking on a large task in my training. I will be starting the Smolov base program for squats. The problem with this is that my knee actually hurts now for some reason. I've felt this before and it has been something I could train through and eventually disappeared. Hopefully this happens again. Time will only tell, but I am really excited to take on this squat program. My goal is to raise my squat max to 165kg. My elbow should be good to go once this 4-week Smolov program is completed. From there I will begin to focus more one my Olympic lifts. Train hard, train smart!