I’ve had very little time this month… I’m going to blame the gym I work from moving, but in reality it’s like this every month and I should probably take on some staff. But lets start with the important stuff and get the PBs out the way.
Jen hit a nice PB in the Snatch adding 1kg to her max up to 35kg in the process. 1kg might not seem like a lot but at these weight it equates to around 3% which is actually a really nice increase. I might talk more on that later.
Paul Has been ticking along nicely and i’ve not done a good job tracking his PBs… Equally he’s not done a good job of answering my check in question of ‘Have you hit any PBs this week” when I’ve sent it to him. I know for definite he’s matched his Front Squat max but did it with a 3 second pause in the hole, so thats a great improvement. I believe he has also hit new 5RM & 3RMs in the Push press of 83kg & 88kg and in the Squat of 115kg & 120kg. Considering his Push Press max is 93kg & Squat Max is 125kg I feel we’re in a good place.
Xena has had a nice month when it comes to the slow strength movements hitting PBs in the squat of 78kg (6x3 Volume PB), 85kg x1 and then 90kg x1 a week later. She also hit Push Press pbs of 37kg x2 & 45kg x1.
James new… Well not that new, but he’d been dipping in and out of the Weightlifting club as a strongman who wanted to add some strings to his bow but finally too the plunge and went all in with online programming with some in person sessions. In the last 5 weeks he’s hit PBs in the deadlift of 180kg x3 (Beltless) followed by 180 x5 (Beltless). As well as in the Front Squat of 120kg x5 & 122.5kg x5 and in the Push Press at 102.5 x5. Lots of key lifts for Strongman are going up for James, his snatching is coming on too. We just need to keep working on that rack position… Honestly he’s tight as fuck but it’s getting better.
Wil has had a nice month despite hurting his knee during one of his gymnastic sessions (Not coached by me obviously). Because of the knee problems we’ve had to pull back on the lower body work. While some people may have been frustrated… Wil bought into it and we doubled down on his upper body work and it showed. Will hit PBs in the Seated Backless OHP of 57.5kg (+4 Reps), 60kg x3, 62.5 x2 and finally 65 x1 adding 7.5kg to his max. He also hit PBs in the Bench Press of 70 x3 and then 72.5 x5. Injuries can be a blessing in disguise, it’s about how you frame it in your own mind.
in the Weightlifting club Lucy hit a nice PB triple in the clean of 60kg setting us up nicely for the next block.
And in the Strongman Club George C hit some nice PBs in the Push Press of 100kg x1 and Front Squat of 110kg x1.
Now there are two others in the Strongman Club who have made huge progress this month… One is George F who has hit som many PBs i’m just going to give you a list rather than write each one…
Deadlift - 285kg x2 (PB Match)
Deadlift - 282.5kg x3
Log - 112.5kg x1+3
Log - 115kg x1+3
Log - 120kg x1+2
Push Press - 120 x3
Push Press - 135 x1
Farmers - 130kg p/h x 35m
Front Squat - 150kg x 2
Front Squat - 175kg x1 (+20kg)
Stones - 145kg x4 to 55in (+1 rep)
The other is Johnny who i’m also giving you a list for.
Push Press - 140kg
Deadlift - 272.5kg x3
Deadlift - 280 x2
Deadlift - 285 x2
Log - 127.5kg x1+3
Stones - 130kg x5 to 62in (+4 reps)
Front Squat - 190kg x1
That double at 285kg btw… 12.5 kg over his max when we started working together. He’s so close to that 300kg Deadlift I can smell it…
Dean has been doing great and pushing his strength hard this block and has hit PBs in the axle at 90kg x1+2 (PB Match) and 92.5kg x1. he also hit a Deadlift PB of 190kg x2 and 200kg x1.
Stephen Increased his Push Press max to 110kg x1 and Front Squat max to 120kg x1.
Nearly done… Just the Online Strongman club left… Johnny is a part of that by the way, it just felt easier to put him up next to george.
So, Sean hit two nice PBs, on in the Front Squat at 165kg x1 adding 5kg to his 1RM and one in the Deadlift at 255kg x2 increasing is 2RM.
Mark currently in the last week of his prep for a competition in Edinbrugh and took 220kg x2 in the Deadlift for a new PB.
And finally Rachel hit some new PBs in the log… Of which the number I didn’t write down and can’t remember…
Whew! Thats just about it, lots of PBs and now I have to get back to moving a gym…
But I will leave you with this question…
People often turn their noses up at the thought of a 1kg pb because it’s too small… But if I gave you a choice, would you rather hit a 1kg pb or miss a 2.5kg PB attempt?
I know what i’d rather have. This scales up too based on how strong you are and what movement we’re talking about, but a 2.5kg or 1kg PB is just as valid as a 5kg or 10kg PB and probably more sustainable and less frustrating…
Thats me done… Not even going to proof read it.
Until next time
Adam
