Recap of the "SPF Sweat Shop Bench Classic" - July 3, 2010
To start, Laura Phelps put on a great bench meet today. There was a big turnout and some big lifts. We arrived in Cincinnati on Friday at about 5 pm and I weighed in at 266. Then, I basically hit the sack as I was tired from the long drive.
Here is how my bench went at the meet:
1st Attempt: (Miss)
I opened with 760 pounds, grooved it right but just couldn't get my right arm locked out all the way.
2nd Attempt: (Miss)
I jumped to 780 on my second attempt, which would be a 10-pound PR. This one I touched good and had momentum up and felt like I had it locked out but got two reds.
3rd Attempt: (Good lift)
I stayed with 780 on my third attempt and needed this for a PR and to get a lift in. I ended up jacking my shirt down a little bit, which I think helped, and got this one up with 3 white lights, and a 10-pound PR.
I was happy with how my day went since I have been in a shirt 4 weeks straight without a deload, and this was only my second week in my competition shirt. I have 8 weeks till the Pro-Am, so I hope to get my 800-plus press there. I still have plenty of time.
My training partner Clint Ewald didn't have the day that he wanted, but ended up with his 740 opener, missing 800 on his next two attempts. He will hit it at the Pro-Am.
There was some great lifting today. Dave Hoff took the money and I believe hit 845 at 259 pounds. My friend Chris Smith (Eaton Barbell) hit a good 705 and 725 at 242. AJ Roberts gave me some great advice today and he had a big PR. He was over 800, but not sure exactly what it was. Also, congrats to Molly Edwards on a 25-pound PR. (Edwards pressed 330 pounds. Read about it here)
Here is the video of my 2nd Attempt: 780 (miss)
Here is my 3rd Attempt: 780 (Good Lift)
I want to give thanks to Rob Luyando for all his help with my bench over the years and today, my training partner Dirk Deboer for the great handoffs and traveling down there, and a big thanks to Brian Carroll for helping me out with my programming for the Pro-Am (which is working very well). As always, thanks a lot to Dave Tate and everyone at EliteFTS. Most of all, I want to thank my wonderful fiance for traveling down there and putting up with me. She still has another 8 weeks to put up with me and my training till the pro-am. She's great.