I started this meet prep right after raw nationals. I did well at nationals placing 4th, but I was not pleased. I started this meet prep early by giving myself 18 weeks to prep, plan, strain, and get stronger. I decided to change up everything with my training. I haven’t hit a bench PR in four years and I needed some intervention. Therefore, I employed many Josh Bryant principles into my bench and decided to hit my squat and pull in similar fashion, just for fun. Check out my log for more detail on my training prep.
The USAPL American Open was a huge meet—400 lifters from 17 states huge. I went 275 and weighed in at a full 273 or so. My class was filled up and the big target for me was Mike Hedlesky. Mike is a strong guy and proved that at IPF raw worlds this year, pulling a 777 for a gold medal. I lifted against Mike at nationals in July so I knew I had to be on point to win.
Squat
I was very optimistic going into the squat. I felt strong in warm-ups and my left leg was feeling better then it has in a year. I decided to open light, go for a PR on a second, and then go for it on a third. I wanted to set the tone mentally and get in competition mode.
I picked 595 for my opener. This went up fast and was my best opener in years. I usually feel slow and sluggish. This was not the case. I went to 650 next. I stood up with this in July at nationals but was called for depth. Mike put me down in the hole and it went up nicely. I decided to go 661 on my third—300 kilos sounds cool anyway. Surprisingly this went up just like 650. I went three for three and was moving into the bench with about 30 pounds over Hedlesky.
661 Raw Squat
Bench
As I said earlier, my bench has been a crapshoot. My all-time full meet best is 505. I did this in 2009 and then tore my bicep/shoulder up shortly after. I have done as high as 490 in the USAPL in March of 2011, but nothing over that since then. My training cycle went awesome. I even had a few touch and goes at 500 and 505, a heavy double with 480, and I did multiple, multiple paused singles from 450-475. Needless to say, I was ready for a PR and a shot at the American record. My plan was 440, 485, and 502. Warms-ups went great. I felt fast and my groove was on. 440 went up as planned. I moved to 485, a stepping stone to 502. So I thought! I took 485 out, got the start, got the press, and boom. I shot up halfway and the craziest thing happened. Nothing! I hit a wall. "A fluke it must be," I said to my self and called for 485 again. I can always go 502 for a 4th. I went 485 again and this time the bar went a hair higher and just as fast but the same thing happened. Nothing! The spotters took it and I walked off the platform thinking about Mikes big pull and the need for me to get my shit back together, fast.
440 Raw Bench Opener
Deadlift
Warm-up for the pull, I was crunching numbers the whole time. I was ahead of Hedlesky around 80 pounds. This meant I had to go 3 for 3 on the deadlift, hit an all-time sumo PR, and hope he missed his third. Considering I have only gone 3 for 3 in the deadlift 3 times in 14 years of competing, this was going to be a stretch. I kept my glass half full though and got warmed up. I opened with 628. This went well and I was stumped on my second. We settled for 677 to get some meat on the total but save some energy for something big if need be. Hedlesky smoked 755 and looked good for PR. I picked 705 for my third. This would give me a 5-pound sumo PR and a 6-pound total PR. It would also force Mike to pull a huge PR of 804 to win. I ended up getting 705 and now it was time to watch my fate. Mike called for 804 as I guessed he would. He went up and yanked on that bitch and it came up to his knees, stalled, and he let go. First place was in the bag, but damn was it close. Many props to Mike. He could have gone for a PR pull of 782 or so and hit that. Instead he got his balls out and went for the win. Nice work Hamburger train!
705 Raw Sumo Deadlift
Overall, it was an awesome meet. I need to figure out my bench issues. It may be something as short as a much smaller meet cycle. I plan to take it slow and only take 8 weeks or so for my next bench prep cycle. I was strong as I have ever been this meet prep with my bench. I just need to figure out how to stay strong that last mini cycle. I'll keep my squat and pull work the same as it gave me some great results. Many thanks to Josh Bryant for helping me put together my meet prep and giving me some awesome guidance those final few weeks. Many thanks to elitefts™ for all the support. They have been in my corner for 7 years now. Thank you!!! Atlarge Nutrition has been in my corner for 4 years now and I am very grateful for them, as well. The wife and kids couldn’t make it due to a snow storm, but the 5-year old wore her, “My daddy is stronger than your daddy shirt,” for support at home. The wife is my biggest fan and was glad I missed 485 and didn’t try 502. She wants to be there when I hit that, LOL. Many thanks to my training partner’s Boh, Mike, and John. As you can assume I am very annoying and extremely over bearing in the gym. They keep me in line though and expect more then I expect from myself. Thanks gents!