max day in Cookstown

Myself and Sean braved the wintry conditions to meet up with Robbie and Neil for some enjoyable lifting in Cookstown.
Quick exchange of greeting then down to business.
Robbie.
Maybe a bit below par today but I thought he fought very hard for his 83 pb. Like myself I think his snatch attempts might have fatigued him a bit and he found the heavier cleans a bit tougher than usual. His 200+ total is just around the corner.

Neil
As Robbie said in his blog, Neil was the star lifter. A new 74 snatch pb was sweet and he was unlucky not to nail 76. Neil also hit a 106 cj pb and very narrowly missed 108. He finished off with an impressive 180 total and a 110 clean pb


Sean
Sean showed some solid snatch form and hit a 65 pb and unlucky not to hit more. The irish masters record for him is 65 so he really just needs to turn up in dublin in 3weeks. A 75 cj is well below what he should be doing. I think he could get 70 snatch next time we meet up in Cookstown. Sean finished with an easy 90 clean

Brendan
I am really pleased with the sudden form in the snatch. A 78 pb as followed with a narrow miss at 80 followed by attempts at 81 and 79. I will be pushng to get through he 80 barrier next time in Cookstown. I was very disappointed with the cj, only getting 98. 103 was routine in the clean but didn't attempt the jerk due to poor technique and lack of confidence. I will work hard at ths problem. Still very pleased with 176 total

No lifting

After my recent period of lethargy and poor form, I decided to take this week off and give myself 5 days off training. I head with Sean to Cookstown tomorrow to meet and lift with the mighty 'go-lift' guys. I dont know how the lay off will effect my lifting and strength.
We have all set targets for tomorrow including Drill Sergeant Pete.
Target 75+103. If things go really well, then 78+105. I can see Neil and Robbie doing some spectacular lifting if things go well. If Sean gets the bit between his teeth I see 65+85.
I want to get to limerick and the irish masters in decent form. When I am finised with these comps, I really need to work on jerk technique especially. I hope to get a trip up to see Ronnie when WE REACH mARCH.Pete has kindly offeredto help me when he returns and has given me some good training tips. One is to start push press and power jerk.

in the doldrums

What a weekend. I couldn't get any training done. Weak, lethargic, stale and not interested. I havent been making any progress recently and this is getting to me. 4 aborted attempts to train on Sat/sun

Monday
an argument at work managed to get me into an aggressive state so I decided to use it for weightlifting.
I am now 3 - 0 down to Pete in our challenge although in fairness, I wouldn't have had a hope this week. His 110+143 is very impressive.
Clean and Jerk 40x2; 60x2; 70; 80; 90; 95; 100; 105xx. Comfortable clean and didn't attempt the jerk.


Clean 112.5xx; 112.5xx. Not strong enough for this yet.

Front SQUAT.
pRESS need to start doing these regularly again to build up power. 40x3; 45x3; 50x3; 55x3; 6x2; 65; 70; 72x; 60x5

Deadlift 100x3; 120x; 130x3; 140x3; 150; 160; 170; 140x3; 130x12.

I am a bt concerned at my lack of progress leading up tothe munster open. I had been oping for 75+105 but now i am not so sure

Shambles in S___ street

QWA WK 4 DAY 2 [PART A]
I havent felt right all week. Stale and lethargic. I went for Day 2 today and really struggles. I did some conditioning work yesterday and I dontthink I am allowing myself time to recover. The lack of strength in te clean and jerk is bugging me a bit. I really need to give Pete some sort of challenge at the weekend. Last weeks dreadful jerk attempt of 105 at 'go-lift' still has me bewildered. I just have to 'suck it up' and grind on.

Cleans 40x3; 50x3; 60x3; 65; 70; 75; 80; 85; 90; 95; 100; 102.5 I didn't do as many cleans as I wanted.


Power clean. The less said the better.

Snatch Balance. a few sets

Back Squat 60x3; 80x3; 90x3; 100x2; 105; 100; 97x3; 95x3; 92x3; 90x3; 87x3; 85x3; 82x3; 80x3.

I need to slightly re-think my training a bit. More rest needed between sessions. Tomorrow, I am going to do some press and deadlifts to finish day 2. Day 3 starts Sat abd finishes on Sunday

tough

QWA WK 4 DAY 1 PAR B

Still cant shake off the soreness an fatigue which is unusual

Rack jerk - up to 95 only which nearly killed me???

Front squat 60x3; 80x3; 92; 102;100x2;973; 95x3; 92x3; 90x3; 100; 105; 110; 115.

A few light deadlifts, then stopped, That's all I could do. Hopefully, i will be fresher by thur

From 'GoLift' to 'No-Lift'

Still rather fatigued after Sat??

Snatch 40x3; 50x3; 60x2; 65x2; 70; 72.5xx

C+j 60x2; 80; 90; 97.5. I wasn't intending to do these but was hoping to sneak in 102 b4 Pete posts a heavy snatch. Nothing there today

Power cleans up to 92

Rack jerk, f.squat and deadlifts tomorrow instead when i hope to be fresher

more thoughts

I was listening the the irish weightlifters london blog and especially Cathal talking about the effects of a positive weightlifting environment. I havn't even nailed a proper 70 snatch at home in yonks and then get 77 in Cookstown.

The lads in London got up at 4am, travelled to London, headed straight to the gym and lifted. They all had pb's. The mind actually plays a really big part in this game. It is easy to make excuses at times, but sometimes having a good crowd of eager lifters really spurs you on.

I have now trained 4 weeks without injury problems [touch wood!!] I am really hoping to start making gains over the net year and start liftin some reasonably respectable weights. The blogs and also helping with the motivation, especially for someone like me who normally trains aone.

New Year targets [2010]
1] Meet the targets for the end of May which were made in conjunction with Pete the governor
2] Lift in the Euro Masters 2011
3] Lift in every irish competition possible in 2010
4] Jerk 120kg [might be in fantasy land here]
5] Challenge Pete in the snatch v clean and jerk competition
6] Get Sean to train more
7] Stay alive long enough to accomplish all of the above

Max day at Go-Lift

Great to get a chance to lift with these lads today. Top quality establishment, very good atmosphere.

Snatch 40x3; 50x3; 60; 60; 65 70x; 70; 72; 74; 76x; 76x; 77. Very pleased to get 77.
Clean and Jerk 40x3; 60x2; 70; 90; 100; 105x. Cleaned this but the power wasn't there for the jerk.
Clean 111x; 108
Front Squat 120

Neil 72+105. He has plenty more in the tank. 80+110, just around the corner.
Robbie 80+110 Very narrowly missed 85 3/4 times. He will hit 90 very soon.

Observations
I was reasonably happy with snatch technique today. Still a problem with the hips being high but I am pleased that I really commited to the lifts.
Clean and Jerk. These guys call 90kg a light warm-up. I had 100kg on the bar before I could blink!!! I thought today that 70+105 was possible Really surprised to get 77 but a bit disappointed not to get 105. I really wanted to have a go at 108 to at least give Pete a challenge.

Neil and Robbie have really strong legs, something I have got to work on.Compared to these guys I almost felt embarrassed with my poor technique especially in the jerk.

Neil could clean 115 now if he really goes for it and Robbie is just a complete 'powerhouse'.

Anyway. It is now Pete 2 Brendan 0. I a going to have to wor really hard to get a result against. By the time I lift 107 again, I can see him snatching 112

QWA WK4 DAY2

Decided to get day2 complete a day early to leave myself fresh to try and get as close to Pete's challenge as I can on Sat.

Cleans 40x3; 50x3; 60x3; 70x3; 80x3; 87x2; 92x2; 87x2
Power snatch 40x3; 45x3; 50x3; 55x3; 57; 60; 62; 65; 67
Sn Balance 20x3; 30x3; 40x3; 45x3; 50x3 55;57;60
Clean Pulls 85x3; 95x3; 102x2; 107x2; 102x2; 107x2; 102x2; 95x3; 95x3
Back Squat leaving this until tomorrow to rest weary legs

I didn't push anything today. Day 2 is the least stressful for me as there are no clean and jerk or jerk movements

QWA WK4 DAY1 PART B

Rack Jerk

40x3; 50x3; 60x3; 70x3; 75x1; 80x1; 85x1; 90x1; 95x1; 100x1. Something disturbed my concentration after 95. When I got back to lifting 100 weigheda tonne so I left it at that.

Front Squat 60x3; 80x3; 95x3; 105x1; 110x1; 105x2; 100x2; 97x2; 95x3; 92x3; 90x2

Rack Jerk 2 60; 62; 65; 67 70; 72; 75; 77.just some technical work. I felt a bit sluggish and technique wasn't as sharp as the other night.

Ugly snatches

QWA WK4 DAY1 PART A

Ugly snatches
40x3; 45x3; 50x3; 55x1; 57x1; 60x1; 62x1; 65x2 67xx 67xx. Cat even snatch what I can power snatch. I thnk I am a complete dumb ass in terms of learning snatch technique. I guess it is back to power snatch in the Munster open.

Power clean
40x3; 50x3; 60x3; 70x3; 80x1; 82x1; 85x1; 87x1; 90x1; 92x1; 85x30
Tomorrow - rack jerk etc. For the first time, I am actually looking forward to doing rack jerk

contemplation

I went down to the local leisure centre today to do a bit of light work after yesterday's training. A few guys were chatting to me about weighlifting and were amazed at the fact that I have started training and competing in my forties.
The main question was why did I give up the sport when I was about 18.

I have often thought about this and occasionally have had a few regrets. If I had continued into my 20's, maybe I would be injured by now or would have lost interest. When in my teens, Sean and myself lifted together outside, often in wet or wintry conditions. I had never heard of a training programme never mind pulls, snatch balances etc. For about 2 years, weightlifting to me was making sure that I could lift more weight than my friends or maybe win a summer sports event. I went to a few competitions and even won a few schoolboy events. Without coaching or a training programme, I lost interest.

2 years ago I went to the irish champs in Coolmines and was amazed to see how enthusiastic some of the older guys were. Laurence Mc Connell's lifting was inspiring. That gave me the incentive to give this sport a go. people like Billy and Liam obviously still enjoy competing. I actually realised recently that Liam Stewart holds 15 masters records, 2 of which I am tying to close in on. When he was in the 55-59 year old category, he had a snatch of 95kg which I think is impressive.

The great thing about irish weightlifting is that everyone can compete at the same time, young and old; male and female. The sport seems to be in a healthy state at the moment and with the grace of God, I can compete for many years to come.

More than a MIXED BAG

QWA WK 3 DAY 3

Myself and Pete have started an internet challenge. Either my c+j or clean against his snatch each week when possible.
Snatch up to 65 only, failed 70. I seem to be able to power snatch more than I can snatch. I cant shift the poor technique


Clean and Jerk. 60; 70; 80; 90; 95; 100xx.

Cleaned 100 and didn't attempt to jerk it. The head is not right. Where has my shoulder strength gone.


Clean. Continued with this to see what I could do today. 100; 105; 107.5. Happy with this although it nearly pinned me to the floor. There is no way at the moment that I could rack 112.5 so I may have to wait a few months for that.


Front Squat. 60x3; 80x3; 100x3; 110x1; 120x1; 100x1; 92x3; 87x3; 87x3; 87x3


Military press up to 67

Deadlift up to 180kg


8.30
I came home this evening thinking how the hell did I only press out 95 and found 100 too heavy to move earlier in the clean and jerk. I did a bit of meditation, relaxed myself and even though this was my most intensive ever training day, I decided to do some technical workwith the rack jerk. My intention was to lift light as I was already 'spent'
Rack Jerk 203; 40x3; 50x3; 60x3; 65x3; 70; 72; 75; 77; 80; 82; 85; 87; 90. I found something in the technique. The weights were not feeling any heavier. Then I jump to 95; 100; 102; and finished off with 105. I felt I had more but decided to leave it for another day. I dont think I ever felt a high like it from weightlifing. Only 5kg off my current best after 3 hours training earlier. It proves o me that the mind also plays a major part in weightlifting. Roll on Limerick.

QWA WK 3 DAY 2

Clean
40x3; 50x3; 60x3; 70x3; 80; 85; 90; 95; 100; 102xx; 92; 87x2; 85x2; 82x2; 80x2


Power Snatch 40x3; 45x3; 50x3; 55; 57; 60; 62; 65; 67; 62;60; 57x2; 55x2


Had to terminate training due to quite a painful knee. Developed knee pain at back of right knee 2 days ago and this became quite painful when completing power snatch. Might do some power exercises tonight. I need to rest the knee for a few days


7.30pm
I decided not to rest the darn knee and continue with training.
Snatch balance. light reps then up to 60kg which is good considering this is an exercise which I have recently added to my training. The right knee held up quite well here.

Clean pull. ugly lifts up to 115. Felt like I was lifting a heavy load of seaweed.
Deadlift. Various combinations up to 160kg.

I decided that it would be wise to leave back squats to Tuesday at least.

I really hope that the knee is not going to be a problem and scupper my chances of going to the Munster open. I will remain positive

QWA WK3 DAY1 PART B

Rack Jerk 40x3; 50x3; 60x3; 70x3; 75x3; 80x1; 85x1; 90x1; 40x3; 50x3; 60x3; 70x1; 75x1; 80x1; 85x1

F Squat 60x3; 70x3; 80x3; 90x3; 100x1; 105x1; 110x1; 112.5x1; 115x1; 117.5x1; 100x3; 87x3; 92x2


Military press up to 67

QWA WK3 DAY1 PART A

Found it difficult to motivate myself to lift today. I had actually decided to lift on Sat instead but changed my mind.
I had the heater on for 4 hours and it barely made any difference.

Snatch 40x3; 45x3; 50x3; 55x3; 60x2; 62x1; 65x1; 67x2; 70x1xx; 62x2; 60x2. Failed one snatch at 70. the 67's were quite easy and really I should have been getting 72 or 75. There is no difference between what I can lift power or squat snatch. I dont think I have ever hit a proper snatch. I can never seem to get it correctly.

Power clean 60x3; 70x3; 80x3; 85x1; 90x1; 85x2; 80x36

This sets me up well for tomorrow when I can look forward to Rack jerk [arrggghh]; front squat' deadlift and maybe military press.

Only 5 weeks to the Munster open in UL and 7 weeks to the irish masters. Hopefully I can nail round 75+105 by then