fri/sat

aftera tough 2 weeks training wise, things have picked up a bit Snatch up to 65. Snatch balance up to 80 Clean and jerk up to 90. I have to reset my openers for the irish seniors because the snatch is away below par Current ni and irish masters records for m3/85kg are Irish n.i Snatch 72 [myself] 72 [myself, i think] c+j 94 [bs] 97.5 [?] total 166 [bs] 167.5 Snatch I may now have to start with a meagre 65. so maybe 65 70 73 Clean and jerk 90 95 98. I think i could manage a 95 if all goes well for an attempt a new c+j record depending on what others do. A 3rd attempt at a new n.i. mark could be possible for a 3rd attempt.

tough week

No training for almost a week. I have found it tough training on my own recently. I seem to have hit a wall and have been lacking in motivation. Badly needed a few sessions with others but not able to get it organised. competing in irish seniors now seems unlikely for now. Not sure about the son either as he hasnt yet got the confidence to do the lifts at competition. I haven't felt so demotivated for quite a long period.

sat 21 april

Worked very hard this week. snatching a bit below par but other training going well need to get up to go lift more often as i need the competition to push me on. After competition, it will get easier because of the new facility mon to thurs, walked 4x8 miles =32 + 2 on friday and 6 this morning. I would give myself a good pat on the back for the efforts i have made recently. On bad days when i am feeling a bit flat and weak, i still manage to turn it into a very good session Brendan junior is training 3 times per week using low weights. He will probably compete in his first competition on sat 12th may with me following in the 85kg class the next day. my targets are still @85kg snatch 75 and clean and jerk 95. I want to take the snatch, clean and jerk and totla masters records and hopefully improve them but i know i will have competition which will be great. i am slightly concerned about the snatch and i feel that on a really good day i could clean and jerk 100kg. Targets for novembers NI championship are currently snatch 80 and clean and jerk 105. I need 175kg total for the european masters. Big concern is the fact that i am in spain for 3 weeks in august. how will that affect my strength.

sun

10.30am. a 2 mile walk cut short because of the icy wind.

1 hour of strength training with junior. quite tough

4 mile walk with therese

a wee bit of bodybuilding to finish the day. totally shattered now and ready to relax and watch some of the weightlifting that i taped.

sat

Colin came up for a mini session today
Snatch 40x3; 40x3; 45x3; 50x2; 52; 55; 57; 60; 62; 65; 67; 70
Clean and Jerk 60x2; 65x2; 70; 75; 80; 85; 90.

Very pleased with 70 snatch considering I couldn't even get 62 last wed. Hoping to get a 73/75 at the squad session in 3 weeks
90 clean and jerk was very hard, especially the clean. I am hoping to open with 70+90 in 4 weeks in the irish championships. 75+95 would be great.

Finished with a few light squats with Colin. Good to see Colin again although he was obviously extremely tired and a bit below par.

wed

good session of light bodybuilding. friday is snatch night, hopefully, i can do much better than last time.

Hope to get up to petes again next week and then myself and son attend the first squad session in the new venue in newtownabbey followed by the next competition.

tue

5 mile walk

headed off to rossnowlagh for half a day to plat football with the kids. A few heavy showers but otherwise, a pleasant day.

No lifting today because I was home late.

snatch day

Decided to do snatches a day earlier because I felt no pain/soreness from yesterday's conditioning. Strangely, my strength was quite poor even though I felt fine. I also missed more snatches then usual especially at weight that I never normally fail.

So quite a few snatches were completed with snatch balance and a few squat cleans. This is the first time I have done any squat cleans in 30 months [apart from the odd max clean and jerk session] The left knee is improving but I am not going to push it too much.

Tomorrow, I will do rack jerk, squats and presses.

Irish seniors are 4 weeks from this sat. Not sure if I am lifting on Saturday or Sunday yet.

thurs

Snatch, snatch balance and a few light power cleans. Plenty of volume, low in strength, and failed more snatches than usual

monday

1 hour of back squat and press

My legs are incredibly weak. 70x5 mearly killed me but the knee seems ok.

now for an 8 mile walk. I want to make sure i can easily make weight in 6 weeks

sun

Snatch, snatch balance and clean jerk completed today. Feeling a bit below par after thursday so i had to work hard. Was wasted after these exercises and decided to do squats tomorrow. The knee has held up quite well so I dont want to to push it.

6 weeks until irish seniors. Will give Pete a visit when he comes back from turkey and maybe one more visit b4 jordanstown