I’m one week out from the RPS Power Challenge in Everett, Mass., which will be the seventh meet of my powerlifting career. My goals are a double bodyweight bench (385) and a 1475 total, which qualifies as “Pro” in RPS. I hit all my openers last week plus a couple second/third attempts using reverse bands or pulling from blocks.
There were times leading up to my internship at Cressey Sports Performance that I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to compete because of my elbow issues. I’ve had raging pain in both elbows for awhile now, especially when I squat. But with some technique coaching from Greg Robins and some soft tissue work by Chris Howard, I’m feeling better and ready to hit PRs across the board.
I initially wanted to total 1500 at this meet after hitting 1435 at my last meet, but I’ve realized that I’m not quite there with the recent career change and elbow troubles. As of now, I’ll open 5 pounds heavier on each lift than I did in March and will hit 1475 if I go 9-for-9.
My squat (485) and deadlift (515) openers looked a little slow on video but felt easy. Those will go up no matter what. My bench opener (350) was a joke, as always, and looks just that much better with a Tony Gentilcore stare down at the end of the video.
With Greg completely overhauling my training the past month or so, I started using bands and chains for the first time ever. We hit some heavy overload stuff the past two weeks to get used to feeling second or third attempts, using reverse bands for the squat and bench and pulling from blocks on the deadlift. I crushed three squat singles at 520 with reverse bands (about 465 out of the hole), telling me that every issue I have on the squat starts out of the bottom (big surprise, right?). On bench, 405 did not feel hard (the bands took off about 60 pounds at the chest), and I know that I can hit huge numbers if I stay tucked off the chest and don’t flare too early.
Finally, my sister is competing again and is on pace to hit some huge PRs. Most recently, she took her bench opener and then took 135 for a possible second attempt. 135 was her old PR and she smoked it like it was an empty bar. Very excited for her.
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Check back next weekend for a full meet report.