Sometimes I surprise myself. I have an idea in my head of what I can do and then I go and make it happen. I choose my goals based on what I think I can do. I think I can deadlift 200 lbs and therefore I am able to achieve that. Only, there’s a flaw in the logic there. If I only try what I think I can do, then I’m not stretching myself – I’m not discovering what I really can do. It must be an instinct to protect ourselves from harm. And often it’s a very good thing. It can also hold us back from our potential.
Our mission today included 4 rounds of deadlifts. (3-3-3-3) I love strength training. I know there are many systems in the body that we must train and I’m cool with that, but if you asked me my favourite it would be strength. It pleases the ego but it also builds a fundamentally different experience of living in your body when you know, at a cellular level, that you are strong. You can’t get that out of a bottle.
I started with 135lb to get a feel for the heaviness of the barbell. Not very heavy. The second round we piled on 225lbs and I deadlifted that. Getting better, but I could lift more. I had surpassed my estimate of deadlift ability and now I was in undiscovered country. Coach Clarke talked about how walking up to the bar and being passive would never allow you to lift as much as you could. You need to be feral in your intensity. Grab that bar, own it.
How much could I lift?
A lot more, it turns out. Round three went to 275lbs and I powered through round four at 295lbs. That was one hell of a pull and I think I found the edge of my strength. And I gained a valuable insight. Last time I squatted, I learned to go inside my body and stop looking in the mirror. To that, I can now add moving past imagined boundaries I must be willing to listen to my body and keep on pushing. (Or back off, it that’s the case.) I thought I could deadlift 200lbs. And I was right. What I didn’t know is that I could also deadlift almost 300lbs. Life is a lot like that.
Back Squats
3-3-3-3
135lb, 165lb. 185lb, 205lb
Deadlifts
3-3-3-3
135lb, 225lb, 275lb, 295lb
Ab Roll
12 X 3
6 comments:
Stellar effort this am my friend and good post, the mind is the master and the body must follow. You have definitely joined the 300 club for your 1rm in DL congrads
My whole day was awesome because of it.
Congrat's bra! pulling 300 bills ain't no joke! Great work, its cool to see you change and grow stronger by the week!
Nice Work Brandt!
Your line `My whole day was awesome because of it.` brought a smile to my face. It`s so simple yet it means so much. You have a passion my friend. You can`t bottle that either but share it with anyone who will listen. Keep on rockin!
Nice job Brandt, there is no limit. Congrats.
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