week 4, day 2

Day 2
Standing Strict Press	x10	bar
	4x6	65-85	65, 70x5, 65, 65
Deadlift	3x2	135
	1x3	165
	6x2	190-200	190, 200, 200, 200, 200, 200	belt
	1xMax	135	27		beltless, straps ok
Rack pull from below the knee	x3	135
	x3	185
	x2	235		belt
	3x1	285-300	265, 265, 265
	1xMax	200	12	belt	straps ok
Shrugs	3x5	155-165	155, 155, 160
Narrow Grip Lat Pulldown	3x20		60#
Cable Rows	3x20		60#

i just could not get my shoulders and upper back warm.  my shoulders felt fatigued just six reps into pressing with only the bar.  first set at 65# went pretty easily, but i couldn't get a full set at 70#.  i usually wouldn't go back down in weight, but that was just set two of four, so i did.

deads from ground felt good, but rack pulls were HEAVY.  i don't think i've ever failed a deadlift at lockout, i will get the lift if i can get the weight off the ground.  rack pulls are hard for me.  285# wouldn't budge, and even 265# was a bitch.  not to mention, by the time i get to the rack pulls, my hands are KILLING ME!  the skin is super tender.  thinking [read: hoping] that with more exposure, palms will toughen up...???

this was a hard training day for me, mentally and physically.  felt like i was lifting baby weights, and even those were difficult, plus, these are currently my least favorite lifts.  the squat excites me because i feel i have the most room for improvement there, and i love bench press, because it's the best damn lift in the world.  shoulder press is a nightmare, because you can be a badass at one weight, but then like one pound more and the bar won't budge, and deadlift... well, i don't know when it happened, but deadlift day went from my favorite day to my least favorite.  last year, i never trained deadlift.  i did that aggressive squat cycle and my deadlift went up with my overall strength gains.  for some reason, now i'm bored by deadlift, but i know a strong deadlift can do so, so, SO much for my total in competition.