March 28,2006 1:55 p.m.

I skipped deadlifting on Friday eve, so I could be physicaly ready to squat. Even so, with having squatted only once in the past two months, and that being on the monolift, I was absolutely petrified to get under the racks last night. My hips are still sore, but I really attribute that to sleeping on my bed too often (I usually have to alternate between sleeping on the floor and the bed so certain muscle groups don't get too sore).
For some reason all my muscle bellies were big and full and very TIGHT, so tight that I think that it may have hindered my performance a bit. The only thing I can think of that was different the past few days is that I started to include milk in my diet again, which I loooove!
Anyhoo, first set was 335 x 6, felt very managable, but again, the tightness was aggravating, especially in my calves when walking out with the weight.
I was scared silly to walk out with the 405, since it had been sooo long since I had done this. We grabbed two of the guys, Sean and George, to stand on the sides of me, to make princess feel extra safe and sound. Going down and coming up were realtively easy, not effortless for sure,after all, it is a load, but not a problem. They tried to make go down for another rep, I'm sure the strength was there, but the nervous sytem wasn't quite ready. My adamant "NO" was probably heard for miles. I vowed next week that I'd do it, so mental preparation has already begun.
What goes through my head after I leave the rack and prepare to go down? It goes like this:
sit back and lead with the hips, keep tight, get all the way down, there it is - hamstrings, power up, keep going, stay tight, get it. B and I talked about the different thought processes we use when we squat. He says he coils down and pops up like a spring. I rely on the power of my hamstrings to get me up. If you have never seen my hamstrings -they start behind knees, which I firmly believe give me extra pushing power out of the hole. This must be true because I really haven't learned to use the knee wraps to "spring" up yet. When I do...look out!!!

March 23 7:50 am

Sometimes our bodies surprise us with a reverse "matter over mind". Not that I had any negativity going in to last night's training session, but yesterday my mind was hanging a little on the burnt fringe, not having slept well, and being plain out disappointed in how beat up my body has been since last Friday- not being able to squat and this old nagging right side of back injury is screaming at me. I might give my friend Justine some credit in my motivation last night. I had coffee with her yesterday, hadn't seen her for way too long. The girl is prepping for her first BB contest, the DE State, and her fire and enthusiasm she emits is catching. I went straight from her to the gym. What a Maniac (yes, you Justine!).
It was bench night. I hit 245 for six, I was a little too high on the bench and hit the racks a couple of times - messed up my groove. I then hit 275 for three, which I have done before, but not as well as I did them last night. the weight was all mine last night. For some reason my body just naturally put me up on my toes last night, instead of being flat on the floor, and by jiminy!!! It worked! I then picked off 225 for seven, which is usually what I do fresh. Yes, I am pleased.
My weight was 167. My goal for the meet = 300.

March 21, 2006 2:03 pm

Last night was a bit of a disappointment. I dragged B up to The Training Center (TTC) so I could jump on the monolift. As I feared would be the case, I'm still overly mangled from Friday's deadlifting. Changing up my deadlift technique caused my hip flexors, and upper outer glute area to experience stress as they have not before. Hence, stepping under the squat bar, just warming up with 315, I went down and my front hip area just buckled from being tired, still sore and not able to support me. I have to look at the positive, however - I did finally get the deadlift down, and I was able to play with Jack's new hack squat, which I would not have done otherwise. My ability to recuperate between sessions seems to be low these days. Age?

As far as squatting goes...I have only squatted once in 6 or 7 weeks, that was two weeks ago. It was a good session, but seems to me I shoud be squatting alot more if I want to nail this meet.
I could have managed two or three reps at 405, though I only did one - I have this fear factor that I still can't overcome with the squat. I hold back at least a rep or so on all my sets. (B reads this he'll make me override that...)
I only have 4 or 5 more squatting sessions before the meet. How will I fare? My GOAL is 460 for this meet. If we can keep me from overREACHING, and overTRAINING, I'll do it.

March 19 2006 - Sunday 2:02 pm

Six weeks to go. I'm preparing for the Delaware Power Classic (MY meet), fullpower, lifting raw, unequipped, just me. I'm starting this blog as a log to record the journey, thinking somebody else just may be interested in seeing what it's like to prepare for a powerlifting meet.

My only hought today is MY GAWD!!! I am sore today in places I didn't know existed. Friday evening I finally learned how to deadlift PROPERLY. It's all in pushing the shoulders back.
I hope I heal enough for tomorrow's squats.