Saturday's sparklers in UL

Paudie Roche, Sean O Sullivan and Reverend Murphington joined myself, Zag and Cathal for a morning power up and technique session and a max effort session afterwards. It turned out to be an enjoyable day's training and there was a great buzz with everyone egging eachother on.

In the morning, I warmed up with lots of flexibility and bar work. The joints and muscles were complaining, but that was to be expected. I Snatched up to 85kg for a few singles, and they felt very rough. After this I did some Jerk skill with 60kg for ten minutes or so and left it there. The session lasted between 60 and 75 minutes.

Around two and a half to three hours later, we started our second session. Cathal is still rehabing a knee injury so he Snatched up to 95 and did at least ten singles with 90 and some Clean Pulls. Sean Snatched 95 for three singles and Clean and Jerked 125 for three easy singles again. He is returning to heavier training and is being trumped up as UL's third lifter in their quest for a fourth consecutive club title. Murph was also rehabing a knee injury so contented himself with Power Clean and Jerks and Clean Pulls. Paudie Snatched a new pb of 70kg and Clean and Jerked a new pb of 92.5kg for two singles and followed that with an easy looking Clean of 95kg. Zag Snatched 100kg for the second time, narrowly missing with 102.5kg. All this despite his massive training volume this week and work schedule. He followed this with a 155kg pr Front Squat and a 120 Power Clean after failing with 160 twice!

Here is what I did:

Snatch--3x3@40 1x2@60, 70 1x1@80, 90, 97.5, 102.5, 102.5 and then I missed 105 twice. Like Friday, there was no speed in my pull or catch, so I just had to accept it and move on.

Clean and Jerk-- 2x3@50 1x1@90, 110, 117.5, 122.5, 127.5, 132.5, 137.5, 142.5--I got this for a new pb and I was happy with how it went. Byrdie said he would take charge of the loading, so I just lifted what he told me and it was nice having no choice in the matter. This was also a different way of progressing in weight than normal for me. Halfway through my lifts, Murph said I needed to relax more when I am about to Jerk and his outrageous miming of Byrdie in the same position provided me with just the mental and visual que that was needed. Strange but true and helpful. In the Clean I focused on staying over the bar and keeping the arms relaxed.

Power Clean--I was going to Front Squat, but Byrdie said it would be a goo time to get a Power Clean pb so I went with the flow. It was 125kg, so Cathal put 117.5, 122.5 and then 127.5kg, all of which I nailed with a new pb in tow. Good man Byrdie. He smugly remarked he has the great makings of a coach and I had to grudgingly assent.

All in all, it was a great weekend's lifting. We all had a laugh and pushed each other every time. Friday and Saturday were my fifth and sixth days' training and I still got a pressed out 145 Jerk from the rack, and the following day a Clean and Jerk pb and a Power Clean pb. Have a look at the video below and leave and contructive criticism deemed necessary.