Workout #22, Week 8 of 12 - Deadlifts - I’m Baaack!
Calf feels fine today, just a little sore when I stretch it out. A far cry from the state of it Sunday evening. I hope that’s a good sign. I’ll be careful with it, not rush on the stairs for one thing like I did Sunday! Tonight’s workout calls for deadlifts, and heavy ones too. Thinking about the involvement of the calf muscle in that exercise, and I can’t see how I can do it any damage deadlifting. Your feet are firmly planted and you keep your weight over your heels. You get the power from hamstrings and then the back takes the weight. No direct calf involvement there, but since my knowledge of anatomy is very basic and everything is connected, I won’t assume I can’t injure the calf. I’ll do plenty of stretching and warm-up lifts, if I feel anything out of the ordinary at any time I’ll stop. I’ll report on the workout when it’s done…
Calf didn’t hinder deadlifting at all, I didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary and I was so focused on the lifting I forgot about it all together. My deadlifting strength is back, or coming back anyway. Last 3 times I was unsuccessful at lifting over 400 pounds, but last night, in spite of the high humidity, I felt really good. I did 135×10, 225×6, 315×2, and then a very solid 405×1. I put on 25 more pounds and nailed one at 430. Put on 10 more pounds but couldn’t finish the 440 attempt, I had run out of gas. But I was still very happy with this workout, I’m back on the road to my 500 deadlift goal. I changed something last night with deadlifting. I stood with my back to the mirror, and I think this helped improve my concentration and focus on proper form. I felt very comfortable and I’ll stick with this. Powerlifters in competition don’t look at themselves in a mirror, so why should I?
I was chatting with an older guy (ie my age, not the typical 20 something guy who are the majority at my gym) about deadlifting. He used to do it many years ago but stopped after a back injury. He says he knows now he had poor form and the deadlifting, although not directly related to his back trouble, didn’t help. He then asked me if I deadlift competitavely! I said no, just for fun and to get stronger. He said he’s watched a lot of deadlifting since he has friends that he worked with in another town who deadlift in local competitions. He said that my form looks really good. I told him I’d only been deadlifting for a little over a year and a half and he said that I have the right type of body for it. That chat was a much appreciated ego boost!
July 29, 2009 at 11:41 am
I`ve started to squat facing away from the mirror. I like it better. I concentrate on the lift more. Not distracted by little things that dont matter anyway.