big val picks up 405 like it was 315

[kitarpyar]

Originally Posted by big valsalva

Squat

310x1 - P AAARRRRRRGH!
310x1

Big, big PR. Congrats

[big valsalva]

Originally Posted by kitarpyar

Big, big PR. Congrats

Thank you, kit. There's more coming. Maybe two more this week. We'll see how I recover first though, but I have opportunity to tie a Bench PR, and set a new Deadlift PR. Unexplored territory from now on. Here there be dragons. The thing to do with dragons is to slay them.

[BendtheBar]

They were saying on the news the other night that July, 2012 was the second hottest July on record. Second only to July, 1936, which was the hottest month EVER in Minneapolis/St. Paul anyway. We went the whole month of July without a daytime high in the 70's. In fact, you have to go back to mid-June, since we last had a daytime high under 80. A bunch of 90's, a couple of 100's... Still, the air conditioner miraculously keeps working...except the one in my car. Looks like some thunderstorms coming in tonight. Perhaps some relief with it.

My car AC never seem to work. The plight of our people

It's been crazy in the house. Once the sun hits the western side of the house and has no trees blocking its rays, our house heats up to 80 in no time. I think by 5 am it gets back to 70.

[kitarpyar]

I live in the top floor of an apartment complex. So the sun pretty much keeps roasting me, whether in the east of west. Thankfully, I spend a lot of time in my labs/office which are pretty nice and cool places.

Coming from India, I would have thought that the summers, no matter how harsh would be the least of my problems in mid-west. But that doesn't seem to be the case. Sure, the absolute temperature in a tropical summer is still significantly higher than the mid-west summer, but I think the MUCH higher UV radiation due to a 33% thinner ozone layer here is an overwhelming factor in how hot it feels.

Even my dad had a similar observation last year when he came over to visit me last July.

[MikeM]

Awesome PRs!

Slay those Dragons!

[big valsalva]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

My car AC never seem to work. The plight of our people

It's been crazy in the house. Once the sun hits the western side of the house and has no trees blocking its rays, our house heats up to 80 in no time. I think by 5 am it gets back to 70.

Originally Posted by kitarpyar

I live in the top floor of an apartment complex. So the sun pretty much keeps roasting me, whether in the east of west. Thankfully, I spend a lot of time in my labs/office which are pretty nice and cool places.

Coming from India, I would have thought that the summers, no matter how harsh would be the least of my problems in mid-west. But that doesn't seem to be the case. Sure, the absolute temperature in a tropical summer is still significantly higher than the mid-west summer, but I think the MUCH higher UV radiation due to a 33% thinner ozone layer here is an overwhelming factor in how hot it feels.

Even my dad had a similar observation last year when he came over to visit me last July.

Funny the misconceptions people have about us upper prairie dwellers. Though BtB, you're more of a forest dweller. Still, these upper latitudes are NOT blanketed with show 10 months a year. Take glwanabe for example. I know the heat and humidity his area can get miserably oppressive for significant stretches of time. However, I would put my hotest, most humid day up against his hottest, most humid day anytime.

Looks like there's a cold front coming through tonight. Perhaps tomorrow we can finally get a daytime high back in the 70's.

Originally Posted by MikeM

Awesome PRs!

Slay those Dragons!

Thank you, Mike. You are most kind.

[big valsalva]

Thursday, 8/2/12

Cycle III Wave 3 Workout B

BP (alternated with sets of chinups)
45x5
70x5
90x5
105x5
130x5
150x3
165x1
185x1 - ties PR. Spotter thought I had another nickle left in me.
190 - Fail
Pissed off, so:
135x8

Chinups (between sets of BP)
1/1/1/1 - I knew after the first "set" that I was going to have trouble. It didn't go up very easy. I eventually tweaked my middle back on the third "set."

Deficit BP done in strip set fashion. No rest, just change plates.
70x10
90x10
105x10
90x10
70x10

Pendlay Rows
140x8x3

I mentioned earlier in this thread that I'm interested in running a Smolov Cycle for BP. I think I've worked out in my mind how to do that and still keep a bit of a 531 presence in the squat and deadlift. It will mean scaling back squats and deads to maintenance levels only, as well as probably eliminating assistance work for those exercises. I don't know about doing the full Smolov Cycle (13 weeks?). Life just isn't that cooperative. I DO think I can manage a cycle of Smolov Jr. for starters. See how it works. I think, though, that I'll do one more cycle of 531 as I have been. My gym always shuts down for a few days at the end of Summer(cleaning/maintenance/etc.), and another cycle of 531 would put me in mid-September for a Smolov start up. There won't be any more scheduled gym closings until Thanksgiving. Should give me ample time to get things stirred up.

[kitarpyar]

Congrats on the bench PR BigV. 190 will fall next session ... and then onto 200 and 2 plates a side

[big valsalva]

Originally Posted by kitarpyar

Congrats on the bench PR BigV. 190 will fall next session ... and then onto 200 and 2 plates a side

Thanks, kit. That was the talk the other night. If I hadn't tried 190, I would have gone home wondering. No shame in failing, only in not trying.

[big_swede]

Congrats on the 3pps squat!!