Cycle 3 W3D7

This went about as well as I should have expected, which is to say, not very. I should have backed off and gone with the alternate plan of 1 clean every 20s at a challenging but doable weight. But I'm stubborn, especially when it comes to "the program says..." (cue my husband saying something like "stubborn doesn't even come close to describing it..."). Anyway....

A. Clean + Clean/Front Squat; 1.1.1; rest 30s/3 minutes x 3 sets *140-145-150 if possible - go by feel and back off on the weight if not feeling good*

Done @ 140-145-135. 140 got done, it was hard but got all reps. 145 was a disaster...failed the 2nd FS then failed the 2nd clean of the third group. Backed off the weight for the final set - 135 felt harder than it should have but I was able to maintain better form and get all reps. I shouldn't have tried for 145. I wasn't worried about injuring anything, but my back was still tight and fatigued and I just kept getting buried on the cleans - I had no ability to maintain tension at the bottom so standing up each rep was a struggle. But, see above, stubborn. Lesson (re)learned.

B. Safety bar box squat; 3 reps; rest 2:30 x 5 sets *175-180lbs here*

At least I was smarter by the time I got to these. All sets @ 165 - focused on glute engagement and speed. Annoyed not to feel up to going heavier - I NEED this work - but it is what it is.

C1. Reverse Hyper; 10 reps @20x1; rest 30s

C2. Strict toes to rings @31X1; 6-8 reps; rest 30s

C3. Jefferson Curl; 8-10 reps w/35lb BB; Rest 2 minutes x 5 sets

Did not do reverse hypers, as they've been known to tighten up my back in the past and I figured today was no time to test that out. C2 fine @ 8 reps each set, C3 @ 10 reps and these felt really good on my back.

D. Medball hamstring curls; 10-12 reps; rest 60s x 5 sets

Done, 12 reps each set.

OVERALL: It was the day I should have expected but still didn't want. It's frustrating as hell to me that 145 isn't a weight I can hit under fatigue or duress...that's probably the most annoying part. Rationally, I understand I was not operating optimally and should not expect to hit a high percentage for that workout; emotionally, I'm so sick of being disappointed by my squat clean ability. Meh. If every day went well then it would signal that we weren't training the right things, so I know these kind of days are just part of a program designed around my weaknesses. Still sucky.