ActivitiesGuy Log III: StrongFirst Kettlebells & Deadlifts

A bit of a “training philosophy and goals” update:

The Goal: as folks who have checked this log over the last few years may know, there was a time when my ambition was a humble 405 deadlift. Then it was a 500 deadlift. Then it was a 600 deadlift. As each new number has fallen, progress gets tougher, but I still think I have one more round number to go: thus, my new “lifetime goal” is thus a 700 deadlift at bodyweight under 231 pounds.

The Approach: the basic bones will, as always, remain the same. Here’s what I’m thinking as my template:

Monday through Friday will be the usual “daily dose deadlift” where I work up to a single between 495 and 585ish (most days). I plan to rotate deadlift variations each week among the following three options: barbell, axle (standard height), and Wagon Wheels. Once every three or four weeks, I may dial it up to a single over 600.

Saturdays will be for squatting (this is the only day my wife and I are home & able to work out at the same time; she likes doing a squat workout together). I’ve been doing this as a pretty simple progression of 5’s, and will continue to add five pounds per week to the top set (280 yesterday) as long as that’s working, should work into the mid-300’s.

Sundays will be a wild card - Strongman events day (sandbag, farmer’s, Wagon Wheel Deadlift for reps) or kettlebell stuff or maybe even just getting on the spinning bike.

4 Likes

Where’s your BW at currently?

Woop there it is!!!

Noticed a few days with no 500+ and was starting to worry. Should have known you would come bouncing back. Good job

Just took it a little easy and hung out at 495 last week. Once in awhile need to back it off just a tad and regroup before pushing even higher. I’m doing this in the hopes I can come roaring out of the gates in the next few weeks and push my 1RM into the mid-high 600’s this summer.

Don’t worry about me mate. Your consistency is excellent and your pulling way above me. I just like to keep you motivated.

Monday 4/1

Axle Deadlift (Wagon Wheels)

5x115
5x205
5x295
1x385
1x475
1x565

1 Like

Tuesday 4/2

Axle Deadlift (Wagon Wheels)

5x115
5x205
5x295
1x385
1x475
1x565

Wednesday 4/3

Deadlift

5x245
1x335
1x425
1x515
1x515
1x515
1x515

Exciting development today: I bought a pair of 100 pound plates (Craigslist) and picked them up on my drive home from work. No longer will be I be maxed out at a 625 deadlift by lack of plates and space on the bar. The pursuit of 700 now begins in earnest.

8 Likes

Thursday 4/4

Deadlift

5x245
1x335
1x425
1x515
1x515
1x515

Friday 4/5

Deadlift

5x245
1x335
1x425
1x515
1x605
1x425

I already love pulling with the 100 pound plates. I’m more fired up than ever about making a run at 700.

5 Likes

Saturday 4/6

Back Squat

5x135
5x165
5x195
5x225
5x255
5x285

Sunday 4/7

Axle Deadlift (Plates)

5x225
1x315
1x315
1x405
1x405
1x495
1x495
1x495
1x495

Exciting stuff man.

I’ve been watching for a while now, I just don’t comment much. I think your 700lbs pull might be the tnation event of the summer though. I assume video cameras will be out?

Yeah, I always take video of new PR’s (and sometimes random training lifts, too) so if a 700 attempt comes off, you’ll see it here.

I’m a slow-n-steady kind of guy, though, so I will probably make a few stops along the way. Buying the 100’s was a big thing for me because the plates I had really only allowed me to lift 615 with confidence (on my 625 PR a couple months ago, one of the clips fell off the end of the bar, which could have been bad news if the weights had started to slide). Now I have plenty of space - a 100 plus four 45’s in each side gets me to 605 with ample space left for some change plates, so I’ll probably hit a 630-something on the next few months, then a 640-something, and so on…

2 Likes

Monday 4/8

Axle Deadlift (Plates)

5x225
1x315
1x315
1x405
1x405
1x495
1x495

Tuesday 4/9

Axle Deadlift (Plates)

5x225
1x315
1x405
1x495
1x525
1x555

depends on who gets there first :wink:

I hit a pretty smooth 615 deadlift in comp this weekend. My goal for this summer is actually more like 650, but of course 700 would be nice too. Either way, I’m training it hard right now.

The race is on:)

1 Like

This is getting more interesting by the minute. Time to stock up on popcorn :popcorn:

Would be glad to see you beat me there, mate.

I think I’m in the same boat - 650ish is a more realistic goal for this summer, with 700 probably more of a “next year” goal, but we’ll see how things go.

Are you training this particularly hard right now with Static Monsters coming up? Is that trip still in the cards for you?

Good to see you back man, hadn’t seen you around the last few weeks.

Hope everything’s well

1 Like