I like to train strength for about 9-10 weeks, then do a separate peak cycle for about 3 weeks, then have a meet.
Everyone’s peak cycles are different, along with their training, but here is mine:
9-10 weeks of training is set the same:
Monday squat up to a set of 5
Tuesday Bench up to a set of 5
Wed deadlift up to a set of 5
Thurs add 5 lbs from Tuesday bench and do a set of 3
Friday add 10 lbs from Monday and do a set of 3
Then, week 2, I use the weight’s I used for the set of 3 on Thursday and Friday, and simply do a set of 5 on Monday and Tuesday. Deadlift I just add 10 lbs from previous week.
This has proven to work for me for about 9 weeks (minus bench, but I have bone issues which are being looked into). At about the 8-10 week mark, it starts getting really hard for the set of 5.
That’s sort of my call to start a peak cycle for 3 - 4 weeks, either do a competition or a mock meet at home, then repeat.
My peak cycle, however, has no real program, but it sort of like this:
Mon: work up to a set of 2 on squat. Starting weight is 20 lbs over my last set of 3
Tues: Work up to a set of 2 on bench. Starting weight is 10 lbs over my last set of 3
Wed: Work up to a set of 2 on deadlift. Starting weight is 20 lbs over my last set of 5
Thurs: Work up to a set of 1 on bench, add 5 lbs from Tuesday weight.
Friday: Work up to a set of 1 on squat. Add 10 lbs from Monday weight.
I then follow the same layout as my 9 week cycle, just with sets of 2 and 1 opposed to 5 and 3.
Week of competition I do the following:
Mon: squat, work up to a set of 3 of my planned opener
Tues: Bench: work up to a set of 3 of my planned opener
Wed: Dead: Work up to a set of 3 of my planned opener
Thurs: Do some light squats, light bench, and light back work. If I rest too much, I lose a lot of strength. Nothing taxing here, all around 50% max at like 4-5 reps
What do you guys do, and do you like my peak cycle?