So BUCS nationals.
I’ll start by saying that our team killed it. On the Saturday in the 74s we took 1st and 3rd - with it being the 3rd place lifters first meet! Man just hit want he wanted to hit and waltzed into 3rd while everyone else vying for 1 and 2 were playing mind games on the final deadlift. A 440 something and a 414 Wilks there.
Our captain was robbed of 2nd in the 83s, he needed another 10kg to take it, had hit that on both his 2nd and 3rd squats which were unfairly redlighted. No jury so couldn’t dispute the calls but if depth wasn’t there on his first go at it, it was there on the second. He pulled the weight he needed to for 2nd as his last deadlift but lost his grip just before the down command. Gutted for him as he missed 3rd by 2.5kg. Still finished with a 420 something Wilks but he wasn’t happy.
With another of our 105s hitting a 405 Wilks and me finishing with 382.81, our team Wilks (top 5 lifters from the squad averaged) should be 412. The winners last year hit 385ish so we’re waiting on official release of results after Scottish nationals this weekend but we think we’re in with a shot at the win.
If not, the top 5 teams go to worlds in July, and we’re even more hopeful to be in there.
So how my day went. I was tired after handling guys on Saturday but got home for 8ish, and started relaxing. In the end I only got 5 hours sleep. Nerves, hype from the day, too hot a bath beforehand, whatever. It is what it is, and I woke up on Sunday knowing that I have hit PRs on little sleep before and would do it today.
Weighed in at 94.01kg. Really reassuring as I didn’t do too nasty a cut. Just drank a lot the few days before (peaked at 10L on Friday), limited my intake to 2L and got a load of calories through fats and lightweight carbs on Saturday, and peed a load of weight off. Felt a bit rough for the first hour or so after starting eating again but it was just nausea. I’ll take something with ginger in it next time to keep my tummy feeling chipper.
Squat
Warmups went great - just like in training.
215kg opener moved extremely well. Got one red for depth but I disagree.
227.5kg 2nd was solid too - 7.5kg comp PR and 500lbs squat in comp.
237.5kg for a big comp PR. Sniff of ammonia, a little shout, a hair off of my normal depth and I got it up without too much trouble. Got 1 red and depending on the angle I review it at I agree it’s borderline so I won’t complain. 2.5kg lifetime best and 2.5xBW for the first time.
Bench
Again, warmups solid. Worked long pauses between commands so I didn’t get caught out on the platform.
120kg opener moved nicely. The bench was more slippery than what I’ve trained on so I’ll adjust training to reflect that. Ties my comp best.
130kg - sank too far into my chest and I lost a bit of arch. Came up off the chest quick but I pushed it towards my feet and it stalled way below my normal sticking point. A couple of things happened just before I walked out which messed with my pre lift routine, but at the end of the day I should have taken the safer jump to 127.5kg. I was buoyed up by the squat success and made the wrong call. I won’t do that again.
130kg - executed this far better but was too fatigued. It stalled at my normal sticking point, got uneven, one end went down slightly and the judges called the spotters in since it was a red anyway.
Weight cut no doubt played a part in bench failure. I’ll remember that for south wests (especially as I have another kilo to go) and if I have to I’ll take 5kg jumps from my opener. The 10kg jump to 130 will be a psychological barrier until I hit something north of 120 in competition so I won’t try it again until that has happened.
Draw a line under it, remember it was technique and mind, not strength, and get set for the other lift which actually matters.
Deadlift
Smashed 220kg for a final warmup and went for my enthusiastic opener.
240kg - crushed.
Another enthusiastic jump.
255kg went up feeling heavy but moving fast. Better than the paused rep from a few weeks ago in training.
I hit 612.5kg with that lift, I knew I wasn’t getting my perfect days 635kg total after bench, so I took the 600 landmark as my win for the day. Ties deadlift PR from floor but I’ve done 260 off a deficit in training (albeit months ago weighing 98kg).
I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t try the deadlift I was originally planning on finishing the day with.
265kg - ridiculous amount of hype for this lift, I gave it everything I had mentally from the moment ny handler put the attempt in. Walked out to crush it, bent down, felt something gurgle in my gut, lost tightness right off the floor and got it up to mid shin. It wasn’t in a position where I could hold a grind, and I dropped it. Nearly passed out, don’t remember that bit.
262.5kg was there, that would’ve been a PR too, but I didn’t want that, or the 620kg total it’d give me. I didn’t even want the 622.5kg total this would’ve given me - I just wanted the 265 pull. So no regrets for going for it, shame I missed it.
The day was done, I hit a 37.5kg PR total, something like a 15-20 PR Wilks, and I had a freaking blast.
In placings I will have been tanked in the 105s - the winner totalled 720 something. 93s I might’ve cracked top 10, more likely 15.
This was a team Wilks comp for me first, and a personal records comp second, although I did switch it up for that final pull haha.
Solid weekend at the bar.
Final wafflings.
Short term goal now is to get down to 93kg on the dot for South West’s.
Similar strong performance on squat, smarter performance on bench and deadlift.
No idea on chances of placing, if it’s there my handler will get me it, if not I’m gonna pad that total and Wilks and again, enjoy this weird hobby we all kill ourselves for.
Long term, whatever happens re world’s, and some sort of decision about whether to go 93s or 105s for that - if we made it.
I will be taking a break from daily maxes after South West’s anyway, and hit some volume. Won’t be able to get to a gym every day anyway, and its what my body needs. Man needs arms and pecs.
Either get ripped and jacked in the 93s or accept that it’s the big boi life for me and let the 105s take me.
I start work as a junior doctor in July (@furo I’m in Severn! Find out where exactly on the 5th) and training is gonna weird after that.
But. I want:
- A 240 squat, probably soon.
- A 272.5kg/600lbs deadlift by xmas.
- And not to freaking suck at bench.
- Whilst looking sexy and being a happy bloke. I’m halfway there already.
Thank you everyone who has kept me accountable on this site over the last few months.
What you’re here for.