Despite a less than stellar preparation I was quietly confident I was going to have a good Nationals. My numbers going in suggested a 5kg PB on squat, 5-10 on bench and 10-15 on deadlift for 25kg,s PB on my total.
After arriving at the Gold Coast everything felt on track. I weighed in 2.5kg,s over last year but it was expected given my dexa indicated I had gained muscle and dropped fat. Following weigh in I started to re-feed and spent time with my team mate Carl planning my lifts. Actually it was good rooming with my teammate as sharing the experience helped settle my nerves.
Once Saturday rolled around I was bursting to get under the bar for the first squat. Given the issues I had with squat my strategy was to open with my Nationals weight from last year up my second by 5kg over the previous year and then load a 5kg Pb for the third. That would set me up for a nice run at bench and deads.
MAgically as per last year evething felt good on the platform for first and second attempts. Both lifts felt deep and strong and interestingly having seen the photography proofs its clear my mobility work has helped as I was ass to grass on both attempts. On reflection I actually need to work on cueing depth as I am probably going fractionally deeper than I need to.
Setting up for my third I am ready, get the call and go deep. My teammate reminded me to blast through the sticking point and so I did, so much so as I rose I started to smile and think about the PB and then bench to come...big mistake as instantly I feel my back go and I immediately sink 9-10 inches in a fraction of a second. Spotters grab me and after locking the weight its clear I have injured the back.
As I walk offstage thinking about the lift I was pretty sure my back went into flexion as I was pushing towards lockout. I had done this once before deadlifting and it was sore as fuck.
No PB and then the focus was trying to work out how injured I was, regardless I definitely wanted to total.
I managed to get three benches in, equalling my PB but missing the 2.5kg PB increase.
My back was pretty much gone at this stage but I held hope that I could somehow still get a PB dead. I opened with a token 1st followed up by a second at 90% of my old 1RM. This actually went up okay but it was clear that there was no snap in the lift and I was nursing that lower back pretty badly.
Final lift I try a 5kg PB knowing that if it magically is better than thought I will get a 4th as it is a Masters record. Well those hopes were dashed in a about 2 milliseconds as a weight I doubled in training (with 1-2 left in the tank) gets about an inch off the ground before my back finally gives me a real sharp ping to let me know there is nothing left.
My meet is over and fair to say I am pretty dissapointed. I was so pumped to grip and rip a big deadlift today and to be robbed through an injury felt pretty shitty particularly having flown across the country to do it.
Looking at the positives I learned plenty watching more experienced lifters prepare for the platform. It was also pleasing that my squat depth is much improved over last year. The injury itself was a learning curve as it has highlighted some lower back weakness relative to mid and upper back.
I am resting up and healing now but will do some light upper body work next week then move into a progressive basebuilding routine where I will focus on bench and gentle lower back work. I don't want to rush the recovery but I am bursting to get into it.
Stay Strong
Thomo
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