So, went into last night's leg battle making a conscious attempt to have a bit more vim.
This started on the leg ext. machine which is another area I've been struggling recently. We worked down the stack to 4 working sets and I have to say I think I was doing a bit better than normal, a bit less burn and a bit more leg power. Self and Jackman are joined by Jackman's mate Jim; between them they manage to conjure up genius new plan for six-pack abs....don't do isolation work of any kind just squat so heavy that you pop 6 symmetrical hernias. Might look a bit odd on the posing front but if you could keep the coughing and sneezing to a minimum it might be worth thinking about. Anyway, warmed up on the leg ext. the time is right for
Front Squat. -no plates under heels
40-60-80
110
120
125PB
130-high
100 x 6
Very pleased with those. I used the small neoprene pads I was talking about last week and they protected the end of my collarbone a treat so unracking the bar and walkouts were much improved. I'd say it is much harder to make depth without the plates purely because it is easier to keep your back upright with them. Without, there is a tendency to tip forward a tad when reaching for the extra depth in the hole. It was that which cost me on the 130. Think the strength is there in the legs but didn't make the depth due to tipping forward. Should get it in the next few weeks. Was pleased with the 125 as that shot up. Jackman had similar problems with 140 although to be fair he was making the depth with his but then losing it forward at the push. At this point we also lost Jim who had found the pre-exhaust more of an
exhaust and couldn't face back squats. However, we picked up two Lithuanian/Latvian lads (most likely Polish). One of whom looked remarkably like Viktor Krum of Harry Potter fame. Disappointingly he did not jump astride the bar and quidditch himself round the room just did some 'good morning'-ey squats.
Back Squat
60-80-110
130 x 12
130 x 10
130 x 8
(all above inc. spotted last rep)
I think it is fair to say that neither of us were keen on the idea but both felt that having done 3 x 12 on 120 a move up was necessary. The question was 125 or 130 and there could only really be one answer to that. Unfortunately. Excellent spotting from Jackman, encouraging but not stepping in until actual failure was occurring. Viktor Krum and mate seemed suitably impressed and judged my first set on the 130 as
"MA-CHIIIIIIIIIIINE"
They might've revised that and awarded the machine title to Jackman on the subsequent sets as he gave everything he had to make 3 x 12 whilst I
1. didn't
2. spotted him from the upright 'watching' position
Brilliant stuff. I really enjoyed myself. Leg day madness is fast becoming my favourite it has a kind of purity to the insanity that the other days haven't reproduced, apart from maybe the Arnold/V-press superset on shoulder day. It kind of makes you wonder...
MA-CHIIIIIIINE