Monday's Smolov Session (112kg for 6 sets of 6) proved very easy which filled me with some confidence. I know the rest of the sessions will not be like this but at least I'm off to a good start. I kept my rest time pretty low (between 90-150 seconds), or at least low for a strength session.
Monday's Box Squat session wasn't too bad either, no records broken, but managed to get up to 245kg on my box squat which is only 15kg off my all time best at this exercise. Considering I am just trying to 'maintain' on my lower body strength for these 3 weeks I am not too worried. I will probably attempt 250kg next week and try and go up in 5kg each week like that until the cycle is over.
My intentions with my training is to return back to a conjugate style method using Max Effort, Repeated Effort and Dynamic Effort for body upper and lower body, using very much a Westside Barbell style of training, however I want to complete this phase of what I guess you would call accumulation with my Bench Press training. I am hoping the sheer volume of work that I will be performing during these 3 weeks will have a carryover to my maximal strength and change my mental perception of what heavy is. Afterall in 3 weeks I have to prepare for a session where I have to lift 146kg for 10 sets of 3, following this session I am hoping that when I handle around the 140kg mark on the bench I will not think twice, as confidence will have built handling this weight for a total of 30reps in one workout.
I am currently preparing for my second Smolov Bench session of this first week. 75% of 1RM (120kg) for 7 sets of 5. Currently not too daunted as a few weeks ago I performed 10 sets of 5 at this weight for an accumulation session without too much trouble. Hopefully this second session shouldn't cause too much trouble.
What I am enjoying about this training cycle is that my workouts are all fairly short and sweet (1hr 15 approx) as opposed to the 2-2.5hr sessions I am used to.
More updates to come....
Phil
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