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Segansational's Motivation Log

Making me want to get back to the mountains. I’m going to have to start a different log for my Alaska hunt when I eventually get around to getting one set up and go up and down 6000-10000 feet for a week with 65 lbs of gear on my back.

I would beg my wife to move to northern Wyoming if she could work there. Unfortunately though it wouldn’t work for her job. I’m about as rural as she can be right now , that part of the country is a different type of rural though and can’t just commute 90 miles when it’s snowing 2 inches an hour for a week.
 
Making me want to get back to the mountains. I’m going to have to start a different log for my Alaska hunt when I eventually get around to getting one set up and go up and down 6000-10000 feet for a week with 65 lbs of gear on my back.

I would beg my wife to move to northern Wyoming if she could work there. Unfortunately though it wouldn’t work for her job. I’m about as rural as she can be right now , that part of the country is a different type of rural though and can’t just commute 90 miles when it’s snowing 2 inches an hour for a week.
What kinda hunt you planning sheep?

Did a moose hunt back in 2019 up there was a blast. But kinda cheating I grew up there so my buddies still live there so I just go out with them.
 
Brother I gotta hear more. did you guys see old Faithful? Where did you go in at and how many days in the actual park? did you circle the whole thing? I have such faint memories from going when I was 11 or 12 back in '94. How crowded was it? what was your favorite animal or part?

I think you would really love Mt Rainier, and the Olympics. but they're a totally different experience.

We flew into Bozeman and drove to West Yellowstone to start. From there we made essentially 3 stops in the park, starting with Old Faithful, Grand Primsatic, and the lower loop, then on to Lake Yellowstone, then through Hayden Valley up to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone / Canyon Lodge, then on to Norris Geyser Basin and the upper loop on the way to Mammoth Hot Springs and finally on back to Bozeman. So basically went from the West entrance and headed our way out the North entrance. We went over a period of 5 days total.

Not crowded at all! We went literally at the end of the season (as in Canyon Lodge services was closing the day after we departed), but also got lucky the weather was perfect - it had snowed the week before - but we didn't see any trace of it.

If I had to pick one thing, seeing the Grand Prismatic Spring from the Overlook was the most unique and completely stunning view. But a close second for me was Norris Geyser Basin with all of the different geothermal features - seeing the steam rising off the ground and being treated to an unexpected geyser erupting for a good 5-7 mins and actually getting "rained" on from it, was absolutely surreal. There's just nothing else like the landscapes anywhere out east. Coming from a city and even green, flat farmland in PA, seeing mountains, rivers, and everything else is truly a sight to see.

The best animal experience was seeing the bison. On the first day we drove into the park cars were backed up on the entrance road, and a minute or so later we found out why. This guy was just casually walking down the road on the opposite side and walked right by our car window!

We did see just a handful or elk, one in the distance with antlers, but not nearly as many as we expected to see. Was hoping to see more as we heard it was elk rut season, but honestly didn't see very many out and about at all.

Making me want to get back to the mountains. I’m going to have to start a different log for my Alaska hunt when I eventually get around to getting one set up and go up and down 6000-10000 feet for a week with 65 lbs of gear on my back.

I would beg my wife to move to northern Wyoming if she could work there. Unfortunately though it wouldn’t work for her job. I’m about as rural as she can be right now , that part of the country is a different type of rural though and can’t just commute 90 miles when it’s snowing 2 inches an hour for a week.

So, that thought definitely dawned on us as we were driving on the one road back to town. The snow plow markers on the road were several feet high - at least two to 3 times what I'm used to seeing back east. So that's a good indication of what they're in for during the winter!!
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Bench - 5/3/1 Day

Wamr up routine.
Rotator cuff exercises, resistance bands.

Bench Press:

Warm ups,
45x10
95x8

Working sets,
135x5
150x3
165x2 - 1+ rx'd

175x1 - hit 1 easy rep, estimating this to be at about 85% capacity.

Was shooting for that last set to be about 90%, but was a hair easier than expected. Would put me right about 205# as my top set 1RM for my last attempt assuming my estimate of 85% capacity is right. So, I will likely take 165# as my opener for confidence, and then jump to about 180-185# for attempt 2, and then make a call from there whether I can go 195-205.

Hypertrophy work:


Machine Chest Press:
6 plates x 10
7 plates x 10,10

This basically felt like speed work this AM.

1 hr 3 mins, 179 cals.

Pre: 3/4 Notorious Rage, 1g Choline Citrate, 1g Vit C, 10g Collagen, 2 pumps L-carnitine gel, 3 soft gels NuligoXT.
Intra: Same as usual.

Notes
Debated trying to go a little higher today to handle 185+ this AM, but ultimately opted not to at this point, as coming in unfatigued and uninjured is still goal #1. Fairly confident with how 175 moved that 185 is there. I won't be hitting anything heavy on bench from here on out, with one more "peak" tomorrow for DLs due to my schedule - and then a deload week / light touches with 2.5 weeks left.

But counter my approach if others think differently!
 
We flew into Bozeman and drove to West Yellowstone to start. From there we made essentially 3 stops in the park, starting with Old Faithful, Grand Primsatic, and the lower loop, then on to Lake Yellowstone, then through Hayden Valley up to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone / Canyon Lodge, then on to Norris Geyser Basin and the upper loop on the way to Mammoth Hot Springs and finally on back to Bozeman. So basically went from the West entrance and headed our way out the North entrance. We went over a period of 5 days total.

Not crowded at all! We went literally at the end of the season (as in Canyon Lodge services was closing the day after we departed), but also got lucky the weather was perfect - it had snowed the week before - but we didn't see any trace of it.

If I had to pick one thing, seeing the Grand Prismatic Spring from the Overlook was the most unique and completely stunning view. But a close second for me was Norris Geyser Basin with all of the different geothermal features - seeing the steam rising off the ground and being treated to an unexpected geyser erupting for a good 5-7 mins and actually getting "rained" on from it, was absolutely surreal. There's just nothing else like the landscapes anywhere out east. Coming from a city and even green, flat farmland in PA, seeing mountains, rivers, and everything else is truly a sight to see.

The best animal experience was seeing the bison. On the first day we drove into the park cars were backed up on the entrance road, and a minute or so later we found out why. This guy was just casually walking down the road on the opposite side and walked right by our car window!

We did see just a handful or elk, one in the distance with antlers, but not nearly as many as we expected to see. Was hoping to see more as we heard it was elk rut season, but honestly didn't see very many out and about at all.



So, that thought definitely dawned on us as we were driving on the one road back to town. The snow plow markers on the road were several feet high - at least two to 3 times what I'm used to seeing back east. So that's a good indication of what they're in for during the winter!! View attachment 263610
I could see how you would pick the Grand Prismatic Spring from the Overlook as the best view. Seeing pictures of it and on videos it really looks like you’re on another planet. We would love to go see it….ha, my wife and I were talking about Yellowstone yesterday, because your trip got me to thinking about it, so we pulled up some stuff online just to get an idea of what it would take for us to plan a trip next Summer, and when we got done she said “well then when are we going?” 😎
 
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I’m going to have to start a different log for my Alaska hunt when I eventually get around to getting one set up and go up and down 6000-10000 feet for a week with 65 lbs of gear on my back.

What kinda hunt you planning sheep?

Did a moose hunt back in 2019 up there was a blast. But kinda cheating I grew up there so my buddies still live there so I just go out with them.

thats awesome, I've never been but my brother went up a few times for fishing and moose hunting and my wife and I ended up with a lot of fish in the freezer! for a while he had a partnership with a fisherman up there and would basically act as his distributor down here.

But a close second for me was Norris Geyser Basin with all of the different geothermal features

Ohhhhh I think I remember that, was that the one that smelled like farts??

Coming from a city and even green, flat farmland in PA, seeing mountains, rivers, and everything else is truly a sight to see.

amen brother. this is one of the reasons my wife and I will never leave PNW despite how horrible the taxes and politics are getting. I think the straw that broke the camels back for me was going to Costa Rica, which was one of my all time favorite trips ever, and then flying home over Mt Rainier and the Puget Sound, then crossing our giant bridge and just realizing how much bigger everything is here at home. We have so many friends and family that have noped out of this state for the politics and gone to Arizona, Florida, and Texas, but I could never leave Puget Sound and Mt Rainier. Thats my mountain. Everyone out here stakes a claim on Rainier ;) lol

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Working sets,
135x5
150x3
165x2 - 1+ rx'd

175x1 - hit 1 easy rep, estimating this to be at about 85% capacity.

Was shooting for that last set to be about 90%, but was a hair easier than expected. Would put me right about 205# as my top set 1RM for my last attempt assuming my estimate of 85% capacity is right. So, I will likely take 165# as my opener for confidence, and then jump to about 180-185# for attempt 2, and then make a call from there whether I can go 195-205.
man it seems like 531 and this meet prep have you lifting a lot more weight with a lot more intention lately, good to see you putting up nice numbers! Imagine where you'd be in a year if you stuck with this.
 
When is the meet precisely? 2.5 weeks, around the 24th?

You could take 180-185 next week, 10-11 days out, IF you are very confident it’s not a close to a 100% max. And that would be to your benefit IF you are confident you could bench 185 at least for two separate singles next week. But actually only take it for precisely ONE single. Work up to something like 170x1, then if it’s just a joke take 180 or 185. Otherwise stick to something like a back off triple after with something like 145-155.

If you don’t feel extremely confident in that, then 185 is a higher percentage than you realize and you should not take it before the meet.

Also, be pausing every first rep of a set momentarily from here out on bench if you haven’t. You won’t get the press command until it’s motionless under control; it’s not a pre-determined time for the pause.
 
man it seems like 531 and this meet prep have you lifting a lot more weight with a lot more intention lately, good to see you putting up nice numbers! Imagine where you'd be in a year if you stuck with this.

I do feel like my strength base on lifts is definitely improving. Feels good, but I also miss doing more hypertophy work too.

We'll see where I land after the comp, but I may keep in DLs just so as not to lose the progress again.

When is the meet precisely? 2.5 weeks, around the 24th?

You could take 180-185 next week, 10-11 days out, IF you are very confident it’s not a close to a 100% max. And that would be to your benefit IF you are confident you could bench 185 at least for two separate singles next week. But actually only take it for precisely ONE single. Work up to something like 170x1, then if it’s just a joke take 180 or 185. Otherwise stick to something like a back off triple after with something like 145-155.

If you don’t feel extremely confident in that, then 185 is a higher percentage than you realize and you should not take it before the meet.

Also, be pausing every first rep of a set momentarily from here out on bench if you haven’t. You won’t get the press command until it’s motionless under control; it’s not a pre-determined time for the pause.

Yes, the 24th.

OK, maybe I'll treat next week as one more "peak" even though this week was planned as it. I don't feel on a few lifts I got close enough to that 90% effort with what was programmed.
 
Deadlift Day - 5/3/1

Warm up routine.

RDLs,
Empty bar x 10
+20x8,8

Deadlifts:

Warm ups,
45x10
65x8
95x6

Working sets, belted, banded pullaparts prior to each set:

115x5
135x3
145x1 - this honestly felt like a warm up. Now my lower back was feeling a bit out of alignment on left side, so wanted to be careful. A few extra leg swings and got back to it.

155x1
170x1
185x1 - Best guess was this was still only ~70-80% effort. Definitely think I've been holding back on this cycle too much for DLs. That would put me closer to 230-245# for a true 1RM.

All felt super easy from a muscle base. Program had me stop at 145#. That wasn't happening today! Tbh I think I'm just gun shy with deads still. The strength is there, but I need to just restore my confidence in the mental numbers.

Going to give it one more shot next week with a 205# pull to get me closer to my range for the meet.

1 hr 6 mins, 199 cals.

Pre: 3/4 scoop Notorious Rage, 1g Choline Citrate, 1g Vit C, 10g collagen, 2 pumps L-carnitine gel, 3 soft gels NuligoXT.
Intra: Same as yesterday.
 
I do feel like my strength base on lifts is definitely improving. Feels good, but I also miss doing more hypertophy work too.

We'll see where I land after the comp, but I may keep in DLs just so as not to lose the progress again.



Yes, the 24th.

OK, maybe I'll treat next week as one more "peak" even though this week was planned as it. I don't feel on a few lifts I got close enough to that 90% effort with what was programmed.
Sounds like a good plan to me, if you don't feel you hit it then give it some more. I would think if you have 185x3 then 190x1 shouldn't be an issue, and will give a little more confidence.
Going to give it one more shot next week with a 205# pull to get me closer to my range for the meet.
I think this is a good idea, you haven't really done any sort of peaking so outside of a massive all out effort you aren't going to mess with your CNS too much. Especially if you are estimating your DL to be 20-30lbs higher. However, also keep in mind the main goal here was to make it to the show. So if you aren't that confident in the lower back then just ride this one out and give it hell on the platform instead. This meet is more of a taste tester for you. If you choose to do another one you will have the time and benefit of truly peaking for that one and that is when a lot of these timing things to cut off lifts and the like are going to be more important. Right now you haven't overreached, so your CNS is in a much different spot than it would be if you had gone through peaking, and needing to take a recovery week before the meet and the like. So I think you have a little more flexibility than someone in that situation. Just don't get hurt, as long as you don't hurt yourself, I don't think you are going to mess up your approach by pushing harder. Of course within reason.
 
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