Week 5, Day 2: Learning

Lots of lessons today.  First was out of the gym: lots of leg cramps this morning, just walking around the office and computer room.  Left leg especially, and plenty of weird twitching going on as I was sitting.  Had eaten my normal no-carb breakfast.  30 minutes after I ate a big lunch, including plenty of carbs, the cramping ceased.  Not sure what to make of this.  I'm well-hydrated.  Doubt that it's an electrolyte imbalance - especially when eating lunch fixes the issue within such a short time.

Finally made it home, stress levels unbelievably high.  Got out to the gheyrage, and warmed up by slamming a green Monster and reciting my custom RPE chart in one big, long, tasty belch.  Hopped in.

Conv DL: 1x20x135,1x10x135,1x3x225,315,405,515/9-10,475/9-ish
Lady deadlift opened the kimono a bit today, but I'm not quite sure what I saw.  515: first rep was a bit ugly, some leg shake; rep 2 was much better; rep 3 - well, it got grindy, and as I got mid-thigh, I started to twist, the bar got way out in front of me on the left side, my hips were all uneven and confused.  Stupid me - I should have dropped the bar, but I locked it out, and held it for a few seconds to restore calm to the universe.

Not sure if this is a strength issue, a proprioception issue, or a combination.  Not sure what the best way is to address it.  I decided to drop a little over my prescribed fatigue percent, to 475, just to be safe.  These reps felt nice and clean.

Then warmed up with some pressing to get the shoulders mobile; tried an Olympic bar, but it felt all weird, so I just went with the axle, wrist be damned.

Axle Press (rack, w/minis): 1x2x75,75,125,145,165/10,155/10
Well, completely screwed the pooch on either RPE estimate (don't think so) or technique (yep), on the initial drive and force transfer off the racked position.  In any event, I'm pretty happy with these numbers.

Farmer's Shrugs: 1x10x185,225/10,225/9
Too lazy to change weights after the first set at 225, honestly.  The shrugging itself wasn't a 10, but rather, I lost trunk stability around rep 8, and was fighting to maintain a stable position.  Second set at 225 I really focused on stability from the get-go, and it went much, much better.

Pretty good session - and a fooler, as I would have sworn it would suck coming into it.  I was tired, I was stressed to the point of distraction, and everything was pointing to a terrible time training.  Just goes to show you, I guess, that you never know until you try.