A Hebridean Diary
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| Martin1956 |  | ... | 18-02-2025 @ 17:46 |
 Old Age Presser Member 75, 8040 posts SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq | Post Edited: 18.02.2025 @ 17:47 PM by Martin1956 Tuesday BenchLast session before the competition. Just do the opener over and over again... Bar for 10 x 3 sets 40 for 6 60 for 5 70 for 4 80 for 3 90 for 2 100 for 1 110 for 1 120 for 1 120 for 2 x 5 sets Finish. Struggling with a cold, a little down on my best, but even with a cold 120 seems nailed on. I can always drop it on the day if needs must. Now the worry changes to will the ferry sail? There's a bad forecast for the weekend. The joys of living on an island... | ||
| b15ape1 | | ... | 18-02-2025 @ 18:48 |
 British bum sex champ Member 450, 1953 posts SQ 315, BP 212.5, DL 290817.5 kgs @ 137kgs Eq | Wheres the comp at Fletty?? | ||
| Billwest |  | ... | 18-02-2025 @ 20:57 |
Member 541, 5277 posts SQ 192.5, BP 120, DL 222.5535.0 kgs @ 92.8kgs UnEq | All looking very solid Martin. You making the trek to Inverness for your comp? | ||
| Martin1956 | | ... | 18-02-2025 @ 22:07 |
Old Age Presser Member 75, 8040 posts SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq | b15ape1 said:Wheres the comp at Fletty?? Inverness mate - if the ferry sails. High winds predicted, but due to come down on the Saturday when I'm scheduled to sail - but if there's a residual heavy swell she might not sail. I'd normally go a day early, but the Friday forecast is much worse. See what happens...  Hebridean life... | ||
| Martin1956 | | ... | 18-02-2025 @ 22:08 |
Old Age Presser Member 75, 8040 posts SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq | Billwest said:All looking very solid Martin. You making the trek to Inverness for your comp? Thanks Bill. Yes, Inverness, all being well, if the boat sails, as above. | ||
| b15ape1 | | ... | 18-02-2025 @ 22:10 |
British bum sex champ Member 450, 1953 posts SQ 315, BP 212.5, DL 290817.5 kgs @ 137kgs Eq | Martin1956 said: Inverness mate - if the ferry sails. High winds predicted, but due to come down on the Saturday when I'm scheduled to sail - but if there's a residual heavy swell she might not sail. I'd normally go a day early, but the Friday forecast is much worse. See what happens... Hebridean life...Still a fair trek for you that buddy  | ||
| b15ape1 | | ... | 21-02-2025 @ 18:56 |
British bum sex champ Member 450, 1953 posts SQ 315, BP 212.5, DL 290817.5 kgs @ 137kgs Eq | Good luck for Sunday Martin...And may the good weather boat loving gods be on your side!! | ||
| Billwest | | ... | 21-02-2025 @ 20:50 |
Member 541, 5277 posts SQ 192.5, BP 120, DL 222.5535.0 kgs @ 92.8kgs UnEq | Good luck getting to Inverness and even better luck for your comp Martin | ||
| Martin1956 | | ... | 25-02-2025 @ 12:59 |
Old Age Presser Member 75, 8040 posts SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq | Thanks for the good wishes, guys. I've taken the liberty of copying and pasting my Facebook 'report' on the competition. here. And I'm training at 2! So here goes with the inevitable long post-competition report. First some context. I've had (and still have) some medical issues that I choose not to share on social media. I had an operation in late December 2023, after which I developed sepsis. During January and February 2024 I was totally incapable of lifting, but I did a commentary in March and also recorded an album of my own songs. So life was good in many ways, but I honestly thought I'd never compete again. Come the end of March, I dragged myself to the garage and managed to press 80 Kg. I failed 85. But it was something to build on. The target was to qualify for the M4 British championships in 2026, and so began an eleven month journey to last Sunday, when I equalled my comeback pb, possibly even with a biscuit to spare! But more importantly, after ten years of dashing around Europe covering major championships, I reconnected with the grass roots of the sport and had a whale of a time. I'm really looking forward to doing the Scottish Bench in the summer, equipped, and putting up a big number. On Sunday, I lifted in the morning, refereed Flight C in the afternoon, and was Speaker for Flight D. I'd not refereed for ages. I kept turning up only to be asked to go on the mic, and it was great to get back in the chair. To the lifting. Filled with the usual self doubt. Could I possibly manage a weight that I did five easy doubles with in my last training session? The usual nonsense. 120 flew up. Relief! Qualification! Relaxation! Then 130, still quite easy. I planned 135 third, and got that to. Actually my best competition lift for a few years. I used to open at 130 and then jump to a record attempt which I wouldn't get. That was partly of the reasoning for 135 rather than 137.5. I actually can't remember the last time I got 3 for 3, but it was a long time ago. 137.5 can wait until next time. Quite emotional afterwards... I didn't really get a position in the competition. It was a three lift open competition, no masters categories, and I finished second of the two bench only lifters. But I was there to qualify and dip my toe back in a pool that I thought I'd never be in again, so mission accomplished. Met so many lovely people during my journey, at the hotel and at the competition that it restored my faith in human nature. I'll have to start getting out more, and do all this stuff again. Loved every minute of it. Special thanks to my training partner David, who motivates me in ways he probably doesn't even understand. Now to keep on improving, and post some M4 records next year. | ||
| Martin1956 | | ... | 25-02-2025 @ 16:02 |
Old Age Presser Member 75, 8040 posts SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq | Tuesday Bench I wouldn't have trained, but my training partner was, so a quick run through the gears. Bar for 10 x 3 sets 40 for 6 50 for 5 60 for 4 70 for 3 80 for 2 90 for 1 100 for 1 112.5 for 1 125 for 1 137.5 - fail, not even close Finish Just wanted to see if 137.5 might be there, but it wasn't even in the same village. Hardly got it moving. Back to the training cycle on Friday, fully recovered I hope. | ||
| Billwest | | ... | 25-02-2025 @ 17:14 |
Member 541, 5277 posts SQ 192.5, BP 120, DL 222.5535.0 kgs @ 92.8kgs UnEq | Well done on the comp Martin. You lifted in comp what you lifted in training, that in itself is an achievement. Now you can press on (no pun intended) to bigger and better things | ||
| b15ape1 | | ... | 25-02-2025 @ 17:24 |
British bum sex champ Member 450, 1953 posts SQ 315, BP 212.5, DL 290817.5 kgs @ 137kgs Eq | Excellent news Fletty, didn't doubt you for a minute, onwards and upwards  | ||
| Martin1956 | | ... | 25-02-2025 @ 20:32 |
Old Age Presser Member 75, 8040 posts SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq | Billwest said:Well done on the comp Martin. You lifted in comp what you lifted in training, that in itself is an achievement. Now you can press on (no pun intended) to bigger and better things Thanks Bill. Yes, people often don't get that having to travel, stay in hotels, weigh in, lift when you're told to rather than when you want to, in front of three referees, is not conducive to maximising performance. Walking ten yards to the gym is much easier. But I did it, much to my delight. | ||
| Martin1956 | | ... | 25-02-2025 @ 20:34 |
Old Age Presser Member 75, 8040 posts SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq | b15ape1 said:Excellent news Fletty, didn't doubt you for a minute, onwards and upwards Thanks mate. I did! But came through it. | ||
| Martin1956 | | ... | 28-02-2025 @ 17:34 |
Old Age Presser Member 75, 8040 posts SQ 0, BP 200, DL 200400.0 kgs @ 105kgs Eq | Friday Bench Post comp blues, so what better than a volume session, so pyramid it is? Bar for 10 x 3 sets 40 for 6 50 for 5 60 for 4 70 for 3 80 for 2 90 for 1 100 for 1 110 for 1 120 for 1 80 for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Wiped out after than. Going to 11 rather than 10 means 21 extra reps. going to 12 next time means 23 more reps on top of today's, that's going to finish me off, I reckon. All the down sets were pretty much to my limit on the last rep. Basking in the glow of achievement, until the cramp kicks in... Two and a half hours, including generous rests between down sets. | ||
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