The Further Adventures of Proto-Mechanic

The Place: Valdosta
The Job: Something or another with the starter on the 1989 Olds Cutlass Cierra Assumed Time: Who the hell ever knows?

 So, Logan calls me Monday night to tell me his car won't start. Lights come on, but it will not turn over. Sounds like the starter, but Mother-in-Law had a similar issue and it turned out to be the battery. I tell him to have someone jump him off and get it to the Zone... Dunta-dunta-duh-duh-Duh... Autozone! to get the battery tested. If it is bad then they will install the new one for free and Proto-Mechanic will not have to make the run to Valdosta on Tuesday.

No such luck.

Still won't start. I have him make The Call. Master-of-Sport-Mechanic and All-'Round-Great Guy, My-Personal-Mechanicing-Lifeline Terry figures it might be the solenoid since sparks are flying off of that particular part. Rather than spend 100+ bucks to get the car towed and fixed, I prepare to don the Proto-Mechanic guise once again.

Tuesday:
I load the FrankenFocus with everything I think I might need. This includes everything except my axe. This concerns me because as soon as I invariably have to make The Call, I imagine that Master-of-Sport-Mechanic and All-'Round-Great-Guy, My-Personal-Mechanicing-Lifeline Terry will tell me, "What you need is an axe." I climb inder the car and have Logan turn the key, the starter jumps all over the place and there are, indeed, sparks coming from somewhere. Proto-Mechanic senses tell me that something is amiss. We jack the car up, undo the battery and I wedge my way in. Seems the starter is hanging by only one of the three bolts used to keep it in.

Once again, I foolishly think to myself, "This is gonna be easy!"

I am careful to note the placement of the wires and the dust shroud as I remove the one bolt and expertly remove the starter. Though I imagined (with MOSMaARGG,MPML Terry's input) that the starter was simply bound up, I figured it was best to have it tested. Off to the Zone... Dunta-dunta-dun-dun-Duh... Autozone!

A word about the workings of a motor. You turn the key, it pulls juice from the battery, sends that juice to the solenoid which revs up the starter whose teeth wind up the fly wheeel which... does other stuff. With the starter so loose, I figured the teeth were not lined up with the flywheel. As Berry would say, "That makes a whole headful of sense. " That it was wrong is irrelevent, the hypothesis was sound.

Starter was good and I got away with dropping just five bucks on this here repair. Needed new mounting bolts. Back to the car, whip the starter on, notice I forgot the shroud, whip the starter loose, insert shroud, tighten starter down, attach wires making VERY SURE the battery cable flange is SEATED FIRMLY in the grounding nook, turn the key and ...

Son of a bitch. But no exclamation point because to this point I had fulfilled both my goals: 1) not to buy a tool and 2) not to lose my freaking mind. This required a cal to Master-of-Sport-Mechanic and All-'Round-Great-Guy, My-Personal-Mechanicing-Lifeline Terry. We climbed under (I in grease, Terry in phone) and took a gander. Since we still had an indeterminate spark, Terry figured something had to be loose. I found what was loose. The cap on the solenoid. Who knew?

 Master-of-Sport-Mechanic and All-'Round-Great-Guy, My-Personal-Mechanicing-Lifeline Terry, that's who. Three screws, reattach the battery and...

Sweet starter music.

Thanks to the leaky sieve that is Logan's engine I was covered head to elbow in oil/grease/dust juice/nasty. The House of Culture (wherein hang out the actors) had no dish soap so I was still pretty filthy when we headed to Subway (Eat Fresh you fat bastards!) to dine with Nate and Logan before heading back to the big town.

I would be remiss in not noting that Tuna the Cat assisted us by taking over the pad I was laying on. It belonged to him, of that he was sure.

Got to meet Logan's girlfriend Margaret. She seems nice, but a little quieter than I imagined.

So:

Total Time with Travel: six and a half hours

Meet Recap

We did Greenwood Athletic Club's "PR Frenzy" this last Saturday the 26th. It was a very loose, training meet, but I think it was good for the kids and fellas.

Matt Barrack put on an easy-going meet and the comraderie was very good.

Some competitors hit: J
ohn (220): 295-155-385
Jim (220/242): 405-315-455
Cody (275): 525-400-505

We lifted as Team Anytime Fitness thanks to the sponsorship by Jeffery Parr out of our home gym.

 So, here it goes.

Christan: looked nervous going in.
Squats: looked awkward
205 opener was solid. In the meet! Video: here.
225 second attempt was a grind.
235 third attempt was SOOOO close

Bench: Warmups looked great
125 opener was easy.
135 second was tough: Video shows
140 third was a no go.

She was pretty upset about everything at this point, so I just left her alone and told her she had to keep at it.

Deadlift: Training had been rough, so I was worried.
Warmups looked great.
Opener: I called for 280, but they loaded to 285. I let it stand WTF? Right? She killed it.
Second: I called a 305 PR. She double clutched. It would have been a red-light in a real meet, but she did it so easily. this was a learning experience.
Third: 320. Three wheels and a two-pence! Here is what happened

Total: 680! Only twenty pounds off of goal. The main thing for this meet was to get her confidence up and I think it was a bog deal for her to shake off her rough squat and bench and pull HUGE. I am so proud of her.

 Goals for July: 275/170/365/800

Gage
Squat: 250 opener, paused it at the bottom... easy. Video!
280 second. A PR. He hit 275 in the gym and had to take it twice to get it. Video here!
missed 300 on a third

Bench
205 opener was easy
225 second was easy: Video
240 third was his goal. His butt came up, but by the rules of this meet, it was a good lift. Here is video.

Deadlift: Training had been wierd for this, but he opted to go conventional.
315 opener: cake walk
345 second was solid. That was the most he had pulled in the gym.
365 third: PR! Video.

Total: 885

July Goal: 315-240 w/pause-425-950

Pete
 Squat: Warmups went pretty good. I could not get the bar low enough on my shoulders to suit me.
First: 585... easy, but a bit of a tip forward. Biggest squat of the meet.
Second: 615: A real grind. Tipped way forward, twinged my back, but a good lift. New BSoM!
Passed on third: up 32 lbs from last meet

Bench: shoulder felt good during warmups 345 opener: easy
370 second: just great. Video Shows!
385 third... just missed it. I mean JUST missed it. Up 7 lbs from last meet.

Deadlift: They lifted out of a rack and the bar would not roll, plus my back was fried.
 565 opener. On the video, Christan says, "Easy." No, it were not.
Took two token shots at 605 but it just wasn't meant to be.

Total: 1550... up eight lbs from last meet.

Goal for July: if raw: 650-390-645-1600+
Goal for July if geared: 800-455-645-1800+

Training Log: Squats

Team Squats

Berry
45 x 10
95 x 8
135 x 5
185 x 1
205 x 3
235 x 3
265 x 2... first was a little high, second was deep enough but a good morning. bailed on a third.
265 x 3... first two were good, third was high and ugly, but I wanted him to push through and finish the set.

Chris
45 x 10
95 x 5
135 x 3
175 x 3... good even though one of the spotters simply walked away to go to the bathroom before she got under the bar.
195 x 3... a hard but solid lift
215 x 1... clanged the rack, messed with her head
215 x 1... some things were in her head.

Chris: 2 board close
warmup
45 x 10
65 x 5
85 x 3
2board
115 x 3p easy
135 x 3p hard
145 x 1p

Chris: Speed Pulls
195 x 3 x 6 sets... really started nailing her form

Mike
135 x 10
225 x 5
315 x 3
405 x 1
455 x 3... scared the shit out of me on the third one.
495 x 1... a tough but clean lift
475 x 1... actually tougher. A good lift though.

Pete: Work has been a monster this week. Been on my feet all week. Got off work five minutes before I had to leave for the gym. I was, however, determined to be there for the team. I just take that shit serious.
Bw x 12
45 x 10
135 x 8
225 x 5... really focusined on getting shoulder back
315 x 3
405 x 2
455 x 1
495 x 3... so heavy
545 x 1... back was bugging me, uncomfortable with spotter situation, but wanted to get at least one.
585 x 1... ditto. it was plenty deep enough, but my back was fried.

Light Shrugs
135 x 6
225 x 6
315 x 6
405 x 6

Pull thrus
120 x 12
140 x 12
160 x 12

I withheld from doing speed pulls because of my back.
The dynamic felt wrong tonight. It always does when the timing is thrown off or when everyone is not there.

I was happy with Chris's squat. The issues were not with strength, they were mental and understandable. It can all be fixed.

Holding the numbers from Berry is the right tactic right now.

Considering Mike had not squatted heavy since before Chicago, he did pretty well.

I am depressed, myself. The back is becoming too much of an issue. will have to deload next week.

Sunday breather.

Much as I love working with the team, it is nice to just go and lift without having to think about abyone's numbers, psyche someone up, make somebody cry, that sort of thing. Helps me get ready for Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

Chris did a bunch of shaping exercises mixing some of my stuff for light weight/high reps with some weird magazine shit. Then she did cardio and calves.

Pete
Warmup Shoulder: never really wanted to comply.

Speed Bench
45 x 15
95 x 10... Reaaly trying to establish arch and tight upper back.
135 x 8... without my butt coming off the bench.
185 x 3
225 x 3 x 10 sets with various grips and state of pauses. Really felt fast by set eight.

Westside Extensions
45 x 6
50 x 6
55 x 6
60 x 6
65 x 6
70 x 6 PR

Weighted Pullups: using a Progressive Overload/5-3-1 Hybrid on these as if they were a main lift
BW x 10
+ 15 x 5
+30 x 3
+45 x 2
+25 x 3
+10 x 5
BW x 7

P-rows
225 x 6
255 x 6
275 x 6
295 x 6... PR but last 2 was a bit cheatugly.

Palm's In Incline DB Press: to hit triceps and shoulders. I really have to angle my left arm out in order to do them
70 x 6
80 x 6
90 x 6
100 x 6

Christan Stability Ball Situps with DB behind head
35 x 12
40 x 12
45 x 12

Cable Rows: Classic Style
160 x 10
180 x 10
200 x 10... easy.

DB Side Bends with Side Crunch
75 x 12 x ea
85 x 12 x ea
95 x 12 x ea

Reverse Grip Pulldown
170 x 8
190 x 8
210 x 8

Not too bad. Need to start putting a cardio day in on Wednesdays. Once that is established, maybe a Saturday one. Walking around about 249 ain't what I wanted.

Training Log: First Annual PSI Christmas Eve Squat Party

I had been looking forward to this for a week and it did not disappoint. I had a blast. The action moved pretty fast considering we had six sqautters and four finishing the rest of the workout.

Team Squats

Christan
Box Squats of the 12" inch cooler
45 x 10
95 x 5
115 x 3
135 x 3
155 x 3
175 x 3 PR

Member-at-Large Berry
worked up to 225

Temporary Member Andrew
45 x 8
135 x 8
225 x 4
295 x 4
315 x 4
325 x 4
325 x 4
315 x 4

Danny
45 x 10
135 x 8
225 x 5
295 x 6
315 x 4
345 x 4... ugly form
345 x 4... ugly form
345 x 4... good form, good lifts

Mike
45 x 8
135 x 8
225 x 5
315 x 3
385 x 6
405 x 4
425 x 3
435 x 3... all of his first reps were strong, but he was fading on third reps, but looked strong on 1 and 2

Pete
BW x 12
BW x 12
45 x 10
135 x 8
225 x 5
315 x 3
405 x 1
455 x 6 ... with 3 ct pause...solid
495 x 4... with 3 ct pause... tore it up
525 x 4... with 3 ct pause... never a question, but little slow out of the hole.
Put wraps on
585 x 4... I mean, they were heavy, but I killed them.

Christan
Incline Press
45 x 10
65 x 6
85 x 6
95 x 6
105 x 6... showed me, I figured she would get 4

Speed Pulls
145 x 3 x 2
155 x 3 x 2
165 x 3 x 2

then all her other stuff

Gage
Romanian Split Squats
20 x 10 x ea x 4 sets

DB Push Press
4 sets of 5

Pendlay Rows
95 x 5
135 x 5
135 x 5
145 x 5

Team Speed Pulls
225 x 3

Danny and Andrew
295 x 3 x 6

Mike and Pete
295 x 2
365 x 3 x 6

Team RDL
weight: Pete/ Danny, Andrew, Mike
275 x 6/4
295 x 6/4
315 x 8/4... I used the snatch grip

Team shrugs
Andrew
225 x 10
315 x 10
315 x 10

Mike
225 x 8
315 x 8
315 x 8

Danny
315 x 10
365 x 10
405 x 10

Pete
385 x 10
425 x 10
455 x 10...PR

Just a swell time. I felt I was alone in this assessment, though. Regardless, I had a blast. Proud of everyone for showing up. thanks to Logan for his help. My squats felt great. the 585 for 4 with wraps was done with great depth and great form.

Christan hit a PR.
Danny worked out his form issues. Gotta get his head right.
Berry made several jokes.
Mike looked strong on first reps. He will be happy: We have one more week of this crazy shit, a deload, two weeks of lighter stuff, then 4 weeks of only three sets of low reps, a deload and three weeks of 2 sets with really low reps.

Anyway, I had a blast. Nice to have Pokey as a back spotter.

Meet Write Up

Meet was supposed to start at 9:30. The rules briefing ended at twenty five til ten. Turns out even with my opener I was in the second flight, third from the last. Warmups started at ten, but first flight was taking forever so we started warming up and then slowed down. Warmups felt pretty good.

bw x 12
45 x 10
135 x 8
225 x 5
315 x 3
365 x 2
waited
365 x 1
455 x 1
525 x 1

Got out as the the third flight was finishing and then there was a long lag between flights. Then the first nine lifters took forever. for all the talk about calling depth harshly, the judges proved to be a little more lenient than advertised. Couple of gifts with openers. My openr was 578. i went a little coservative to make sure that i hit depth. The first thing I noticed was the thickness of the bar. But it was an easy walkout, buried and absolutley EXPLODED it up. I was in the meet and the opener was easy.

Went with 628 for my second. Good focus, walk up to the bar and as I duck under the head judge says, "well, it's too late now." this really screwed me up. I figured out what he was talking about: the bar was shifted left and I had to roll it. i think he was telling the loaders to shift it for me, but I was under the bar before they could do it. But my focus was shot and I got pinned. Good catch by the spotters. Not blaming anyone, just giving the reason

Now the third. Retook 628. A weight I was confident in. Walkout was perfect, descent was great, popped up, hit the sticking point and then the bar shifted left. I got thrown and the lift was taken by the spotters. My only thought was that the spotter on my right touched the bar, grabbed it early because of the trouble with the second attempt. The video seems to confirm this, but the image is grainy. regardless, one for three and my total is shot. I was devestated.

My squat was the biggest raw squat by 77 pounds. There were only three squats bigger. two 606 and Joe Norman's huge 942. 942 in single ply suit over single ply briefs. Buddy gave Joe extra time as well. When a record is at stake, an equipment check and following the letter of the rules would add legitmacy.

They went ahead and did the raw bench meet next. another interesting fact: lifters could lift in street clothes, wear their headphones, use padded neoprene belts and the uneven lockout rule was not set in stone. A couple of awesome raw benches though. a 400 plus at 198 and a battle at 220 with one guy hitting 465ish and the other destroying 470ish like it was a toy.

First flight benches took forever. My warmups felt terrible.

45 x 10
95 x 5
135 x 3
185 x 2
225 x 2
275 x 1
315 x 1... this had me wondering if I should lower my first attempt.

I wound up being fourth from last in flight B, a couple of guys opened up raw before going to their shirts. I still wound up with a respectabel bench in comparison. Opened with 347. It was a little harder than I wanted and my shoulder was killing me. Second attempt, Iwent conservative with 363.7 Easier than first. Still conservative at 374.5 on third. I simply ran out of gas at the top. God this meet was sucking it up.

Meet was rolling along at this point. Time to deadlift. My training sucked, but I had a good feeling goin into the meet. Warmup felt awesome. I followed the herd and warmed up fast. Had to watch the third attempts of flight A. Got to see a 71 and 72 year old man lift. Just awesome.

225 x 3
315 x 2
405 x 2
495 x 1... I was only going to warmup to 475 but it was a pain in the ass to unload, so i went with it.

Opened with 529. Oddly enough, I smoked it. Lemme tell you something. The Oki deadlift bar is something else. A lot of bend, feels like you are grabbing a bar made of gravel and it slices the knees like a cheese grater. Was an easy lift, so I took a pretty good jump to a personal best, meet best sumo 563. In a strange twist, this was the prettiest deadlift of my 20 year lifting career. As I am coming off the platform, Christan looked at me wide-eyed and said, "who ARE you?" she knows my problems with pulling.

Gathered my brain trust: Mike and Logan. My best pull ever is 600 @ 270 in a meet, conventional. My idea in this meet was to eke out 550-565 and take a weak shot at 584. Mike had been saying all day I was going to go for six. i told him all day to shut up. Logan opted to go somewhere between 574 and 595. Heck with it, I went for broke. 600.

Pulled it solidly. Never a doubt in my mind. Could not belive it. with all my issues with pulling sumo, I tied an all time pull in my first meet going sumo. I have the action down now. Just have to replicate it.

So, a disappointing 1542 total. Thanks to Christan for being there and giving me impetus in my deadlifts. Logan for doing everything. Mike, Danny and Bev for showing up.

Good to meet some nice folks: Tom, Mitch, Justin, Tim and Ronnie.

Time to train for March. Redeem that squat.

Link to meet vids:

http://www.youtube.com/user/snootchon4

Weigh In

Woke up today at 240. Cleaned house, had a LIGHT brunch and took a nap: 238.8. Drank a 12 oz slim fast shake and went potty: 238.8. Chris got home and we headed to Adel.

Official Weigh-In: 237.5

Went to Roadhouse where I ate:

6 rolls
a handfull of peanuts
4 diet Cokes
a salad
16 oz Cowboy cut Sirloin
Steak fries
half a "Big Ol' Brownie"

Start up at 8:30 tomorrow morning.

Openers in Kilos:
262.5 ... 578.5
157.5 ... 347
240 ... 529