Sometimes We Fail

     No gym today or for the rest of the week because it's closed for yearly maintenance. I still haven't tried that body weight stuff I found but maybe this will be the week that I get 'round to it. Here's what got done last night on the bench:

••••••••••

INCLINE BENCH:

65lb x10

85lb x8

(90lb x4) 4x

DECLINE BENCH:

95lb x10

(115lb x4) 4x

FLAT BENCH:

75lb x12

95lb x8

135lb FAIL, 115lb x1, 95lb x4

95lb x8

DB FLY:

(20lb x8) 3x

DB STANDING TRI EXT.:

(10lb x10) 3x

DB NARROW BENCH PRESS:

25lb x8

(25lb x10) 2x

DB PULLOVER:

35lb x10

40lb x8

••••••••••

     OK, let's talk about that failure at 135lb. The last time I tried for 135lb I got it. This time, I knew as soon as I unracked the bar it wasn't going to happen. I made it halfway back up and just stalled out. I'm disappointed but not hugely surprised. Trying for a max lift after all of that incline and decline is kind of a dumb idea, but I'm never really short on dumb ideas. I know that I'm getting stronger, and going by just the numbers I can figure out what my max lifts probably are, but there is something hugely satisfying about actually doing it. I mean, that's why we're in the gym - to lift heavy things. I told Frank that next Tuesday, we're working up to our maxes, but doing it the right way. We're starting with the flat bench that way we're fresh and ready to go. Appropriate sets, reps and rests. I know with all of those steps in place, that 135lb has to move. It has to.

     The bench failure brought disappointment, but not shame. If there is one thing that being in the gym teaches you, it's that there is no shame in trying. We are all there (with maybe a few small exceptions) trying to better ourselves in some way. Pushing ourselves to our max and beyond is the goal and failure is naturally going to be part of that. Unless you're doing something insanely stupid, never hang your head after a failed lift. Be proud that you had the balls to go for it, take some weight off and finish your set. Some of the times we fail, but not all of the times. If you keep plugging steadily along, taking small steps, you'll look back one day and see just how far you've truly gone.