Wed and Thursday were off days; last night I went to the gym but felt exhausted from the outset and could not get rolling. After a half hour of easy cardio and stretching, I called it a day.

This morning was rack pull and I went in determined to get three plates after setting the stage with the foundation work over the past few weeks. Warmed up with bike and rowing, then grabbed the rack. 5x185, 5x225, 3x255, 2x275 to get to the starting point for the ascent. Then, 1x185, 1x195, 1x305, matching my previous PR. 305 went up without difficulty, confirming in my mind the benefit of the recent 5 set work. 310 went up smoothly, new PR. Put on the third 45 plate for 315 and got it. No pain, no strain. To put a stamp on it I did it a second time. Finished with two sets of 5 with 225 focused on speed and explosion, while visualizing 12 feet wob.

For me, three plates is a milestone I've been aiming at for a long time. To finally get it is both satisfying and a relief. I was very encouraged that I didn't experience any sense of over reaching or straining; the lift was within myself, I was prepared for it, and I know I could have gone higher. However, the point to all of this is to throw better, not to risk injury on vanity lifting numbers.

Because pulls lead squats, I have no doubt that I'm on the verge of a 300 squat. If I have time for a session on Tuesday I'll go for it, but more likely it will be the day after Christmas. Happy Holidays, indeed.