Tweet
Yesterday evening I was doing bench press. I had just warmed up with 20 reps at 225. A huge black dude, who I have seen frequently, came up and struck up a conversation. He said he noticed I was throwing 225 around like it was nothing, and asked what my max was. So I told him my best lift ever was like 578 counting collars and all but that had been a few years ago. So he asked what about now. I told him I dont max out any more but if I did maybe 505 on a really good day. So he asks me how many times I can push 315. I told him I have no idea. So he challenged me to do it and find out. He would spot me. I told him okay, but I dont like people hovering over me or touching the bar.
So we loaded a couple of plates on. He says, whatever you do I'll double. So hell yeah, it's on! I pull the weight out of the rack and start pushing. Now theres a crowd around. Everyone is watching. I get 10 reps, pause, do five more, pause, now they are coming strained but I'm still not bouncing. My shoulders are feeling like they are about to RIP out of socket. But I push, one, two, three four more. I want an even 20, but it's been so long I'm afraid I'm going to damage my shoulders. So I rack it at 19. Probably with one or two more in the tank, but I'm hurting.
This dude, Ben I found out, crawls up under the weight. 10 reps easy, 20 reps easy, 30 reps easy, but now he's straining. Five more clean reps. 30 freaking 5 reps of 315. I've never seen anything like it before. This dude is massive, chiseled, and just an overall decent dude. He technically lost the challenge. But when he got up I did the bowing gesture with my lactose filled arms telling him I'm not worthy. Then he asked my age. I told him 62. Had to show my drivers license to prove it. He was 28 it turned out. When he saw my license he did the bowling thing to me and said he hoped to still be doing it like I am when he is my age. Minus the hernia belly.
It was a blast. But I'm sore all over this morning. I doubled my tbol dose this morning and brought lots of protein to snack on today.
So we loaded a couple of plates on. He says, whatever you do I'll double. So hell yeah, it's on! I pull the weight out of the rack and start pushing. Now theres a crowd around. Everyone is watching. I get 10 reps, pause, do five more, pause, now they are coming strained but I'm still not bouncing. My shoulders are feeling like they are about to RIP out of socket. But I push, one, two, three four more. I want an even 20, but it's been so long I'm afraid I'm going to damage my shoulders. So I rack it at 19. Probably with one or two more in the tank, but I'm hurting.
This dude, Ben I found out, crawls up under the weight. 10 reps easy, 20 reps easy, 30 reps easy, but now he's straining. Five more clean reps. 30 freaking 5 reps of 315. I've never seen anything like it before. This dude is massive, chiseled, and just an overall decent dude. He technically lost the challenge. But when he got up I did the bowing gesture with my lactose filled arms telling him I'm not worthy. Then he asked my age. I told him 62. Had to show my drivers license to prove it. He was 28 it turned out. When he saw my license he did the bowling thing to me and said he hoped to still be doing it like I am when he is my age. Minus the hernia belly.
It was a blast. But I'm sore all over this morning. I doubled my tbol dose this morning and brought lots of protein to snack on today.
Comment