Lifters' Corner: Setting Down the Deadlift

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When you take your stance for the deadlift, you do so in a position that places the bar directly over the middle of your foot, i.e., with your shins about an inch from the bar. This is all well and good for that first rep, but you also want to pull every subsequent rep from that same midfoot position. It is not uncommon to see lifters set the bar down well in front of the midfoot (and yes, sometimes even behind the midfoot), and they then have to spend extra time and effort at the bottom of the deadlift getting the bar back to the proper position for the next pull.

Let’s fix this.

When you lower the deadlift, you do so by bending primarily at the hips first - reaching back with your hips and sliding the bar down your thighs by bending at your waist - and bending at the knees second. If you do this, you stand a very good chance of setting the bar down right where you picked it up in the first place - over your midfoot. However, if you find that you still struggle to put the bar down in the right spot, try this: look right at the middle of your foot as you set the bar down.

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If you look at the middle of your foot, tell yourself to set the bar down RIGHT THERE, and keep looking at the middle of your foot as you lower the bar, I bet you’ll find that your body takes care of the rest, and magically, that bar will be in the right spot for your next pull. If you find yourself constantly setting the bar down in the wrong spot, give this a try for a few sessions and see if it doesn’t fix the problem.

Week 2019.06.17

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This Week’s Conditioning

Option 1
“Prowler Base”
1. Load up a manageable weight.
2. Sprint 40m at 85% intensity.
3. Rest until breathing and heart rate slow down. (45 sec – 2 min)
4. Repeat 5-15 times.

Courtesy of “Death by Prowler” by Matt Reynolds and Stef Bradford (on Starting Strength).

Compare to 2019.05.06.

Option 2
Bike/Row for 9 rounds:
1 min on
1 min off

Record distance for each round.

Compare to 2019.04.22.

Option 3
10 rounds:
25 yd yoke carry
Rest 1 minute

Compare to 2019.04.08.

Option 4
1. 5 yoke carries @ 30 yd (15 yd downback) – work up to heaviest carry
2. 5 rounds of 5 reps on the axle “clean and press away” – work up to heavy set of 5

Compare to 2019.03.18.

Lifters' Corner: Hot Tips for Warm Weather Training

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Summer has arrived, and it is certainly getting warm in the gym. With this in mind, here are a couple of tips for training when it’s hot:

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  • Bring a towel. Not a washcloth. A towel. You’ll appreciate it.

  • Cotton t-shirts are always a lifter’s best friend, but in the summer, some of you may want to bring more than one. One shirt to squat, and then one for the rest of the training session. Some of you may need three shirts!

  • Tank tops are excellent when you want to show off your sculpted gunzz, but they are terrible for squatting, benching, and cleaning (the olympic version - you can vacuum and dust in a tank to your heart’s delight). Tank tops leave your shoulders bare, and you want fabric in contact with the bar or the bench, not sweaty, oily human skin. Gross. Just gross.

  • If you don’t typically train with a water bottle, now is a good time to start. Gatorade or a similar sports drink works well also.

  • Headbands are not only stylish - they keep sweat out of your eyes.

Also, as a bit of a housekeeping follow-up to the tips above, please remember to do the following:

  • Spray and wipe down your bench when you’re finished benching.

  • Grab a nylon brush (we have 4 of them at the gym) and brush down your bar before you take it back to the storage area.

Some people like training when it’s hot while some would choose a chilly day every time, but whether you love it or hate it, you can still train productively when it gets hot. A little preparation goes a long way, and you’ll find that you can adapt to the warmer weather just fine. After all, you’re an athlete.

Week 2019.06.10

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Friday night at the gym!

A post shared by Testify Strength & Cond. (@testifystrengthconditioning) on

This Week’s Conditioning

Option 1
“Prowler Sprint Test”
1. Load up a heavier weight.
2. Time a 15 yards sprint at 100% intensity.
3. Rest 30 seconds.
4. Repeat sprint until times slows down 10%.
5. Goal is to increase # of sprints under the time standard.

Courtesy of Chad Smith (“Prowler Sprint Test”) as well as “Death by Prowler” by Matt Reynolds and Stef Bradford (on Starting Strength).

Compare to 2019.04.29.

Option 2
Bike/row:
3 rounds of:
8 x 20 sec on/40 sec off
Rest 3 min between rounds
Score = lowest distance

Compare to 2019.04.15.

Option 3
5-10 rounds:
10 sledgehammer strikes (5R, 5L)
50 yd farmer carry (25 yd down-back)
Rest 1 minute

Compare to 2019.04.01.

Option 4
10 x 50 ft farmer carry
Each carry is 25 ft down and 25 ft back and is for time. Rest 1 minute between carries.

Women: 97# per handle (80# of plates)
Men: 137# per handle (120# of plates)
(Note: Each handle weighs 17#.)

Compare to 2019.03.11.

Week 2019.06.03

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Week 2019.05.27

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Announcement: In observance of Memorial Day (Monday, 05/27/19), we will be open for training during our usual morning hours that day (i.e., 5 a.m. – 10 a.m.), but we will be closed for the afternoon/evening hours.

Compare to 2019.04.15.

Compare to 2019.04.01.

Compare to 2019.03.18.

Compare to 2019.02.25.