July 23, 2026

355 Pounds and Plenty Left

I left the ARC stoked today, and not because I had to invent a reason to feel good about the session. The bar gave me one.

My deadlift work climbed steadily from 135 to 355 pounds. Each set moved the session forward without wasting energy, leading to a 355-pound single at RPE 8. RPE is a measure of how demanding a set feels, and an eight means the weight was undeniably heavy while still leaving room before an all-out effort.

That distinction matters.

My current deadlift personal record is 385 pounds, set during my first attempt at the 1,000-pound challenge. Today was not another personal-record attempt. There was no reason to turn a productive training day into an unscheduled test.

Instead, 355 moved like a weight I controlled—not a weight that controlled the session.

I could feel that there was more available. I also knew that the smart move was to leave it there, finish the planned work, and continue building toward the right moment to push beyond 385.

After the top single, I returned to 325 pounds for two triples at RPE 6 and 6.25. These were back-off sets: slightly lighter working sets performed after the heaviest pull to add quality volume without treating every workout like a competition.

Both triples stayed controlled. That may not produce the loudest clip in the montage, but it is exactly the kind of work that makes the heavier clip possible later.

The ISO lateral kneeling leg curls and reverse back extensions finished the posterior-chain work, strengthening the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back that support the deadlift. They are not the glamorous part of the session, but the hamstrings have a remarkable ability to demand attention when somebody forgets that deadlifting is a group project.

Tomorrow is a true rest day. Saturday brings competition practice.

This session gave me what I needed before both: a strong pull, disciplined back-off work, and a clear indication that 355 pounds is not where this deadlift ends.

The road beyond 385 is being built now.

Discipline. Power. Rise.

Workout Log

Exercise	Set	Weight / Settings	Reps / Time	RPE
Treadmill	A	BW	7 minutes
Supine 90/90 Breathing	A	BW	5 breaths	0
Glute Bridge	A	BW	8	1
BW Hip to Hinge Drill	A	BW	8	1
Deadlift	A	135 lb	5	2
Deadlift	B	185 lb	3	3
Deadlift	C	245 lb	2	4
Deadlift	D	275 lb	2	5
Deadlift	E	305 lb	1	6
Deadlift	F	335 lb	1	7
Deadlift	G	355 lb	1	8
Deadlift	H	325 lb	3	6
Deadlift	I	325 lb	3	6.25
ISO Lateral Kneeling Leg Curl	A	70 lb/side	10/side	5
ISO Lateral Kneeling Leg Curl	B	80 lb/side	10/side	6
Reverse Back Extension	A	BW	15	2
Reverse Back Extension	B	BW	15	3
Treadmill	A	BW	5 minutes