Topic: Masters: Coach's Challenge

[Dane Hussey]

In my limited experience in the Master's program, it seems like most of us are trying to find a routine that will allow for an old body to still be able to make improvements in the Olympic lifts. It is very difficult as what worked in the past no longer does. There are also the load/intensity/percentage/reps/recovery issues. So, my question, is there a coach who is a member of this forum who would be interested in using any of us Masters to try out a training routine?

[John Mosca]

Looks like we're considered the "poor relations".

[Dane Hussey]

When I posted the topic, I really didn't expect much of a response. I believe that much can be learned from those involved in the Master's program. Yes, I would be willing to be a subject, and I agree with you Mike, that it would be difficult and specialized for an individual. It would be quite a challenge for a coach. But just suppose, that a properly trained Master could break a world record. I believe that it could happen, by building small successes on top of each other. Kind of like Bill Murray taking "Baby Steps" in the movie "What About Bob". I try to approach each workout kind of like my job - Who is going to win today, Microsoft or me. Well, I don't let Microsoft win very often, and I try not to let gravity win very often either. At our age, training has a lot to do with ones attitude. Enough of my incoherent ramblings (that also comes with age)

[Chris Dariotis]

Let me tell you what I did in training the last 2 weeks and see what advice you guys would give me on how to lift better. I'm a 56 year old 94 kg lifter who has been doing Master's lifting for 5 years.

April 30
Back squat 60,60,90,110,130, 160x2
C&J 50,50,70x2; 90,100,110,1210,130,140x1, 145 miss 3 cleans
Snatch from hang w straps 50,50,60,70x2; 80,90x1, 100x0, 100x1

May 2
Power clean from box 50,50,60,70,80,90,100,100,100x2
Clean pull from box 100,130,140,150,150 x 3
Good morning 50,50,70,70,70x5

May 3
Overhead sguat 50,50,50,60,70,80,85x3
Snatch 50,50.60,70,80x2, 90x1
Back sguat 50,50,90,110,120,130 x2

May 5
Bench press 50,50x10 ,70x8, 90x5,110x5,120x3,130x3
Squat 50,50x5,90,130,140x3,150,160x2,170x1

May 7
Snatch 40,40,50,60,70x2, 80,90,90x1,90x0,90x1,95x0,95x1, 100,90,90,90x0
Clean and jerk 50x2,70,90,110,120x1
Bad knee pain

May 9
Overhead squat 50,50,50,60,70,75,80,80 x3
Power clean 50,60,70,8090x2, 100,110,110,110x1
Good morning 50,60,70x10, 80x8,90x5

May 10
Back squat
50,60,70,90,100,110x3,120,130,140,150,160,170 x2
Snatch w/strap 50,50,50,70,70,70,70 x2

May 11
RDL 50,50x10, 80,80x6
Snatch 50,50,50,60,70x2, 80,85x1,90x0, 90,90x1
Hang clean (from ankles) 50,80,100,110,120,130x2

May 12
Bench Press 50,50x10, 70,90,110,120,130x5
Bent over row 50,50,60,70,80x10
Clean shrug from box 50,90,130,150,170,180x3

May 14
C&J 50,70,90x2, 105,115,125,135,145x1
Snatch pull 60,100,90,95,100,105,105 x 3
Press 70,70,90,100x3

May 16
Power clean from box 50,50,70,90,90,100,100,100x2
Overhead Squat 50,50,60,70,80,90x3
Front squat 90,100,110,120,130x2
Good morning 50,60x10,70x8,80,90x5

May 17
Squat 50x5, 90,100,110,120,130,140x3, 150,160,170,180x2
Snatch 50,50x2,70,80,80x1,85x0,85,90x1,90,90x0

Patellar tendonitis holds back my leg strength. My weaknesses are missing snatches out front, turning my wrists over fast enough in the clean, and getting a good jerk drive so I don't pressout. My big contest is the end of July.

Any suggestions?

[Dane Hussey]

My weaknesses are missing snatches out front, turning my wrists over fast enough in the clean, and getting a good jerk drive so I don't pressout. My big contest is the end of July.  
 
Any suggestions?

 
 
Chris,  
 
We can do our best trying to give you suggestions. Don't know if any will work, as we are trying to figure out what works best for us old guys. I'll give it a shot anyway.
 
When I miss snatches in front, it is always due to cutting the pull (I am not jumping back). To correct it I did light power snatches and snatches from the hang (2 reps). If you are jumping back, I am not sure how to correct that problem.  
 
Turning the wrists over in the clean could also be cutting the pull. Try deadlifting a light weight, then pull with your arms only and a slight dip of the knees. You will have to flip your wrists fast in order to clean the weight. Hang cleans will also help.  
 
For the jerk drive, I do push presses and power jerks (bend the knees). I also take a weight off the squat rack and try to drive it to forehead level.

[John Donahue]

I believe that Dane Hussey is correct when he states that "training has a lot to do with ones attitude".  I made a come back after a 14 year layoff, and i can honestly say that my 1st year back was a complete failure.  Everyday i rationalized why i couldnt do something due to my age. It wasnt until i started to think in terms of " i must succeed today, because there may not be a tomorrow for me". It was this do or die type attitude that started me on the road  to real progress.  I refuse to train any different than a 20 year old, and i expect progress to continue. I set my goals very high( in 2004 i was the oldest male contestant at the American Open) and i "raise the bar" every new cycle of training. From all the conversations i've had with masters athletes over the last few years, it looks like this approach doesnt work for most, but i am currently lifting more weight than i ever have in my life at age 43.

[John Mosca]

Has anyone here taken 2-4 weeks off just to recoup and rest? What happens when you go back? Do you get stronger or go back to where you were? Dane?

[Dane Hussey]

I refuse to train any different than a 20 year old, and i expect progress to continue. I set my goals very high( in 2004 i was the oldest male contestant at the American Open) and i "raise the bar" every new cycle of training. From all the conversations i've had with masters athletes over the last few years, it looks like this approach doesnt work for most, but i am currently lifting more weight than i ever have in my life at age 43.

John,

I like your attitude. You also have your age or lack of it on your side.