The Arnold Classic 2015 trip started with an unexpected detour. A snowstorm in Philadelphia grounded our flight, leaving us stranded in the Halifax airport. Fortunately, we met IFBB pro Santana Anderson, who was in the same predicament. We decided to rent a car and embark on a 10-hour overnight drive to Columbus, finally arriving at 5:30 am on Friday. The irony? We later discovered our original flight eventually departed, making our long drive somewhat unnecessary. It turned out there were 60 available seats, a fact we weren’t informed of initially.
After arriving in Columbus and catching up on some sleep, I hit the gym. My training began with deadlifts, working up to 345 lbs for doubles, which is roughly 80% of my max (around 429 lbs). The lifts felt a bit slow off the ground, likely due to my wide stance. Overall, they felt good, and this was before the feeling of being overreached set in. I probably pushed myself a bit too hard during this training block leading up to the Arnold, fueled by the excitement of the event.
The gym I trained at, Beyond Limits in Columbus, was incredibly inspiring. The walls were covered in autographed photos of top natural bodybuilders, including Lane Norton, Brian Whittacker, and Doug Miller (who was added to the wall that very weekend). Training surrounded by these accomplished athletes was truly motivating.
My Friday workout continued with squats. I hadn’t brought my belt or squat shoes, so I used my Chucks and knee sleeves. I worked up to 405 lbs for a top set of two reps, focusing on good form. Even after the long drive, the gym’s atmosphere and the energy from the Arnold Classic kept me feeling energized and focused.
After squats, I moved on to bench press. Again, I typically use a belt and squat shoes for bench, but I made do with my Chucks. I started with 315 lbs for a few reps, then worked up to 335 lbs for a single, and 345 lbs for another solid single. Feeling good, I decided to attempt my old PR of 365 lbs. While I felt my hips rise slightly, it still felt like a good lift.
Emboldened by the successful 365 lbs bench, I pushed for a new all-time PR of 370 lbs. This lift moved well and felt strong, solidifying a new personal best. The energy and excitement of the Arnold Classic weekend definitely fueled this training session.
