100 lbs in 120 days: possible or am I on crack?

[CNW 6000]

I'm interested in entering a bench press contest (competing raw) and it's 120 days away (October 10th). Currently I am at 310 as a 1RM. I had been just over 350 a couple years ago but stopped seriously training for bench. Is this too much for me to shoot for hitting 405 by the time of the meet?

 

[Marat]

If we said it wasn't, would that stop you from trying?

Go for it. If you don't reach your goal, increase the time table but do your best at the competition.

 

[Merkaba]

Crack

 

[Gazhole]

So long as you get stronger before the meet who cares on the amount. Get a good strength building program and see how far you can get. Program the next 120 days perfectly so you peak at the meet.

 

[gtbmed]

I agree with everyone else, there's no hurt in trying.

But don't progress the weights too fast just to try and meet your timetable. Sometimes progressing really fast can lead to lifting with poor form.

 

[CNW 6000]

Great points folks, thanks. I've always wanted to get 405, but it just didn't happen. Kinda hard to do multi-sports, I guess (triathlons & benching).

 

[gtbmed]

Uhh, ya think? They involve completely different energy systems. The physiological requirements are vastly different.

No worries though. I'm pretty much the same.

 

[T_man]

go for it. whether your hit it or not, it's your aim to gain more strength right?? and you'll be there by the time the next competition comes around

 

[Yanick]

You might or you might not. Strength does not progress linearly. You might be putting up 395 in half that time but the rest of the 60 days you might barely add the next 10lbs. Like everyone said, go after your goal and see what happens.

 

[T_man]

Smack

 

[CNW 6000]

You might or you might not. Strength does not progress linearly. You might be putting up 395 in half that time but the rest of the 60 days you might barely add the next 10lbs. Like everyone said, go after your goal and see what happens.

I will do that. We'll see what happens and I'm sure some of you guys will get proven right!

I'm thinking of doing two and a half weeks on, a half week off as periodicity for the remaining time (barring setbacks, etc). Does that sound like overtraining? I plan on benching two days per week with extra delt/tri on the 2nd day day. One other day of the week will be back/bicep and the 4th day will be legs.

 

[Yanick]

Its good that you have given yourself some back off time, it should be enough (although that is a pretty individual thing). You have lots of time so you can really tweak things as you see fit. Twice a week bench is fine but I don't know if I would shoot for absolute strength on both days IOW triples, doubles and singles on both days.1 day for strength and the other for more accessory stuff like board presses, speed work and such = concurrent periodization ala Westside is really popular. Its really tough to say without seeing your whole program and even then I'm no expert on bench training but you'll definitely get some good feed back.