PR: Press

Today, I set a new record in the press, sometimes called the overhead press or shoulder press. The new record is 142.5 lb, a 3.5-lb improvement over the previous one. But those two numbers don't tell the whole story. I set that 139-lb record about 3 years ago. Since that time, I've developed an injury in my left shoulder and a resulting strength imbalance. I've smuggled a lot on this move, and my 1-rep max dropped to around 120. My strength has been coming back over the last few months, which has encouraged me, and this new PR has made me quite happy.

Sadly, my shoulder still hurts.