| 1--- Darin Richardson, a lifter I've had the pleasure of watching
compete since the late 80's just recently lifted a mindboggling 501 Bench Press in an Official APF Powerlifting meet...Why is this mind boggling when many lifters are in the 6's and 7's nowadays?? --Well, because Darin has made this amazing
lift adding so much poundage onto his bench in such a short time...the
last time I saw Darin Bench he made just over 400 pounds --so how does one add 100 pounds to their BP in such a short time...Maybe we can find out as I ask Darin a few questions...Darin Congratulations on this fabulous achievement!!!--Take us thru the lifts thru your eyes on that day--and any positive or detrimental factors leading up to your BIG success. |
| Thanks Robert,geez tough question...Well it was a full meet put on by the APF in Newport Oregon.Since I was not going to squat or deadlift that day, I did a token squat then just sat and relaxed till warm up time. My warm ups felt real good that day and I thought I had a good chance at 500.I opened with 462 and as I was arching on the bench I started getting cramps in my calves. I guess it did'nt bother me to much becouse I destroyed the weight. I asked Eric if he tought due to the cramping if I should take 501 for a 2nd attempt and get it out of the way, he said yes, so we took it. The 500 to be honest I don't remember,I know I was cramping and I could feel the weight coming a little out of the groove and some how I locked it out.
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| 2--- It's great that you made the lift what with the cramping and all--Lately I've been hearing good remarks on APF contests--Herb Glossbrenner loves that group of people and say their meets are top notch no B.S. events and Bert Merriman a Canadian Lifter just had his first experience with them and say they put on a great contest.. For so long I've thought of you as a USAPL lifter..so what was your "take" on the APF meet you went to ? |
| Well first I want to say they put on a hell of a meet, that was really fun and the judging was good and fair...Other than that I would rather not get in to USAPL ,.APF or any other federation BS. There's to much talking crap about this group or that group from the upper people in the sport. It seems like the lifter doesn't give a shit about the BS and will go to a meet for fun. |
| 3--- It's good that we now have choices between the various federations and there's no animosity like a few years back --if you were in one Federation and went to another's meet--your 'Home' fed --would get on your case....glad to see more brotherhood between the associations...how did you view the gear issue at the APF meet..I hear that "Canvas" stuff is pretty 'rad' ---what kind of shirt did you use?? |
| Yea that canvas I hear is fun,I was wearing a double denim. |
| 4--- I have a double denim that gives me more than a single poly but I dont think I'm using it right--can you give some tips?? Is yours an Inzer ?? it the westside cut??--How does it change your stroke or training ?? |
| You're asking the wrong guy...It's a Inzer westside cut. From what I hear it needs to tweaked and get a little tighter. The weird part was you have to really PULL the bar down to your chest..... |
| 5--- Can you tell us about your training
program--you told me you were using bands--so I presume you're doing westside.. outline a simple workout structure you follow. |
| To be honest I don't like to use westside about 8-10 weeks out, I feel like I'm not sure where my strength is come meet time using westside. So basiclly I do sets of 8, then 5's, then work up to a single no shirt 3 weeks out, then 2 weeks of singles with the shirt. My workout partners and I do a lot of partial exercises like 3, 4, 5 board press, lockouts, reverse band benches w/boards and lots of close grips and tri's. I think triceps and lats are the most important part of the bench press and if you wear a double denim they better be even stronger. |
| 6-- I know you're been coaching and training with Liz Willet.. her squat is thru the roof--you've even gone to help and coach her at her successful IPF World's meets how you do juggle your training --work--family --travel and coaching..and still get this great 500 pound bench? any secrets to persons who do a third of the activities you do and still add only 5 lbs a year to their lifts?? (ie: Rest program--supplements-meditation--helpers--faith
etc. |
| Liz is a hell of a lifter and one of the best workout partners I've ever had and a good friend. I don't really look at my self as her coach any more, she got 3rd in the world what am I going to teach her:) I think the biggest part of the increase was my diet. I talked to Kirk Karwoski about it and he told me to get about 350-400 grams of protein a day, I get up in the middle of the night to eat....so between that and just working on the bench I got it to click for a while. I'm no superstar bencher doing 700 but I think with the bench you really have to be patient. The more time you get under your belt the more you realize what works and what doesn't, and it just take's time to get it going sometimes. Everyone is busy these days so you just gotta keep it real and sometimes training goes in the backseat or the trunk,but life get's better and your back to hitting PR's again.. |
| 7--Darin I hope to see you at a WABDL meet next year so I can witness your next plateau being broken--600 ??--do I hear 550 ?-- |
| Thank you Robert, it's been a blast taking to you again and I hope to see you at one of Gus's meet's next year, but for now I'm just thinking of Dec. 8 in Fresno, CA. |
| Thank You Darin Richardson "Benching Colossus of the North"
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