The Small Details to Help You Crush PRs in 2020

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“New year, new PRs,” as many might say, and if you already have your planned PRs for 2020 mapped out, you won’t let anything stop you. That being said, sometimes it’s not really our decision whether the personal record is achieved or not, and unforeseen forces (gravity being the biggest one) keep the weights on the ground. We’ve all been there, and it’s not a great feeling, which can leave “ifs” lingering in your head as you approach the PR the next time.

Athletic Leggings

As most seasoned lifters know, there’s a mental component along with physical aspects of hitting PRs, and it’s about more than just picking up the weight or not. As you gear up for your 2020 PRs, here are some small details, tips and mental cues to help you shatter old records and set new ones.

Treat Warm-Up Sets Like the PR Itself

It’s easy to think of the sets on your journey to a PR goal as “gimmes.” You know you can lift it, so what’s the point in actually trying hard? If you hit each rep in your warmup with the same power and explosiveness as the actual PR target, you’re signaling to your brain that it’s go-time, and the PR will feel less sticky or grueling.

Warm Up with a Harder Alternative Lift

During big, compound movements like deadlifts, squats or anything that requires a sturdy pair of weightlifting shoes, the tiny details matter. If your elbows aren’t tucked just right, you can’t maximize your leverage, and these small details can get thrown off during the warmup sets. Rather than building up to your one-rep max by doing the same movement, you can try a hard alternative. For squats, you can do front squats on the way up. For deadlifts, do deficit deadlifts. By doing an alternative movement, you’re still warming up the same muscles, but saving the real form for the big lift.

Address Your Wardrobe

Believe it or not, the clothes you wear in the gym can have an impact on your performance. Think about it: There’s a reason you wear comfortable athletic leggings rather than skinny jeans at the gym. This isn’t to say there are magic “boost your PRs by 10 pounds” leggings or gym shorts out there, but even just having a dedicated gym outfit for PR day can give you a mental edge, just in the dedicated comfort it offers.

Give Your Body Time to Recover Before Trying Again

Let’s say that you use all of the mental tricks in the book and still can’t quite get the PR. Unless you’re injured, you should definitely give it another try—just be sure to allow your body a chance to rest. Take a knee, have a seat or just put your arms over your head and catch your breath before trying again. Frustration can set in after failing an attempt, and you might want to rush back into it, but you’re only at your best when you’re calm, focused and give yourself space to recover.

About Reebok

For decades, Reebok has produced footwear and athletic apparel for professional and everyday athletes who move, inspire and innovate. Reebok offers apparel and footwear for a variety of sports and activities, from running to weightlifting to yoga, and with Reebok workout clothes for women and men, you can move and perform at your highest potential. Among their many selections, Reebok is known for their innovative CrossFitNano series along with their timeless classic designs like retro-inspired white shoes. Make Reebok your top choice for all of your athletic apparel needs, with everything from sports bras to athletic leggings, gym shorts, hats, performance shirts and more.

Shop Reebok’s entire selection of workout essentials at Reebok.com

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