Today was a day of serious ups and downs. The downs came first by way of Nair induced chemical burns. While attempting to remove some hair, all was well, until my upper chest and back began to burn and itch. Badly. End result is some disgusting rash and intense pain. Unfortunately it prevents squats due to the location on the back, so, farewell Smolov (for now).
The ups, however, came today at the gym. I decided to work up to a heavy single deadlift and do a backoff set, then some shrugs. Hit a new PR on the single at 520lb. It was a slight grind, but I'm positive I could have pulled 525 and maybe even 530. It definitely tapped me out, because I was only able to hit 5 reps at 405 on my backoff set - my previous rep PR at that weight was around 10. I hit some heavy shrugs and a few side bends, then went to stretch my lower back by elevating my legs on the suspension system at the gym (24hr Fitness)... and right on cue, epic intense cramp across my upper back - traps, rhomboids, teres, posterior delts - all cramped at once. I think the trainer nearby thought I was having a heart attack because she started freaking out asking if I was OK and if I needed help. Whatever.
I've been training for right at 10 months now. I started out with 95 pounds on SL 5x5. At 10 months, hitting a single for 520lb exceeds my expectations. In fact my original 1 year goal, at 6 months, was to hit 500lb. I guess it's time to shoot for 550!
TLDR; burned myself with Nair, hit 520lb pull.