PillarofBalance
Strength Pimp
- Feb 27, 2011
- 17,066
- 4,640
From time to time, I am either approached or meet someone who is training hard in the gym and they have that voice in the back of their head to compete. Nobody really knows where it comes from, but one day it sneaks up on you and there are they whispers in your sub-conscious – “Hey… Do it. Do a meet!”
However, when that thought becomes part of a conscious conversation it transforms into a phrase I hear over and over again.
“I’m not strong enough yet”
Let’s talk about this…
If you were to ask Dan Green – multiple world record holder – if he thinks he is strong enough what do you think he would say? How about Benedikt Magnusson? He deadlifted 1016lbs. Which was actually just beaten by 2lbs in fact. Nobody is ever “strong enough” no matter what level they play on.
If you are considering doing your first meet, don’t give yourself delusions. Unless you are some genetic outlier; a complete freak of nature, chances are you won’t be breaking records.
But! You will walk away from your first meet with the most incredible feeling of accomplishment. Your friends and family who come to support will be jumping around and screaming. They will talk about your feats for months on end. Even for myself, my own accomplishments pale in comparison to the excitement I feel when a client or training partner gets on that platform and just crushes weights they didn’t think were possible for them.
Some other benefits to just committing to getting on the platform:
- It’s a brotherhood. While we are technically competing against each other, the reality is you are there to show self-improvement. Chase your own PR’s down and tackle them. Because of this, the warm up areas and times between flights are often spend clowning around with some of the other guys there. You’ll build a strong network with other lifts and when you need advice you’ll find someone to turn to.
- It directs your training. My training takes on a whole new level of intensity when I am training FOR something as opposed to just training. Also, after your first meet you will find that you have made mistakes in training. The lesson I learned during my first meet was that I needed to stop training with headphones in. It became this neurotic thing. If I forgot my headphones for training I would panic. I had to have them. But you can’t wear them at the meet. I suppose you could try but you’ll miss the judges commands, cues from supporters and I have no idea where you are going to tuck that iPod into your singlet.
- You earn a title. You are not a powerlifter because you eat burritos and lift for heavy singles and doubles in the gym. You are not a powerlifter because you “train Westside” whatever that means. You are a powerlifter when you fill out the form, train, show up at the meet and get your total.
- The Iron Bug will bite you. After the meet you will immediately be thinking about when you can do this again. That’s an automatic.
- Facebook likes. You will get tons of likes on your pics on the facebooks when you post things such as your distorted squat face or giving a thumbs up with your buds while wearing a singlet.
I will say that the process of preparing for the first meet can be intimidating. How do you fill out the form? Am I amateur or pro? Raw classic or modern? I weigh 250lbs should I be 242 or 275 class? Should I cut to 198 so my lifts are more competitive? And what on earth is a peaking cycle?
Well, I’m here to help you with those things. I have coached quite a few through their first meet. I’m a patient person and will guide you through the process every step of the way. There are no stupid questions. I can help with everything from filling out the form, writing and adjusting your meet prep cycle to mobility and pain management.
No excuses… Let’s do this together!
However, when that thought becomes part of a conscious conversation it transforms into a phrase I hear over and over again.
“I’m not strong enough yet”
Let’s talk about this…
If you were to ask Dan Green – multiple world record holder – if he thinks he is strong enough what do you think he would say? How about Benedikt Magnusson? He deadlifted 1016lbs. Which was actually just beaten by 2lbs in fact. Nobody is ever “strong enough” no matter what level they play on.
If you are considering doing your first meet, don’t give yourself delusions. Unless you are some genetic outlier; a complete freak of nature, chances are you won’t be breaking records.
But! You will walk away from your first meet with the most incredible feeling of accomplishment. Your friends and family who come to support will be jumping around and screaming. They will talk about your feats for months on end. Even for myself, my own accomplishments pale in comparison to the excitement I feel when a client or training partner gets on that platform and just crushes weights they didn’t think were possible for them.
Some other benefits to just committing to getting on the platform:
- It’s a brotherhood. While we are technically competing against each other, the reality is you are there to show self-improvement. Chase your own PR’s down and tackle them. Because of this, the warm up areas and times between flights are often spend clowning around with some of the other guys there. You’ll build a strong network with other lifts and when you need advice you’ll find someone to turn to.
- It directs your training. My training takes on a whole new level of intensity when I am training FOR something as opposed to just training. Also, after your first meet you will find that you have made mistakes in training. The lesson I learned during my first meet was that I needed to stop training with headphones in. It became this neurotic thing. If I forgot my headphones for training I would panic. I had to have them. But you can’t wear them at the meet. I suppose you could try but you’ll miss the judges commands, cues from supporters and I have no idea where you are going to tuck that iPod into your singlet.
- You earn a title. You are not a powerlifter because you eat burritos and lift for heavy singles and doubles in the gym. You are not a powerlifter because you “train Westside” whatever that means. You are a powerlifter when you fill out the form, train, show up at the meet and get your total.
- The Iron Bug will bite you. After the meet you will immediately be thinking about when you can do this again. That’s an automatic.
- Facebook likes. You will get tons of likes on your pics on the facebooks when you post things such as your distorted squat face or giving a thumbs up with your buds while wearing a singlet.
I will say that the process of preparing for the first meet can be intimidating. How do you fill out the form? Am I amateur or pro? Raw classic or modern? I weigh 250lbs should I be 242 or 275 class? Should I cut to 198 so my lifts are more competitive? And what on earth is a peaking cycle?
Well, I’m here to help you with those things. I have coached quite a few through their first meet. I’m a patient person and will guide you through the process every step of the way. There are no stupid questions. I can help with everything from filling out the form, writing and adjusting your meet prep cycle to mobility and pain management.
No excuses… Let’s do this together!