[quote]Dr J wrote:
I think I’m weird, but here’s my typical meet. Squats always feel heavy…I’ve never hit a squat PR in a meet, and usually end up 20-25 pounds less than in the gym. This always makes my first lift of the day an adventure, and it has taken me three attempts to get my opener. Bench is usually pretty dialed in to what I can get in the gym, and I don’t struggle so much to nail my opener. Then, for some strange reason I can go balls out on the deadlift. My best meet pull is a good bit better than anything I’ve ever gotten in the gym.[/quote]
Go lighter on the squat. Figure out your goal (what you want to finish with) and your first lift should be 85% of that.
For instance if your goal for the meet is 900 lbs start with 765 lbs, your second lift should be 830 lbs and your final lift should be 900 lbs.
Even when adrenaline is pumping and my energy level is at its max, I always make sure not to go shit bat crazy with heavy lifting few days before competing.
I have only competed twice, but set plenty of PRs on both occasions. In my first meet, I was convinced that the bar was misloaded for my opening deadlift because it flew off the floor so fast, and I went on to set a PR with my next attempt and immediately break it on my third.
As others have said, open light on the squat to settle your nerves, and that will do wonders for your confidence. Then make sensible weight selections and enjoy yourself as you set a whole bunch of PRs. Having followed your log, I know that you have been training with an experienced coach who will make sure you are as well prepared as you could possibly be, so I’m expecting to read about some big lifts!
[quote]Dr J wrote:
I think I’m weird, but here’s my typical meet. Squats always feel heavy…I’ve never hit a squat PR in a meet, and usually end up 20-25 pounds less than in the gym. This always makes my first lift of the day an adventure, and it has taken me three attempts to get my opener. Bench is usually pretty dialed in to what I can get in the gym, and I don’t struggle so much to nail my opener. Then, for some strange reason I can go balls out on the deadlift. My best meet pull is a good bit better than anything I’ve ever gotten in the gym.[/quote]
Go lighter on the squat. Figure out your goal (what you want to finish with) and your first lift should be 85% of that.
For instance if your goal for the meet is 900 lbs start with 765 lbs, your second lift should be 830 lbs and your final lift should be 900 lbs.
[/quote]
That’s solid advice. I just have to check my ego and follow it.
All of my best lifts, given the timeframes, have come at meets…of course I’ve since eclipsed those meet PRs with new gym PRs afterwards, but I expect to set new ones at my next meet…
I think a few things play into this:
Adrenaline…as Tim said, this can help or hurt you, but if you have an athletic background and have been under pressure before, I can’t see this in any way being a negative
Competition…same as above…you run much faster when there is a rabbit to chase…
Better equipment (usually)…the first full meet I did had a Monolift and a Texas Deadlift Bar with a ton of flex in it…I think if you get used to training with shitty equipment and then show up to a meet with equipment BUILT for lifters, your totals will always be higher…
You’ve trained your ass off for the meet, so don’t screw it up!
So get your opening squat under your belt, and set some PR’s!
My best lifts have always been in meets. I think, for me, it’s having the spotters there that help. I train alone (other people in the gym, but not with me) so really careful with how far I push the weight. At the meet though, I’m not too concerned. If I miss the lift, I got two spotters to save my ass so I am not worried about attempting higher weights.
First real meet I ever did I pulled 606 raw with a recently torn adductor magnus
10 days before I’d had a hell of a time with a slow 545.
Best pull previous to the meet had been 645 raw though so grain of salt.
Depending on your federation there may be some arbitrary (and usually fucking stupid) rules like head placement on the bench (ie. your head has to maintain the same position during the entire motion) which may throw off your game a little bit, but the squat is generally just squat to depth and don’t have any funky foot movement and you’ll be fine. And no one can overcomplicate a deadlift so everyone is running on adrenaline and awesome by deadlift time. The bench is really the only movement that judging complexities usually enter into the equation in my opinion on squat and deadlift you’ll know if you done fucked up.
My best ever lifts was when I meet girls in the gym. Back then, I can front squat 335 when my girlfriend is around and only 315 if I’m with my weak-ass buddies.
lol. Kidding. I actually front squat 900 pounds when she’s around… God I love her…
If your training is smart, there should be a pretty big gap between your competition max and your training max. It all depends on how you cycle your training. If you have a good program, you will be at your strongest during the competition. Since the entire purpose of training is to perform at a meet, there is no reason (other than lack of confidence) to be anywhere near competition max’s during training.
My training is a little different. I do not do a regular suqat, bench, or dead during training. I do have indicator lifts that directly transfer to bigger meet numbers. For example, if I get a new 6rm on RDLs and a new 1rm on reverse band deadlifts, I will get a new PR in the meet.
You called me out STB. My meet deads are at least 30-40lbs greater than my gym lifts. My son was wanting to set my attempts higher but my lack of confidence made me set them lower. I still posted those videos to show the increase in speed and the improved lockout shown in the meet video. I have the WABDL Southwest Regionals coming up and I’m flirting with pulling 750lbs.
