Hard Work

Training Over 35 Lifter
181

OK, did some misc stuff over the past 2 days, trying not to push too hard. Grip stuff, shrugs, deadlifts with 135 for form. Did more box squats, got weight up to 95#. Took a look at “Think You Can Squat” vids, tried following tips. Seems like a lot of things to do just make the exercise harder, almost impossible. If I get the technique just exactly right, then can get the weight up. Or am I such a creampuff there’s just no strength there?

Friend of mine at the gym says his friend is entering, will open bench with 360. This is going to be so painful, seeling guys bench more than I can lift. Will see if I can get vids of my lifts.

Plan to open with 225, hopefully can get up to 275, which I’ve done in training. Will keep everyone’s encouragement in mind.

182

On the ‘so you think you can squat’ tips and tricks, just take them 1 or two at a time, and work it into your form, then once you feel good with those, take a couple more things Matt said, and work them in.

GL on the meet, and don’t worry about how much weights you lift vs other guys, they all started lighter, too.

183

Good luck with the meet. Don’t worry about what everyone else focus on you. You are the only person you have to woory about. If you can do more than you did before? Win.

184

Today I am a man.

Deadlift:
225 white
245 white
275 white

And the results?
over 50, 220 lb . . . first place
novice, 220 lb . . . first place

(OK, now ask me how many others in those specific weights/divisions. answer: I was it.)

I can’t believe how strong I was. I had pulled 275 a couple of times before, but it was a gut busting, spine wrenching effort. This time, I just reached down, grabbed, and yanked the sucker up. Could have done 285, no problem. Back feels great. Suddenly 300 doesn’t seem so impossible.

Colin showed up, great to meet in person. His nephew was benching, did 360, I believe. Colin had done well in the Erie meet (I’ll let you give the juicy details, Colin) and gave me lots of support.

Guess what, Colin? Backstage I got talkin with one guy who was a golden oldie like me. Jim McNeil was deadlifting right behind me, checked my form during warmup, and he pulled 350, I believe.

Deadlifts got up into the 600’s. Jamie Harris was one of the lifters - yes, the Big Evil himself. Forgot what he pulled, but was enough to get an award. Must be a really old pic of him in Powerlifting USA, he looks on in years.

I am jazzed, big time.

185

Thats great news Cav, good for you! Awesome stuff.

186

ALLRIGHT! Great job Cav!

I also find the weight lighter during a meet.

187

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Today I am a man.

Deadlift:
225 white
245 white
275 white

And the results?
over 50, 220 lb . . . first place
novice, 220 lb . . . first place

(OK, now ask me how many others in those specific weights/divisions. answer: I was it.)

I can’t believe how strong I was. I had pulled 275 a couple of times before, but it was a gut busting, spine wrenching effort. This time, I just reached down, grabbed, and yanked the sucker up. Could have done 285, no problem. Back feels great. Suddenly 300 doesn’t seem so impossible.

Colin showed up, great to meet in person. His nephew was benching, did 360, I believe. Colin had done well in the Erie meet (I’ll let you give the juicy details, Colin) and gave me lots of support.

Guess what, Colin? Backstage I got talkin with one guy who was a golden oldie like me. Jim McNeil was deadlifting right behind me, checked my form during warmup, and he pulled 350, I believe.

Deadlifts got up into the 600’s. Jamie Harris was one of the lifters - yes, the Big Evil himself. Forgot what he pulled, but was enough to get an award. Must be a really old pic of him in Powerlifting USA, he looks on in years.

I am jazzed, big time.
[/quote]
GREAT JOB !!!

188

Great Job Cav! It was awesome to meet you. I told you that adrenaline would carry you thru. I know Jim he is an Ohio lifter who lifts in my Fed as well!

Again, Great Job today!

189

I am thrilled for you. Just thrilled.

190

[quote]soldog wrote:
ALLRIGHT! Great job Cav!

I also find the weight lighter during a meet.[/quote]

Good work.

In my limited experience DL weight seems to be remarkably lighter at a meet.

191

Thanks, everyone. The advice and support really helped. Even though my heart was pounding (not palpitations!), I was pretty calm and could just focus on technique.

Colin, Jim said he knew you, and I looked for you, but guess you had left by then. Really nice guy. He told me when completing the lift to look the judge straight in the face for his signal. Another guy grinned and said “Then stick out your tongue!” You gotta love a sense of humor.

A friend of mine in the audience introduced me to his friend Mike who was deadlifting. His final lift was 615. He grabbed the bar, strained, and it lifted a little. The crowd yelled. It lifted more. Yelling got louder. Finally straighted up, then the white light. He dropped it, jumped in the air, ran over and gave a friend a bear hug. He later told me 615 was a personal best for him, he had previously done 610. He was so happy. It wasn’t the 2nd place raw trophy he got, it was that he was stronger than before. It was the same way I felt, that I had beaten my past, I was stronger, anything is possible. Now I’m looking at the others’ lifts and thinking “It looks so easy, I wonder…”

192

Cav - belated congrats. Great job! I am sure you were sky high…and deservedly so.

193

DUDE!

Rocked it. I tip my hat.

194

Nice going, Cavalier -good attitude.

195

Great job Cav.

What’s next a full 3 lift meet? A good opportunity to give your new squat an airing.

196

One step at a time, Brett. Right now, need to concentrate on getting a job. Don’t want to give up training, now that it’s paying off.

To be honest, a 3 lift meet does sound intriquing. Backstage, I watched the benchers getting ready. Huge guys, thick chests, thick shoulders, thick arms. Wonder what I can do with my bench…

197

Grats on the meet, Cav.

Sorry I was late to the party, but haven’t had time to get on much the past few days.

198

Congrats Cav!! Taking the plunge into competitive lifting is courage I have not found…well done!

199

Thanks, Ogre. Goat, if I can enter with my puny lifts and come out covered with glory, you’ll have no trouble at all. it’s a blast!

200

Nice work-
good job on your first meet
It must feel really really good.