[quote]StormTheBeach wrote:
The Arnold was a freakshow again. As usual. Both in size and strength, I saw a ton of impressive sights. I got to catch some of the Raw Challenege on friday and it looked like everyone from Maryland showed up and dominated the place. Good job everyone. Friday night was a very early night because I wanted my rest for saturday.
Woke up the day of the meet feeling really strong and well rested. Since I wasn’t too concerned with my weight, I went to an $18 breakfast buffet at my hotel and basically put them out of business. 2 more meals and a couple gallons of water later it was weigh in time. Came in at 266!
I was pretty surprised about this weight because i was in the low 280’s a couple weeks ago. I have been pretty sick for a while so maybe thats what caused the weight loss. Being sick didnt matter though, I was so jacked up I could have been on my death bed and still have been ready to pull on saturday.
Dustin Renner and I got to the warm-up area an hour before the comp. and got to hang out with some of the pro strongmen. Those were the largest people I have ever seen. I saw brian shaw standing next to stan efferding and brian dwarfed him. Derek poundstone has a neck that looks like a snake is eating his head. Anyway…
Warm ups went very well. Dustin was a huge help with loading weights and talking about what weights to go with. My final warm-up before the meet was a speed pull with 660. It could have been a power clean. Dustin said it was faster than when I had 245 on the bar!
The meet got started and I was ready. I was so excited I couldnt sit down before my first attempt. When I was about 2 lifters out, Dustin jacked my suit up, I chalked my hands, latched my belt, and waited. Niko called my name and I stepped up to 727lbs. The speed from my initial pull carried it to the top. Easy.
I called for 804 next and thought I was going to lose my d@mn mind before I got the chance to lift it. Again my name was called and I approached the first 800+lb attempt of the day and… completely had a whie out. I dont remember what it felt like, I just knew I got it. Everyone said it looked good. 5 mins later it sank in that I crushed it and had more in the tank. Dustin and I both thought 821 was conservative, he wanted me to go for 840 but I talked him out of signing me up for it. haha.
I went for 821, it flew off the ground, but I was so jacked up that I rushed into it and swung the bar out in front of me. Got it up to my knees but had no leverage so I let it go.
All in all, I got everything I wanted. 804. Ended up 4th in wilkes and 2nd in most weight lifted. Got to talk to Brad Gillingham a little and he might be one of the nicest guys on earth. It was cool meeting up with Eli Burke and George Herring again. Both of them competed at the night of the living dead last september.
Great meet. 30+lb PR and an invite back next year hopefully. Good times. I am definitely going to nationals in june but I am still trying to decide if I am going to the richmond open or not. we will see.
Taking the res of this week off because I am still sick and want to start SFW again on sunday with a full tank. [/quote]
Enjoyed reading your meet report Mike. Awesome pull!