Seems I have had a number of updates in the last 2 weeks. Nothing specific is going on; just really enjoying myself, happy, fulfilled. Some moments of 'blech' occasionally interrupt, but I feel as though this is one of the ways I count my blessings. I talk about them here, and acknowledge it that way. It also reinforces my contentment.
It was a good day at the gym today. We gradually are working back to meet-level weights with the new form (high-bar squat and conventional deadlift). I miss low-bar and sumo. But I am gradually improving with these movements, and I know it will make these lifts stronger no matter what style I choose. And the high-bar does seem like less stress on the lower back (which is weird, because I don't think it's supposed to be. But it could just be because it's so much lighter, still). 140# squat and 155# DL today. 15# and 45# to add, respectively, to hit my July OPA-meet PR. There was still gas in the tank, so I might be closer than I think! It would be good to be there by the end of the year. Then in January I can start to prep for a spring meet. I won't do a meet until I can add 40# to my meet total. Road to a 500# total....... Long and winding. But sunny and clear!
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I was talking to the Mavens last week about long term goals with powerlifting. And I told them what I am about to tell you. I want to qualify for nationals in 2021. It's a long way away, I know. But I will be in the next age group up, and I figure I can improve at least for 2 more years... (I don't really improve in any great leaps, but I think it's reasonable to make some small gains for at least that long). and then even maintaining, for the year I would be Master Level II, the standards should be do-able.
I think it would be an amazing experience, and if I can't do it by then, well, it's unlikely I'd ever be able to do it. So I am setting the bar (pun intended) for a meet around my 50th birthday with PR #s. Now I just have to do the work, which I enjoy anyway! I usually don't have an interest in sports (other than Formula 1). A live game of anything is always fun, but I have no drive to watch anything. Even during the Olympics, I usually will pause for a moment for something like gymnastics (how do they DO that?!) or Ski Jumping (WHY do they do that ?!).... just because it's such an amazing spectacle.
Yet now that I have a sport of my own, I found myself more interested in the Olympics this year. I watched some of the decathlon coverage, and they talked a lot about it being a competition against your own numbers, and your own fatigue. I understood. This same week, I received my first issue of the IPF Magazine ( http://www.powerlifting-ipf.com/media/ipf-magazine.html - I doubt the link will work forever , but there you go...) One of the articles was about the IPFs drive to join the Olympics. Interesting journey. Anyway, from Zero interest in sports, to both watching for fun, and getting a sports magazine subscription in the same week. Overboard? Who says struggle is to be sympathized with? Certainly not Seth Godin. This one really resonated with me.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2016/08/the-lottery-winners-a-secret-of-unhappiness.html I really do feel fortunate about the struggle in the gym. It's not crazy or anything (I have seen some others suffering @ the gym..., but I am not nearly so hard-core). Nevertheless, unlike some other things in my life, it does not come easy. It is a struggle. I have mentioned it to a number of people as a peculiarity that somehow this was was part of it's joy. But I didn't have better words for it, until now. Thanks, Seth. I was in my first powerlifting meet yesterday. I hesitate to call it a competition; I pulled less weight than anyone. Well, except the guy that bombed out on his three benchpress attempts and didn't get to finish.
And I finally get the concept of only competing against yourself. I never understood it when golfers talked about it. And to be fair, I'm pretty sure a number of them (golfers and powerlifters) care a lot more about competing with the other participants than it being only about beating your best. But, I'm really not worried about the low weight, or my missed third attempt on bench. In fact, I'm really proud I tried for the 115# BP. I've never been able to do it in the gym before with the pause, & I was feeling really good. And maybe I could have gotten it if I was just a bit slower. But I actually tried something that had a goodly chance of failure ..... In front of a bunch of people. Because nobody wanted me to miss. It wasn't a competition at that moment; not against each other anyway. Just me and the bar. And everyone got it. And now I have numbers. A very clear place from which to improve. To measure progress. I was impressed by a lot of people yesterday. But I don't remember their numbers. Just their resolve. Me. The bar. It's so simple that it's hard to understand how I didn't get it before. But I do now. And that's progress too.... At the outset of the year, I decided that I wanted to improve, but resolutions were not exactly for me. But I did want to think about what was IMPORTANT for me, and keep those at the forefront whenever possible. My list:
And they were about balance. Controlling food but not being compassionate to myself, for example, would not be a 'win'. Anyway, I was being a bit scared about the upcoming meet, and one of the Mavens referred to something that reminded me to check my list. My fear is allowed a voice: she is trying to protect me. So I should have compassion for myself, and not be embarrassed that I am afraid. But it won't decide. Had a crappy day in the gym. I was PT-less but should have been ok. The target was set in a text the night before.... I checked video of what felt like ass-to-grass 135#.... And it was barely parallel. I worked up anyway . 140 and 145 were about the same. I finished with the triples and consoled myself that while my depth wasn't cutting it, that I had done the work and it would at least contribute to improvement. I told JW the same. He wanted to know why I had not backed off on the weight and focused on depth. :( And its cause I didn't have depth anyway.... Oops. No. No I did not. And we had talked about it. Argh!
So if I feel good tomorrow.... I'll go in and just do something light... But hang out at the bottom. Like me told too. And that is why I still need a PT. |
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