First lesson learned from this meet: I really need to learn how to pick my attempts better. You can read all you want, but it really doesn't mean too much until you experience the importance of it in meet first hand ( at least I'm finding that to be true ).
Bench:
I let my crappy workout a week ago effect how I picked my opening bench. I went with something that was WAY ( WAY, WAY ) too light, 120 kilos or 264 pounds. I ended up easily doing more than that warming up ( their warmup bench really sucked, my elbows couldn't not hit the bench, even when I was tucking more than I normally do. It didn't seem to bother anybody else though, LOL ). The good thing was my first attempt went up like nothing. My next attempt I chose the same as my max on the previous meet, 130 kilos or 286 pounds. This too was really easy, however it kind of messed up my choice for my third attempt because I wanted to make sure I ended up betting my last meet, thus I couldn't go all out on my third attempt, so I choose 135 kilos or 297 pounds. It was also easy, way easier than I thought it would be. Shoot, I could have easily broke 300 at a meet, and now I'm kicking myself for being way too conservative, or more correctly forcing myself to be too conservative on my third attempt because my choice for my second attempt ( if that makes any sense at all ). Anyway, I ended up with a bench of 7.5 kilos more than last meet, and it was an easy lift. So all in all, I'm pleased with my benching. More importantly, the 7.5 kilo increase in a little over a month has motivated/encouraged me with benching. I'll never have a huge bench, but I know that in time I'll be able to have a very respectable bench.
Deadlift:
I chose an opener that was just under my max at the last meet, 180 kilos or 396 pounds. Once again, I EASILYworked up passed this in warm ups ( because everything was feeling light ). And it was light, the 180 kilos felt like nothing. Second attempt was 190 kilos or 418 pounds ( damn it Brian what's your problem ! ), way too easy! Third attempt, 200 kilos=440 pounds. This actually is a personal record by 5 pounds for a gym lift and 33 pounds over the last meet, but it too was easy, too easy for a 3rd attempt. I didn't even have to strain. After this attempt Mike said something like "you haven't even maxed out yet" over the loud speaker " do you want 4th attempt for a PR, but not part of the meet"? I said sure. I chose 210 kilos or 462 pounds ( damn it Brian, what's your problem! ). I strained a little on this, but solidly got the lift. Crap, in hind sight, I really think I could have pulled 500 pounds today, but I was a PUSSY for not going for it. On the positive side, this 4th attempt was about a 60 pound meet PR and a 30 pound PR over my highest gym lift. I'm very very happy about that.
The meet in general:
There were some really strong guys at this meet. Some that come to mind, Bill who broke a deadlift record on every attempt, each well over 700 pounds, raw not even a belt. ( I loved his T shirt, something like "I beat Anorexia". Seemed like a nice guy too). Kyle ( not Moosie, praying for a quick recovery of that pec injury ) who benched something like 450 raw to break a record. Jason who attempted a 1003 pound squat, missed it, but was soooo damn close to getting it. Nick, who I can't remember his numbers right now, had some really impressive lifts at a body weight of something like 145 pounds.
I really enjoyed watching the squats. I used to say that my goal is to get my squats good enough to squat at a meet, but that's also just being a wimp. I could have squatted at this meet and I chose not to. ( Damn it Brian, what's your problem! )
Second lesson learned from this meet: stop being a wimp and have confidence in myself ( I think that's the heart of what powerlifting is about ). My body was totally ready to lift today, but just because I had one less than ideal workout 8 days ago, I let my mind convince me that my body wasn't ready. Live and learn ( I hope )
Third lesson learned from this meet: I'm totally hooked. I know I have a long way to go, but I seriously love this sport. I'm grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to experience this.
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