Officially Picking Things Up And Putting Them Down Again

Both thread topic and title suggested by Brian? and bluewolf but I thought it might be a good idea for people who wonder about meets/comps or put off by the idea that they're not ready or that they're not strong enough and maybe it's a place people can give experiences of starting out (and continuing) on the road and hopefully make other people take the plunge. But also to give a place to talk about comps as opposed to just in the off topic thread.

I did my first competition, the Leinster Open, in Sunday. The decision to do it was made about a year ago when I saw a guy I see train regularly and was a regular Joe like me and he did the Novices IPF comp so I thought I would aim for that this year because I thought I would be more comfortable doing it with other relative beginners.

As time went on and I found myself training at the same time as lads who compete and do well in comps and talking to them, it finally sunk in that people at the comps are just going to cheer you on because you've decided to step onto the platform and lifted something heavy. There's an inherent respect for that.

So I trained away and got my entry in and it was officially going to happen. And I was excited - not nervous. I always thought I would be really nervous about lifting in front of a room of strong people. On the day, the only nerves were down to whether or not I would do my training justice.

I had an idea of what I would do - I didn't expect PRs because although the last couple of weeks of training were all just squat/bench/dead, I just expected there to be a learning curve that would take me up towards PRs in subsequent meets so my targets were 97/98 for squat and dead and 97% of what my touch and go bench was because pausing bench only began 12 weeks ahead of comp.

Got there on the day at 6.10am and my flight was going to start about 8.45am. I could have gone there for 7 or so but I figured I'd feel so stiff and sh*tty at that hour of the morning that I'd need a LOT of loosening up before even considering warming up. As it turned out, I wasn't that bad at all.

Some light dynamic stretching and a big dose of porridge with whey in it.

Got the singlet on and took out the warm-up plan with timings on it. I had based it off the flight beforehand which was going to take ~45 mins so kicked off 10 mins into that flight with a can of red bull in hand. One can for warm ups of each of S/B/D.

The timing etc was made so easy by the 'order of play' for the flight being up on screen and the phenomenal efficiency of getting everything ready for each lifter.

But watched a lot in rests, soaking up the buzz. It was cool seeing everyone cheering for each other.

Time came for my first squat...stood by the MC waiting for the platform to be ready and then out I walked to squat.

Except the "Bar's loaded" call hadn't come because they weren't fully ready. Oops. Take 2: got out, got in position. "Commands, knees, chest" on repeat in my head. 3 whites. Yes! Phew.

I think I'd been worried about getting off to a start that I didn't get into it as much. Got into it then. Cheered on the other lifters, clapped the white lights, returned the good will shown to me.

Everything just built towards the end. It was electric. It really was. Going out for the deadlifts was f*cking magic. I wasn't in the shake up for places or anything but you could just feed off the atmosphere. I completely neglected my cues and the deadlifts were shocking looking. All I remember was "LOCK IT OUT, ALF". Think it was the MC. Usually I hear nothing but I heard that. So I obliged. I never usually react but I gave a good oul air punch.

Ended up equalling a couple of gym PRs and new bench PR. That helped I guess but to be honest, my decision to compete again had been made long before the end. Around the time of my first squat perhaps.

One guy in the flight before pulled what must have been a PR. His reaction was gold. A friend was there and there was a serious hug. Then with his coach. It was emotional for all three. He didn't place but that didn't matter because he'd beaten his own numbers and ultimately that's all that counts. That was a great moment...part of the brilliant vibe.

This has just been a street of consciousness post with no structure as such but it was brilliant and not at all intimidating. Chatting to people, everyone wising each other well...even in my own flight Blacktie was pulling to win and even the guy he would have beaten wanted him to lock out the lift. Kinda says it all.

Even the missus, whose only exposure to powerlifting has been to see my PR videos (and who sounds a little disappointed when deadlift PRs aren't jerked overhead) thought it was a great event.

Have the next meet pencilled in already.

If you haven't taken the plunge about doing one, for whatever reason, DO IT!

Anyway, it's supposed to be a thread for posting on meets but the idea put forward originally was for a thread to encourage people like I was a year ago who didn't think comps were for people like them.

They are.