OK.
You’ve registered for the meet, doesn’t matter if it is

 

  • Powerlifting
  • Strongman
  • Weightlifting

And you don’t know what to do from here.
First, don’t panic. I’ve got your back.
There are a lot of things to do before a meet and at the meet and we are going to give you the big ones right now.

 

Things To Do For Your Meet

As Soon as You Register:
-Find a hotel.
Sounds obvious, right?
If the meet is more than an hour away from your house, book a room now.
Find the closest hotel you can.
Getting up two or three hours earlier than dawn to drive an hour will do nothing positive for you.
Get a room.
-Find a Handler

I'm about to blow stuff up
This is a no brainer. If you have a coach, it should be them.
If they have to travel an hour or more, you should pick up the room and expenses for them too.
Just sayin.
If you don’t have a coach, make sure you get someone who knows what they are doing so that all you have to do is lift at the meet.
Don’t wait until a day before to find a handler.
Trust me.

The Week Before the Meet

-Confirm your hotel
Do I need to explain this?
No?
Good.
-Confirm if you are AM session or PM session.
This is easy, most meets have this info listed online, or the promoter will email you.
-Gather all your shit
Yup.
Do this ahead of time during the week.
Get all your gear and pack it up.
What do you need?

new elitefts belt

Lifting gear (belt, shoes, wraps, bench shirts, suits, ammonia-whatever gear you train in you will need at the comp)
A change of clothes or two. Bring clean underpants, socks, sweats, flip flops etc.
Driving home in gross meet clothes is the pits.
Especially if you had an “Accident” on your deadlifts.
Everybody poops.
Sanitary items: I pack baby wipes, Lysol wipes, a toothbrush, soap and the like.
Bathrooms at meets get NASTY. You’ll thank me for telling you to bring Lysol wipes.
Headphones/iPod: not going to explain this.
Extra cash: or this. Just pack some in your bag.
Never know.
Federation membership card: if required.
The Night Before:
Cooler: Pack up food and drinks.
Don’t change what you normally eat before the meet.
Bring more than you think you’ll need.

Especially drinks.
Pro Tip: Freeze a few Gatorade and water bottles.
You can fit more stuff in the cooler this way as you won’t need ice.
Double Check Your Gear:
Make sure all of it is ready to go.
Pull out your Cpap bag and have it ready to pack.
What?
You don’t have a Cpap?
You’re not trying then. Gain weight.

kirschen CPAP
Now, get on the road and head to the hotel. If you’re lucky enough to be doing a meet close to your house, skip this.
You might have to weigh in the night before. Get to the meet site and weigh in.
Also, set your rack heights and give openers to the promoter if you or your handler hasn’t done this yet.
Set your rack heights.
I know I said it twice.
Just do it.
Eat.
Go back to the hotel, bunk in and get a good night’s sleep.
The Morning Of:
Not much to do here.
Wake up.
Shower.
Pack up your stuff and check out of the hotel.
Eat as you normally would.

Really.
If you normally have oatmeal and eggs, you should have brought this with you.
Don’t eat the powdered egg and sausage buffet at the hotel or you might be needing those baby wipes and new underpants after warm ups.
If you normally eat fast food or other garbage, shame on you. But, do it anyway.
Keep things the same.

Go to the meet
Check in
Meet your handler
A word on this.
Your handler should do EVERYTHING for you from this point on.
All you should need to do is warm up and step on the platform.
If you don’t have one that is a topic for a whole new article.

Here is quick list of what to pack in case you want to print it out:

What to pack:

  • Shoes
  • Change of clothes or three
  • Deadlift socks
  • Lifting Gloves (just making sure you were paying attention-skip this)
  • Baby wipes
  • Lysol wipes
  • Federation membership card
  • Attempts with warmups & rack heights
  • Gear: belt, wraps, suits, briefs, shirts, knee wraps, singlet, ammonia
  • iPod/headphones
  • Cash
  • Cooler:
  • Sammiches or Tupperware with food already prepared
  • Drinks (with a few frozen bottles)
  • Fruit
  • Nuts
  • Energy Drinks or powder
  • Shakers with protein/MRP powder
  • Baby Powder if you use it
  • Portable battery charger and cable for your phone

This is a great start. Sure, you might do a few more things if you are a veteran, but for the newbies out there, this will ensure you have a great meet.
Let me know if this helps!
Ask me a question-Be sure and Type to Murph in the header

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Vincere vel mori