What a god damn roller coaster.
This year marked a few mile stones for me personally in lifting and coaching. It also brought major rehab from surgery and a change in career. To say it was stressful is an understatement.
Like the REM song says "Everybody hurts, sometimes"
I'm not saying that my stress was anymore than anyone elses. I'm just going to tell you most of mine.
The year starting out kind of shitty as I had to pull out to the Arnold as Shannon and were running into some hard times. We bounced back and I decided to compete in June at the RPS meet here in Canada
This year had some great ups. I made a successful return to the platform, squatting 1000 lbs and totaling 2295 lbs in June. But, that lead into one of my major downs. Surgery to remove a pilonidal cyst on my spine.
You can't unsee that haha
This a was very long process that took a huge toll on me. Way more than I would have thought. We all need a break from the gym every now and then. But this break had major back lash.
Leading into this meet, I was training everyday on my way into work following squat everyday by Cory Gregory. (He even mentioned my name on a podcast lol). This break stopped that roll I was on. Also, this is when I got my new job. The new job was in a different part of Ottawa and I could no longer train right before work. Putting everything into work, I was having a huge mental struggle trying to train after work.
That was in August and I still do not have a solid training schedule set up. It's been hard. Being "known" for something and not being able to do it is a frustrating thing. I can also see why when people retire from a sport, they cut all ties with it. The selfish competitor in me would get jealous when people would talk about their successes. Being a coach during this time was a double edge sword as well. In October, RPS ran another meet here in Canada. Our team had about 12 lifters in the meet over the 2 days. Watching everyone succeed as I was getting regressing was tough.
That meet did bring a renewed focus for me. Training for the SWIS Symposium was next on the docket.
I only training about 6 times for the SWIS, but they were good sessions and I crushed the demonstration of squatting 1000 lbs. It was easy too.
I now am getting ready for the Arnolds in March. Everything is paid for and I will be there ready to hit me goals. I have switched my training to the #5thSet from Swede Burns to help achieve my goals.
Another big thing that has been weight on Shannon and I both is our son Odin. He is adorable as the day is long, but recently was placed on the Autism spectrum. He will be 3 in April and doesn't speak and has a few non verbal communications. Shannon and I both are working even harder than we were before to make sure we can do everything for him.
2016 will be by far the hardest year of my life. Starting it of is 2 weeks of being a single dad as Shannon is in Texas at a FireFighting course.
I want preemptively thank everyone that has offered up help for us in this of learning. Brett, you are the man.
I love you Shannon and will see you soon, just not soon enough.