Saturday: The Day Time
Saturday was one of the most valuable powerlifting experiences I've ever had. I got the opportunity to be a part of the best team (Team TRAIN) with some of the best coaches I've ever got the opportunity to work alongside, and some of the hardest working lifters I've gotten to work with.
A mentor of mine once told me that Coaching makes you a better Athlete, and I think that that's absolutely true. Being forced to explain technique/programming/etc. in a digestible way to lifters of every/any training age, forces you to really understand what you're preaching. It also forces you to think critically about how and why you do things the way that you do. In addition to the opportunity to coach, I got to learn from the other coaches. One of the best tid-bits I got from watching the other coaches was Casey Williams recommendation for people who squat with their hands close together (which I do). He recommended that some of the female lifters with great shoulder mobility, and therefore were able to get their hands close/create a tight upper back-- move their hands out just slightly so that they could engage their lats more. I went ahead and incorporated that critique into my own squat set up, and it's made a huge difference!
The day was full of PR's, great advice, and shenanigans. To end the day, Clint Darden (or as Uncle Harry Selkow would say-- "THE" Clint Darden) gave a keynote speech that was... well motivational just doesn't cover it. There was so much in the speech, but it boiled down to "Be All In, Or Quit". Listening to Clint speak was one of the most influential moments in powerlifting for me-- I feel so grateful to have been a part of the experience.
More to come on PLExp2.....