This past Sunday I competed in the SPF Northeast Showdown, In Rhode Island.
I really had no expectations going into this meet, other than my deadlift training was going better than normal, my bench was worse, and after multiple gear changes, my squat was going "who the f*ck knows?".
Although I didn't really have solid expectations for this meet, it was important in that I would be attempting to compete at 198 again, after two years of competing at 220 (including an ill-fated attempt to eat my way up to a 700 bench at 242). I really want to get back to the XPC Finals in March, but at 220, my numbers just aren't up to that caliber of meet. I either want to go in at 198 to really compete, or I may as well just stick to local meets for fun.
The cut itself really wasn't too bad. Two weeks prior I was waking up in the 210-212 range. After cleaning up my diet a bit, I started the meet week out at 208 and had a pretty easy 10 lb cut, weighing at the 198 limit to the ounce. After rehydrating, I woke up the morning of the meet sitting at a bloaty 213.
Since blowing out a suit 3 weeks ago, my warmups were actually the first time I had ever free squatted in my new Jack squatter. Since the material is so forgiving and my Jack brief was well broken-in, warm-ups were a breeze.
Took 725 as my opener and smoked it.
Went for 775 on my second and made it convincingly, if not easily.
Took 810 on my third, which would be a 5 lb pr at 198 and match my best 220 squat. It was a grind, but I got it!
After a 3 for 3 start to the day, I was confident going into the benches... right up until I missed my 600 opener. Just couldn't get my damn elbows locked.
Took 600 again and bobbled the lockout again, with my left arm getting caught under the lip of the rack.
Jacked the hell out of the shirt and took one last stop at 600 to try and stay in the meet and got it... kind of. I need to be honest here, although the lift passed, I didn't think it was good. I could tell that my left elbow was not quite locked at the top. I guess it looked straight enough to the judges to give me the call, and it actually looks pretty good in the video, but I know what I felt, and I know that I have a lot of work to do to get ready for the XPC.
Losing weight has clearly affected my bench more than my other lifts, and I know now that the Ace I'm wearing isn't going to cut it. After 3 months of breaking in, it's a little too big, so I'll either need to go down a size, or find a shirt with a better cut for how I bench right now.
On to the deadlifts, which I was actually feeling pretty confident in.
Opened with an EASY 575, then jumped to 625 for a 5 lb pr.
Made the weight easily, then I f*cking dropped it right before the down call.
I guess the combination of my bloated fingers and the longish brief I was wearing made it too tough to keep my hook grip locked in. I tried an over-under grip for my third, but since I never use that grip, it just got into my head and I didn't even get close with it. Sh*t.
On one hand, I was pissed at myself for missing what should have been some easy lifts, but on the other, This meet was a success because I've identified a couple of bugs that I'll need to fix to have a shot at a good meet in March.
On a very positive note, Most of my misses were not strength related, so I also know that the cut did not tap into my strength, which was my biggest concern all along.
I was not the only one from our group lifting. My training partners Anthony Ditillo and Mike Stuchiner also competed and unfortunately did not have the kind of days they had hoped. But these guys are pros and fought to the very end, and I was proud to be able to share the meet platform once again. They've been at this a very long time and this will just be a small bump in the road for them.
I need to give a huge huge thank you to my training partners Anthony Ditillo, Justin Enes, Mike Stuchiner, Steven Rizzo, James Jack, Karen Jo, Rob Unger, and Tina for their support, and more importantly their tolerance of me week in and week out.
Thank you to the meet directors Mike and Andy for putting on a great meet with everything a lifter could ask for to succeed. I highly recommend anyone in the Northeast check their meets out for their fun, lifter friendly atmosphere.
Thank you David Tate, and the rest of the team at elitefts for being the best sponsors in the business.
Most of all, thank you to my wife Liz for going through the weight cut, the travel and the grind of the meet with a smile every time. Powerlifting wives (and husbands) are the unsung heroes of the sport.
And thank you to all of the readers and supporters of elitists.com. You guys will never know how much your support over the years means to the athletes and contributors and employees of this unique and special company/team.
Thank you all.