Age Groups and Competition

[carson]

Lol... Mecca? Make sure your opening attempts are weights you know you can easily make, then go from there. Good Luck.

The choice of weight selection is solid advice but if you don't like Starting Strength why do you keep posting here. I would think that it's as waste of your time and ours.

[Meshuggah]

The choice of weight selection is solid advice but if you don't like Starting Strength why do you keep posting here. I would think that it's as waste of your time and ours.

Where does my post say anything about SS? The last post (#1685) in your training log is very sad, why cant you train without someone holding your hand?
I've seen this over and over from you. I would think after all this time, you would have enough confidence to train without having a babysitter. Sad...

Here comes Hercules


Put me back on ignore or keep your pie hole shut.

Look at this... https://www.themeccagym.com/about-us/

[carson]

You are on my ignore list. But just out of curiosity I check in from time to time, but I don't type with my pie hole. Do you?

Still, since you like to try to make fun of Starting Strength why keep posting.

Finally, when did I say I wouldn't be training this week? We have many gyms in our area.

[Meshuggah]

You are on my ignore list. But just out of curiosity I check in from time to time, but I don't type with my pie hole. Do you?

Still, since you like to try to make fun of Starting Strength why keep posting.

Finally, when did I say I wouldn't be training this week? We have many gyms in our area.

Admit it, you wont train without your coach. You said this... "Because of Sully's March to the Sea next week there are no lifts scheduled"
I even remember you stating that all of your training sessions are under the supervision of a coach. Sad...

[lou t]

Admit it, you wont train without your coach. You said this... "Because of Sully's March to the Sea next week there are no lifts scheduled"

I think its time you two got into couples counseling. lol

[Meshuggah]

I think its time you two got into couples counseling. lol

Lol. It wouldn't do any good, carson is too brainwashed.

[Mark E. Hurling]

I think its time you two got into couples counseling. lol

Not a chance. Shug enjoys the negative attention too much.

More and more he reminds me of this kid. Except he never grew out of it.

[Browndog]

nothing wrong with being anxious. it means your alive. I can lay some shit on you if you like?

Thanks, I'll hit you up if I don't get the info I need tomorrow.

Don't let nerves defeat you. My first year of competing I was a wreck, but managed to git 'er done. A brief list:

I blew my first attempt in the bench in my first meet, forgetting to await the "rack!" command.

I got called for hitching in my second meet as the heat and dehydration gave me the shakes during my 2nd DL attempt.

I qualified for the IPL Worlds and was the first guy to lift that day in the squats. Forgot to await the "squat!" command that time. Coupled with 4 mis-loads during the course of that meet by the platform crew.

Just keep breathing deep, and clear your mind of all but what you want to do on that attempt as you await your turn on the platform.

Indeed, all these things cross my mind.

[AParrillo]

What federation? USAPL breaks down by 5 year increments 60-64, 65-69 etc. either way, why not participate even if you know you can not compete directly? Have your own goals for the meet, PR's, 9 for 9 etc.

Thanks, you are right about participating. I was not planning on powerlifting, just C&J and snatch. IWF Masters are 35 and up and USAPL has Master IV for 70 and up. I do not know what rules will apply, but it makes no difference because preparing for a meet will give me a training target.

[Bestafter60]

Ok, I can report my experiences at my first meet as related to your questions:

I was nervous as hell listening to the meet instructions, which began at about 9:15. After that 5 of us were in the locker room changing, when one guy mentioned this was his first meet. The rest of us said "same here", which created immediate relief and created *a shared sense of comeraderie that persisted throughout the day. I'll estimate 30-40% of us were first-timers.

At 64, a bit younger than you, I was the oldest guy in the meet, but not by a wide margin. There was a guy 61 years old, if I remember correctly, who was just huge, and looked like he could dominate the meet, despite a host of "crazy strong" 20-40 year olds. He, amazingly, missed 3 squat attempts and "bombed out" (was disqualified from further competition). I watched him complete the lifts, but the referees saw flaws in his form that disqualified the lifts.

That happened to me, too, earlier in the day. Lifts were scheduled in order from lowest to highest attempt weight and I was kinda low/middle. I heeded good advice and set my first lift low. It was my very first competition lift. Grabbed the bar, squatted and stood up very easily, then turned and saw two red lights. A FAIL! I did not go deep enough. Then in my upset state I neglected to give the judges a revised weight for my second lift. So I was surprised when I raised the bar off the racks and it weighs 30 lbs more! But I was still in my comfort zone at 280lbs, went 2" deeper than necessary and paused just to be sure, and lifted the weight without difficulty. Emotionally at that point I wanted to kick ass and go for a PR but opted for a conservative 300, which I successfully completed.*

Had another fail on my 3rd Press attempt of 165, despite pressing and holding the weight overhead. There was a slight stop/restart in upward progress, a disqualifier, which caused me to miss a PR.*

These were instructive misses. I'm attending the Seminar in June to see that they never happen again. And they kind of relaxed me for the rest of the meet.

For Deadlift, I made the first attempt but had a grossly wide grip. Upon successful completion, Rip said, "see Coach Reynolds before your next lift". Matt was kind enough to correct my grip and offer other tips. I completed the next two lifts and set a PR of 385lbs easily thanks in part to the advice.

Then two new buddies, Steve and Dave, in my age range blew me away and Deadlifted about 440 or 450 and reset my goals and my belief in what is possible. Then I watched a much stronger 40 yesr old named Craig deadlift about 450 with ease, talk to Matt, and set a new PR above 500lbs next time up. Then the crazy strong guys finished up in the 600's. There were about a dozen women competing. I was impressed by the amount some were lifting, and their amazing determination. They were great to watch.

There was geat cameraderie throughout the day and most guys talked about coming back in the Fall.

AParillo, to sum up, go for it, I think you'll enjoy the experience!