Balancing a nomadic lifestyle with a passion for strength training is a pretty unique challenge. The wisdom of Uncle Rip’s famous saying, “When you sign up for a meet, your training improves,” resonates deeply with me, but the structure of a traditional powerlifting meet can be a stumbling block for travelers and digital nomads like myself. The logistics of traveling for international competitions, eligibility concerns, and dedicating an entire day to compete abroad can be off-putting, to say the least. The early-morning weigh-ins and long wait times can test the patience of even the most dedicated. Additionally, having referees shouting lift commands can become tiresome for even seasoned lifters. 

But I can’t let Rip take all the credit for this “mock meet” idea. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how much clients can inspire me to train harder. Out of the blue, Martin, a Swedish lawyer, sent me videos of his no-nonsense garage meet, which included his wife and some friends. He hit a 175kg box squat (to depth) – and keep in mind that he could barely squat 40kg when I first met him. He benched 105kg, a complete 180-degree turnaround from his initial bench. His deadlift was a staggering 190kg, and he almost closed in on 200kg that day. I was incredibly proud and taken aback by his progress. I'm usually good at judging who has the dedication for long-term strength training, but I was wrong about Martin. He made me eat my words, and I love it when clients surprise me like this. Bra gjort, Martin! (“Well done” in Swedish, FYI). 

So, I thought: Why don’t I do my own “mock meet”? I only go to meets to beat my personal records anyway. Placing well, being competitive or receiving accolades has never been why I train for strength. I love to battle against myself: me versus me – my favorite adversary. 

Of course, travel has been a wonderful experience. It brings me a lot of joy to see a dozen countries in a year, but I truly believe that true happiness can be distilled into three P’s: Purpose, Progress, and Passionate obsession. 

Purpose is the driving force behind our actions, and for me, it's about making an impact beyond ourselves. There's an indescribable sense of pride that surges through me when I witness a lifter – someone I've nurtured from the ground up – conquer their first 4-plate deadlift or press 2 plates. It's a privilege not all people get in their lifetime, and that’s the stark truth. My personal records now take years to inch forward, but watching my clients follow in my footsteps, armed with the knowledge I've imparted, is immensely gratifying. Their victories fuel my own motivation, and I care deeply about their progress, perhaps more than even they realize. 

Progress, to me, is the essence of happiness in life. It translates into smashing personal records at the gym. I demand excellence from myself; I must always strive to do better. Our prime physical years are limited, and eventually we all grow weaker (none of us are immortal, after all). So, why not push the limits now? Father Time inevitably catches up, and I refuse to become the person who regrets not gaining that extra 25 pounds or not taking training seriously when the opportunity was ripe. 

Passionate obsession is the missing ingredient. Passion alone isn't sufficient; you must display signs of being obsessed with your goals and interests. This is a sure-fire path to achieving success beyond your wildest dreams. If you had told me 11 years ago that I would naturally achieve 300/400/500/600 without steroids, gaining over 100 pounds of body weight in the process, I'd have thought you were delusional and needed to hop back into that DMC DeLorean. The truth is, those who accomplish anything physically demanding or truly remarkable allow themselves to be consumed by the process. 

Take Alex Honnold, for instance, the first person to free-solo climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He knew every nook and cranny of that rock, meticulously memorizing each move. That's obsession – a necessity when your life hangs in the balance. The stakes don't get higher than that. It's all about putting skin in the game. 

I was traveling in Canada, so I decided to have my own Canadian Carl Powerlifting Championships. To transform a regular training session into a meet-like experience, I implemented several strategies: 

Visualization: I wrote on paper my 3 attempts, just as I would in a real competition. Squat: 220/240/260kg. Bench: 150/167.5/181.5kg. Deadlift: 250/272.5/285kg. This was done 3 - 4 weeks prior to the meet date, as I had a better idea of what I was realistically able to attempt by this stage. I intentionally low-balled my 2nd attempt bench to save it for the 3rd (or that’s what I was thinking, anyway). 

Mindset: I donned my powerlifting singlet (which I had in my suitcase just in case a meet happened while traveling). This simple wardrobe change switched me into competition mode. Wearing regular training gear wasn’t going to make it feel like an event: I wanted to put myself as close to meet conditions as possible, so the attire felt appropriate. The spandex was in full effect! My focus and energy were instantly raised to meet-level alertness. 

Environment: I introduced elements to add drama, such as having someone take photos of my PR attempts using my DSLR camera. Just as at Strengthlifting meets, where Nick is there taking pictures, it added more realness. It felt like a statement – that this was a moment worth capturing – and those clicks of the shutter made me want to perform my best. Remember, the camera never lies. 

Team Spirit: In accordance with traditional practice in Canada, I brought a dozen Tim Horton doughnuts to share with fellow gym-goers. I texted members I knew, saying that I was going to max out, and many were there and were extremely supportive. I did this to create camaraderie and an atmosphere of support. Several people helped spot me, cheered, took pictures, and some even helped load my bar. All of it was great motivation to step up and dominate the weights.

The 3 Lifts 

Squat: Being 110% confident in my squat ability paid off. With well-planned attempts and a “Captain Kirk Karwoski” mindset, I strapped on my balls from the glove box and went out there and performed. I surprised myself by successfully lifting 260kg. Usually my back feels quite fatigued and I have very little to give by the time deadlift comes around. Today was not that day. 

Bench: I consulted with the resident powerlifting bench specialist, Ruslan. A Kazakhstani powerlifter, he has benched 230kg at 98kg. “Your attempts don’t make sense, I’ve seen you bench 150x5.” He was right. So I moved to 160/170/181.5kg. In hindsight I should have shot for 175kg, but I really wanted 400lbs, which was hubris. Really, my problem was impatience. 400lbs felt light in my hands – a strange and empowering feeling. I was just too impatient on my descent and dropped the bar too low onto my belly, which totally mis-grooved me. The result? A failed lift. 

What I did differently than in a powerlifting meet: 

1.  I used a touch and go, not a paused rep. I prefer it, I’m stronger that way, and there’s less risk of injury from a late press call (especially if you’re asking a gym bro to shout lift commands). 
2.  I used elbow sleeves, mainly for warmth and comfort. They don’t add significant pounds to my lifts. 
3.  Mono-lift arms: these allow me to bench without a spotter for the un-rack, since the J-hooks swing back. This means I can pick up the bar from the bench with pinched scapulas, instead of someone handing me the bar badly. They’re an excellent tool (in my opinion, better than regular J-hooks). To save your shoulders and allow you to train consistently, you want a replicable un-rack 24/7 for every set, from training loads to max weights. 
4.  I missed my third attempt because of nerves and excitement, so I took a 4th attempt, which wouldn’t have been available in an actual meet. It was nice to have the option, although my outcome was the same – I failed 400lbs. But you will be mine soon enough, when I’m ready! 

Deadlift: The climax of the mock meet: yes, I finally deadlifted 600lbs. This lift was similar to my 315lbs press. It felt euphoric, and I was on an adrenaline high for several hours after. The third attempt, in retrospect, should have been waved off, because someone turned the magnets on and 285kg was stapled to the floor. I used straps during my attempts, and straps are not allowed at a powerlifting meet. I also pulled 600lbs in my Olympic weightlifting shoes. I like to Olympic lift occasionally (to put it into perspective, it’s a hobby I take as seriously as a banker takes golf). So being strong in my lifters made sense to me.

I also wanted to prove that it can be done in lifters, and that these shoes don’t adversely affect my pulling mechanics, as many people want you to believe. You can wear your Olympic lifting shoes at a powerlifting meet. I’ve done so many times – but be prepared for every powerlifter and their mother to tell you that you shouldn’t, and that you should be in Chuck Taylors. Don’t listen to them. Remember, the net heel in most lifting shoes is 1/4 of an inch. That’s not the reason you don’t pull 600lbs. Trust me. 

In my state of euphoria, after having hit 2 of 3 projected PRs, I totally forgot that I’d wanted to do a weigh-out, like at the Strength Lifting meets. It’s the only true way to weigh yourself, in my opinion. But I’d guess I was sitting at around 260 to 265lbs, give or take a few Sour Patch sweets. 

I was very happy with my performance on “meet” day – especially the deadlift. That 600lbs was the dragon I had come to slay. I’m finally in the 600lbs club, and that heavy pull happened after a 573lbs squat and a 374lbs bench. After all, as one particularly strong powerlifter told me, if you just come into the gym and do one lift, that’s not powerlifting – to make your numbers truly count, you have to get a total. A “total”, to the non-powerlifting-initiated, combines your heaviest successful lift for the squat, bench and deadlift. As mentioned above, I did all my lifts slightly against the rules, using mono-lift arms on the bench and straps on the deadlift, but I’m very happy with my total of 702.5kg / 1,549lbs. I have no regrets. 

This mock meet was a great idea and I will definitely do it again, when the time calls for it. I learned many important lessons on the platform. So, if you find your training taking a back seat to your nomadic adventures, if you lack the drive to come in and add 5lbs to the bar every week, or if you don’t have a meet near you but you still want to get stronger, consider a mock meet, and set a date with destiny.

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