Mark Rippetoe

The Most Important Lift of My Life, Or How To Answer the Question “Strong Enough?

TommyGun

Rip, glad you enjoy this article. It was written with gratitude to you, for what I learned from you about the importance of strength. The things I learned from the book and the training program continue to benefit me and my loved ones in many ways.

Time passes on since I wrote that article...my Dad passed (all good) and I held his hand as he drew his laugh breath, now my kids are in college, and I am still training, or at least attempting to be consistent. (and yes, both kids are nursing majors - an academically demanding major with practical application).

I can still go toe to toe with my 20 year old son in a physical game of one on one basketball, and I sure as hell can kick the ass of my daughter's boyfriend.

Thanks Rip. I really need to get down there soon for a seminar.

JJ23

Tom, thanks for sharing this wonderful story.

Your elevator rides remind me of why I started training. The Mrs. - in a time shortly after the birth of our oldest and in a state of likely emotional imbalance stated "someday we'll put him down and never pick him up again" . Being naturally defiant, I said " oh yah?".

Then I found starting strength. We now do "hang out" every night before bath, which is the same as elevator.

Your story about your dad is touching and equally important, your efforts are working to ensure your kids won't be getting a similar call until you're much older. I call that a win.

Jason Donaldson

I'm glad to see the repost - I love this one, Tom. Thanks for writing it. I know you say it's all good, but still, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm glad you got to share these things with your dad, and to be there for him, in life and at its end.

My wife and I met somewhat late in life, and so started on kids late. Being able to play effectively with increasingly bigger boys is a wonderful thing.

My father-in-law has been declining for some time with dementia, as well as diabetes and other health issues. A couple years ago, we were traveling to a family member's wedding, when we stopped at a gas station/fireworks store for a pit stop. Dad had no walker with him, and it took over an hour to get him across the store, into the bathroom, and back, because he was suffering a bout of weakness, and couldn't stand or walk on his own. That was one of my biggest "strong for someone else" events so far, as no one else there, in the family or the staff of the store were strong enough to support him and help him, but thankfully, I was. I often tell myself in the gym that this rep is the most important thing in the world, and that's good mental training, because, as your piece shows, sometimes it really will be.

It is important for men to rage against the dying of the light.

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night

Maybach

When people ask me about how strong they need to be, I've started replacing multiples of their bodyweight with multiples of their loved one's bodyweights. Those are the ones that are going to come up.

If you're a relatively able bodied man, be able to press your girlfriend and your mom.

Sstrpls

Hi Rip, If you can make your own fragmental plates of whatever weight, which would be the lightest weight, beyond which there would be no point? Consider the weakest person you would ever train.

Mark Rippetoe

Depends on who you're training. Old women need 0.5lb jumps, you need 2lb jumps.

Sstrpls

I feel like an old woman and certainly lift like one, so I'm covered, thanks.

Jason Donaldson

One detail to keep on mind: Make sure you're lifting with the same plates and bar (and collars, or at least collar type) each time, to make this work. Variances on equipment can easily exceed small jumps, so lifting at home or at least being able to mark and reuse a gym's equipment will be necessary.