Geezer's Long March Toward the Elite Sneaking Up On the Finish Line

[Mark E. Hurling]

Oh boy! Cop porn. How old is this place on reddit? Thanks.

[elVarouza]

Oh boy! Cop porn. How old is this place on reddit? Thanks.

I think it's about a year old based on the all time posts. If you're new to reddit you can sort by top and all time to read the best stories (http://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromThe...sort=top&t=all). I've been slowly making my way through the stories. I think I'm on page 4 or so.

[Mark E. Hurling]

I asked just because of the name of the place sounds so much like Tales of the Blue Religion. I may have shot myself in the foot for marketing my own book in the future by putting my writings here. Ah well, it wasn't like JM3 didn't warn me about that. Although mine has a definite linkage and narrative arc when those tales I laid out are read from start to finish and in order.

[Mark E. Hurling]

It's been a busy day already, because just this morning I had to roll out for a fasting blood test at 8:00 as part of the tire kicking I have going on. The technician doing the blood draw asked what my plans were for the weekend and of course that lead to a little chat while I was getting drained. She then asked what I was being tested for and I told her my AST levels and that they may well have been a result of my lifting. I mentioned the article on the subject and she was fascinated to hear about it. So she'll be looking it up.

Then it was off Anaheim for early weigh-in and equipment check. An easy 45 minute drive to a light industrial area that because of the weekend, had enough parking in the other closed businesses in the area. I had googled the area and it looked like that might be a problem, because it has been in other meets. Citizen's Crossfit is a pretty good venue, it was full but not too crowded and not too warm. Also a good thing.

As I started to check in I passed the USPA president Steve Denison and stopped to thank him for having informed me my entry form was incomplete. You gotta let people know you appreciate what they did for you. There were a whole bunch of other officials I recognized from past meets as I got to the table. First question. What are your pin heights. I was semi-confident of my memory of them being 16-13-10. But it set me off into an OCD do-loop that wouldn't let me rest until I had verified them. Which given that the racks were being used by lifters warming up for just the squat made that a little arduous. Especially since I forgot that you use the lower rack brackets for the bench press. The 13 setting had me pretty flummoxed until someone pointed it out to me. So 13 it was. I didn't bother with the last one since I had the first 2 right. Equipment check elicited a few chuckles with the Old Guys Rule patch on it and my Hwæt! t-shirt. Since I was asked, I explained about Beowulf being the patron saint of masters lifters.

I ran into Paul Horn after weigh-in with one of the lifters he was there to support. A couple weeks ago I sent off an email to him to discuss some tune ups on my form and programming after the meet. He said he'd be at the meet, so I was looking out for him. Great guy, I look forward to getting some coaching from him. I was a little concerned about the heat, but the temperature was in the mid 7o's when I got checked out and left at 11:00.

I'm feeling solid and confident about tomorrow. I'm still drilling my brain with the commands and I have some lingering worries about my squat depth, but not too much.

[Dave Klopp]

My first meet is in May with USPA actually. Well at least I hope it is. I've not received a confirmation back and I have emailed the meet director.
Obviously I don't know my pin heights. Is this determined beforehand?
Good luck with your lifts!

[Flatlandman]

Go Mark!

[Mark E. Hurling]

My first meet is in May with USPA actually. Well at least I hope it is. I've not received a confirmation back and I have emailed the meet director.
Obviously I don't know my pin heights. Is this determined beforehand?
Good luck with your lifts!

I'm guessing you mean the Fit Expo in Chi-town, right?

They may not confirm by email nowadays. They used to, but I suspect the growth of their international arm, the IPL, has soaked up some of their ability to do this. I say this because I noticed a bunch of IPL meets in Russia in the upcoming meets.

Since this is your first meet you go to an adjustable rack in the warmup area. Depending on the racks, you may be able to look at the numbers next to the holes, or you may have to count the number of holes. The highest number is the height for the squat. I always select a number that puts the bar at my sternum at roughly the height of my nipples. Just like I do at the gym. They will also ask "In or out?" I had forgotten this, but if you take a wider grip on the bar when you squat, you will want to answer, "In." Because out will have the rack stands vertical and you may have no room for your hands. "In" will angle the rack uprights inward several inches and will afford you any additional space you might need.

The second number is the height you feel is best for taking the bar out of the rack to bench press. The bench press brackets, as I mentioned, are around 12" lower than the top flanges for the squat. Count the holes or use the numbers the same as for the squats. This is what took me aback.

The last number is for the safeties of the bench if the spotters and all else fails. It is a separate set of roughly 12" racks below the bench press flanges.

I hope this helps. But if you have any questions, save them for me for Monday, or a little later today. I'll be in no position to respond tomorrow.

Crush it in May!

[Mark E. Hurling]

Go Mark!

Thanks.

[bob g]

...
I'm feeling solid and confident about tomorrow.
...

Excellent.

[Bill Quick]

Thinking of you, Mark, and sending my best wishes for some huge lifts for you today!