Still on the Right Side of the Grass

[Browndog]

6/12/21

Meet Prep - All Done reps/sets

Bench - 40kg 5*2, 50kg 4*2, 60kg 3*2, 70kg 2*2, 77.5kg *2, 82.5kg *2
Squat - 60kg 5*2, 80kg 3*2, 100kg 2*2, 110kg *2
Leg Extn - 50kg 10*3
GHR - bw 10*3

That's that.
I feel pretty good: knee is cooperating, weight is at 198lbs (which is par for the course), back is loosening up.

Fly tomorrow, and get in to Daytona in the late afternoon. I'll watch our youth lifters Monday morning, and a lightweight masters lifter in the afternoon.

I'm up Tuesday afternoon: 4:00pm start. I understand that there are only two platforms in use. I should know my platform, but I haven't looked at the roster in a few weeks. For those so inclined, the day's session will be on YouTube.

[Browndog]

I'm back...

I took a new device on the road, and couldn't remember my passwords, hence the radio silence. Well that, and I'm still trying to come to grips with my performance (or lack thereof) Tuesday afternoon.

The forensics:

Squat -
1st attempt the head judge wouldn't give me a start command due to my left knee "not being locked out". We actually had a conversation while I had the bar on my back, about the fact that that my knee was as far back as it would go. I had to soften the knees and then re-lock them to prove the point...with the bar on my back.
Two reds!

2nd attempt As I was a little shaken by the experience of the first, we kept the weight the same - had to get in the meet!
2-1 good lift.

3rd attempt was a paltry 135kg and it was all I could do that day...maybe 5 kg more, but that was it.
2:1 good lift

Bench:
1st attempt at 90kg was another snafu with the judges. The head judge was ready, the sides were still getting seated as I un-racked the bar. So I was held up from starting (with the damn bar in my hands) until the sides were "ready".
I got the lift, but I didn't feel good about it.

2nd attempt was a small jump and I just got it

3rd Attempt was 95kg, and for the life of me I don't know what I was doing...pinned!
PINNED AT 95KG! Much disappointment...

Deadlift:
1st attempt was delayed. They wanted both platforms to go off at the same time. We waited 10 minutes, and add to that the time between my last warm-up (another 7 minutes), I was "cold". walking out to the bar.
The lift was good, but not comfortable.

2nd attempt went to 195kg, and my back got a little cranky at mid point.
Good lift, but I was concerned.

3rd attempt was perhaps the 2nd worst experience of my sporting life ( I won't go into the first). I was in a dog fight for third, and I knew it. I had to hit 205kg to win on body weight. I walked out to the bar, and every emotion of the last 18 months of my shit show of a life hit me right in the "feels". I was in tears as I grabbed the bar.
Needless to say, there was no lift.

I was, and am disappointed in my performance.

I know enough to realize that my performance was effected by my back and knee issues over the last 9 months. For as good as my training was going into Chicago, it was equally as poor going into Daytona. But I knew that, and I was at peace with the fact that my numbers wouldn't be PR attempts (except for Bench).

What I wasn't ready for was the emotional component of the day. I visualized everything about the day: how the room would look, what the bar would look like loaded, how the bar would feel in my hands, what each lift would feel like (though I will say that I couldn't visualize my 3rd attempts as a successful lift).

What I didn't factor in was how much I've invested in being a "lifter" (remember that line in "Officer and a Gentleman" where Mayo screams out: "I've got nowhere else to go"). Well Cancer, the dissolution of a 45 year marriage, and my body seemingly betraying me in ways I didn't know were possible flooded my mind. These demons all came out on that 3rd lift.

It's still shocking to re-live that moment. Fortunately my coach, and assistant coach were wonderful in the moment: caring and compassionate.

Wonderfully, my teammates (both in Daytona and back in Buffalo ) were as supportive. I'm blessed to have such a group supporting me throughout these past 18 months.

So, that's the raw, unvarnished truth of the day. My coach and I will sit down and put together a plan to re-build my lifts and confidence when he gets back from Daytona. I love to lift, I'd like to keep competing, and I won't walk away from a community that's been so supportive of me.

So what's that line from the song in "Oklahoma"...pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.

Well that's me. Let's do this!

[Cheesepuff]

Great story, thanks for sharing. Had to read it twice. A lot going on.

[Mr. Bingley]

you're a fucking stud in my book, Browndog

[Mark E. Hurling]

Hey! You showed up, and you got on the platform. Despite some questionable judging, you managed to qualify for all three lifts and stuck it out to the end. That kind of fortitude counts BIG!

In a few ways it reminds me of my own not so great performance at the Indiana Drug Tested State Championships. Especially with the bench press where I got stapled to the bench with a mere 85 kilos when I was certain I could get 105 kilos or better. Then your experience in the squat reminded me of failing my opener at the IPL Worlds because I forgot to wait for the RACK command. I was the first lifter of that day and usually get better calibrated from watching the others lift before me.

Something to consider going forward. Wait a few weeks and look up your age and weight class here. Powerlifting Rankings

You may find it encouraging when you can compare your performance across all federations internationally.

Well done, and get ready for the next meet.

[Charlocity2]

F those judges. This seems to me like another great example of what they talk about here often, in regards to powerlifting and strength lifting: wouldn't it be great to have alternatives that don't rely on judges commands (and pauses)?

I appreciate your authenticity and transparency.

You came in fourth in the NATIONALS in your age and weight class. That must put you on the extreme good end of the bell curve of strength, for men your age.

[Browndog]

Great story, thanks for sharing. Had to read it twice. A lot going on.

you're a fucking stud in my book, Browndog

Hey! You showed up, and you got on the platform. Despite some questionable judging, you managed to qualify for all three lifts and stuck it out to the end. That kind of fortitude counts BIG!

In a few ways it reminds me of my own not so great performance at the Indiana Drug Tested State Championships. Especially with the bench press where I got stapled to the bench with a mere 85 kilos when I was certain I could get 105 kilos or better. Then your experience in the squat reminded me of failing my opener at the IPL Worlds because I forgot to wait for the RACK command. I was the first lifter of that day and usually get better calibrated from watching the others lift before me.

Something to consider going forward. Wait a few weeks and look up your age and weight class here. Powerlifting Rankings

You may find it encouraging when you can compare your performance across all federations internationally.

Well done, and get ready for the next meet.

F those judges. This seems to me like another great example of what they talk about here often, in regards to powerlifting and strength lifting: wouldn't it be great to have alternatives that don't rely on judges commands (and pauses)?

I appreciate your authenticity and transparency.

You came in fourth in the NATIONALS in your age and weight class. That must put you on the extreme good end of the bell curve of strength, for men your age.

Gentlemen, thank you for the words of encouragement.

It's hard to step outside oneself, and view things dispassionately.

We'll put a process in place to rebuild the confidence levels, as well as my baseline strength. I'm learning more about the aftereffects of the hormone and radiation treatments. Seems that there's not a lot of data available on "strength athletes", but what there is points to a much longer recovery period than I could have imagined.

Fortunately my long term goal was to be ready for the Raw Masters 4 age group. I just need to remember that over the next few years #keepthegoalthegoal

Anyway thanks, I appreciate the support!

[Browndog]

6/19/21

Between Programs rep/sets

Squat 2 Box - 60kg 5*3, 80kg 3*2, 90kg 5*3
Pin Bench - 50kg 5*3, 60kg 3*3, 70kg 2*2, 80kg *2, 85kg 1*2
Pin Bench - 70kg 5*3
Belt Squat - 45kg 15*3
Leg Extn - 50kg 20*3

As is the accustomed style post meet, we get to fuck around until we get our next cycle of programming.

I.Am.Not.Looking.Forward.To.Volume.
Top

[granny]

I'm back...

I took a new device on the road, and couldn't remember my passwords, hence the radio silence. Well that, and I'm still trying to come to grips with my performance (or lack thereof) Tuesday afternoon.

The forensics:

Squat -
1st attempt the head judge wouldn't give me a start command due to my left knee "not being locked out". We actually had a conversation while I had the bar on my back, about the fact that that my knee was as far back as it would go. I had to soften the knees and then re-lock them to prove the point...with the bar on my back.
Two reds!

2nd attempt As I was a little shaken by the experience of the first, we kept the weight the same - had to get in the meet!
2-1 good lift.

3rd attempt was a paltry 135kg and it was all I could do that day...maybe 5 kg more, but that was it.
2:1 good lift

Bench:
1st attempt at 90kg was another snafu with the judges. The head judge was ready, the sides were still getting seated as I un-racked the bar. So I was held up from starting (with the damn bar in my hands) until the sides were "ready".
I got the lift, but I didn't feel good about it.

2nd attempt was a small jump and I just got it

3rd Attempt was 95kg, and for the life of me I don't know what I was doing...pinned!
PINNED AT 95KG! Much disappointment...

Deadlift:
1st attempt was delayed. They wanted both platforms to go off at the same time. We waited 10 minutes, and add to that the time between my last warm-up (another 7 minutes), I was "cold". walking out to the bar.
The lift was good, but not comfortable.

2nd attempt went to 195kg, and my back got a little cranky at mid point.
Good lift, but I was concerned.

3rd attempt was perhaps the 2nd worst experience of my sporting life ( I won't go into the first). I was in a dog fight for third, and I knew it. I had to hit 205kg to win on body weight. I walked out to the bar, and every emotion of the last 18 months of my shit show of a life hit me right in the "feels". I was in tears as I grabbed the bar.
Needless to say, there was no lift.

I was, and am disappointed in my performance.

I know enough to realize that my performance was effected by my back and knee issues over the last 9 months. For as good as my training was going into Chicago, it was equally as poor going into Daytona. But I knew that, and I was at peace with the fact that my numbers wouldn't be PR attempts (except for Bench).

What I wasn't ready for was the emotional component of the day. I visualized everything about the day: how the room would look, what the bar would look like loaded, how the bar would feel in my hands, what each lift would feel like (though I will say that I couldn't visualize my 3rd attempts as a successful lift).

What I didn't factor in was how much I've invested in being a "lifter" (remember that line in "Officer and a Gentleman" where Mayo screams out: "I've got nowhere else to go"). Well Cancer, the dissolution of a 45 year marriage, and my body seemingly betraying me in ways I didn't know were possible flooded my mind. These demons all came out on that 3rd lift.

It's still shocking to re-live that moment. Fortunately my coach, and assistant coach were wonderful in the moment: caring and compassionate.

Wonderfully, my teammates (both in Daytona and back in Buffalo ) were as supportive. I'm blessed to have such a group supporting me throughout these past 18 months.

So, that's the raw, unvarnished truth of the day. My coach and I will sit down and put together a plan to re-build my lifts and confidence when he gets back from Daytona. I love to lift, I'd like to keep competing, and I won't walk away from a community that's been so supportive of me.

So what's that line from the song in "Oklahoma"...pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.

Well that's me. Let's do this!

THAT post hit a raw nerve: similar experience a million years ago at nationals - except my world imploded night before I flew out - I went alone, didn't know anyone, no support; got so terribly ill I couldn't even make it to the venue much less lift.

Anyway, I watched the livestream. Couldn't tell what some of the holdups were about (even the commentators were lost at times) or why some of the depth calls were what they were.

I get your disappointment, all the hard work you put in, and the last DL - I totally understand that feeling, I've LIVED that. But hey, despite everything, you did it. You totaled. You fucking totaled anyway. Under the circumstances I thought you acquitted yourself very well. Your resilience, you just bounce back and keep going, keep growing. That's awesome!

[Mark E. Hurling]

Seems that there's not a lot of data available on "strength athletes"

This reminds me of something my previous general practitioner said to me some 10 years ago back in CA. Except he was talking about masters strength athletes in general. Not a lot of study or data on ANYTHING about us folks who refuse to give in idly to rust and gravity.

What's more, this GP was pretty well versed in sports medicine. He had photos of athletes in many sports on his walls from high school up to the professionals. But I was the only old fart he had up there deadlifting.