First meet

[Tobes]

I recently learned about a meet on Jan. 28 that is reasonably close to where I live. I plan on entering the bench-only contest. While I have no expecations of winning and I know 4-5 weeks isn't really enough time to prepare, would it still be a good idea to enter it and compete just to learn and get a taste of what powerlifting is like?

[Old Olympic Lifter]

Hi Tobes
Without hesitation,my advice would be:HAVE A GO,mate.

Tobes,I would be a rich man today if I'd received a dollar from every gym trainee who's said to me something along the lines of "I've every intention of competing,but not until I can do 'such & such' in training",and believe me,they NEVER do.As Dan John has often stated on his excellent website,the best way to improve your performances in ANY discipline,be it powerlifting,weightlifting,throwing etc,is to TAKE PART in competition on a regular basis.For example,the Soviets have always been great believers in entering their novice Olympic lifters in plenty of contests to gain experience - as they move up through the higher levels,the number of contests will then gradually reduce.

There are just so many variables you may encounter in a competition which will never arise in training,and at novice level the best way to learn to cope with these is by competing often.Also Tobes,if American powerlifters are anything like those here in New Zealand,then believe me,you'll find that they'll be only too happy to help you out with advice and support.I've personally seen guys here who are regular competitors at IPF World Championships level,assisting and encouraging newcomers at novice contests - they don't judge you by how much you can lift,but rather by your genuine desire for the sport.

Regards and best wishes
Ron Mann (aka Old Olympic Lifter)

[Tobes]

Thanks.

[Scott Shetler]

Tobes,

I have to echo Ron and say do the meet. I am still a newbie in the sport less than 2 years PL'ing and only two meets and gearing up for my 3rd. I have never met any cooler people than the other lifters at my meets. Even people I was lifting against were supportive and helped me out especially when they new it was my first meet. Powerlifting is a cool sport like that, it is an individual sport and sure at the higher levels you are competing for titles and to win, but every lifter I have met knows when you get out on the platform it is you against the weights and you going for that PR and everyone wants to see you get it. Lifting in a meet is WAY different than lifting in training and is a great experience. It's weird with all the internet BS, all the name calling and all the debates on why raw lifters rule and geared lifters suck and vice versa, you would think a PL meet is nothing but an ego show. It is nothing like all the stupid message boards on the net. At least in my Fed, it doesn't matter whether you are raw, equipped, newbie or veteran. Everyone is cool, and everyone is there supporting each other. Do your first meet and you will be hooked!

Good luck!
-Scott

[zebulondragonslayer]

Hi Tobes,

Would that be the AAU meet to be held in Richmond on Jan 28th ? If so, Marty will be there with the cat herd. Back in Feb 2004, I competed in the first meet I had ever gone to. It was an AAU Bench only and Marty encouraged me to enter. I then started doing the squats and deadlifts too and now have around 5 meets under my belt - 3 full, that 1st bench only and a push/pull. I say go for it !!!! How much do you weigh ? Some of the weight classes are 181 lbs, 198, 220, 242, 275, ......... Be sure to start praticing a pause on your benches. The way it works is you take a liftoff from a spotter or someone you bring with you and then slowly bring the bar to your chest - touch the chest, and wait for the judge to say "PRESS". You then explode the bar up. I typically can pause around 20 lbs less than my best touch and go. After you lock your elbows at the top, freeze, until the judge says - "Rack it." and there you go..... Good Luck !!!

[Bobcat]

I agree. Do it. I'm new at it, too. I've done three meets, one in each of three federations. Across the board, the lifters cheer one another on, compare notes, offer assistance and generally make things better for one another. No backbiting, trash-talking, cheating--just moving lots of iron. Everybody loves a newbie who really wants to lift.

I can especially identify with Ron's point about the variables you'll encounter in competition, and with everyone's point about the attitude of other lifters. For example, in my second meet I squatted on an unfamiliar surface. I lost my first attempt--at a weight I was accustomed to lifting without too much effort. Another squatter passed on an observation about what appeared to go wrong. I was able to correct the problem because of another lifter's help and went on to squat big.

My thought: I should have starting entering meets sooner.

Some of the lifters I've met have entered a few meets with short preparation. They say they deal with it by regarding the meet as a heavy workout. A single-lift entry really lends itself to this kind of mindset.

[Tobes]

Actually, the meet is an APA one in New Hampshire. Richmond is a little far away from me. There's also an APF one in NH in February and a raw one (nonsanctioned) in Rhode Island in April. I'll definitely do at least one of those three.
There is a good powerlifting gym near me called Total Performance Sports (at least I've heard a lot of good things about it). I'll probably eventually look into joining that gym, but I'm on the hook with the gym that I belong to until July. Until then, the best way to learn about the sport from people who have been there is to compete, I guess.

[Scott Shetler]

Tobes,

I have heard really good things about TPS. I have Murph's DVD "Strongman Training for Athletes" and it is awesome. I'm sure you will learn a lot training with those guys! Personally I'd head over there right away if I were you. Good luck!

-Scott

[Tobes]

With my current financial situation, I'm not sure if I can jump ship at the moment, though it may be the best thing for me. I know from first-hand experience, getting out of a contract for a gym can be kind of messy. For the most part I like my current gym, though it may not be the best place for the direction I'm going.
I do plan on going to TPS sooner or later. Think they'd let me go in there one or two times to see what it's like?
There's also a Poliquin Performance (I think that's what it's called) place in the town where I grew up, about a half-hour from here.

[Scott Shetler]

Tobes,

I would stick with TPS if you want to pursue powerlifting. I'm sure they would let you check it out. Explain your situation to them and see what happens.

[Tobes]

It's funny, I don't see any membership information on TPS's web site. I guess I'll give them a call.

[Marty]

dare to struggle, dare to win - putting your self on the spot will exponentially magnify your training - with a competition looming training focus and clarity emerge effortlessly...

[Tobes]

I found another powerlifting gym near me that I plan on trying out soon. It's a really small place. I'm just trying to hook up with one of the power lifting training groups (our schedules haven't quite meshed yet) to go through a workout and see what it's like.
Today I saw an ADFPF deadlift meet listed on Powerliftingwatch.com for March 4 in Hingham, MA. I'll give that one a go. Ironically, it's two days before my 40th birthday.
This weekend, I'm doing something more endurance-oriented: Climbing the stairs at the John Hancock Tower (62 floors).
I know that eventually I'm going to have to focus on one thing, but for now I'm just throwing things against the wall and seeing what sticks.