Opening Act

I returned yesterday evening from the USPA Capital of Texas Open with the intention of writing my blog and reviewing the event.  But with so much adrenaline still flying through my system just talking about it, I decided to wait another day to reflect on everything that happened.  Plus, by 9:30 my body and mind called it quits and I crashed hard.

I would like to say first that Robert Gallegos, with the assistance of Austin Simply Fit, put on a well run and amazing event!  Lifters from around Texas started filing in around 8am, including six from our very own Olympic Gym.  You may associate O.G. with "original gangster"...but here it IS Olympic Gym.  All six of the O.G. athletes, trained by the one and only Jill Mills, placed in their weight class and came home with medals, including the men's best overall lifter, Rich Bufalini.

I know for me personally, it was some of the best competition lifting I have ever done.  Chalk it up to actually taking days off, having my Barn Crew cheering me on, Gary finding the only place that sells Big Red Zero, or the inspirational lifting clinic that Jill put on as a guest lifter...it is one day I will not soon forget.  It's days like this that make busting your ass in the gym worth every damn minute!

I spent a lot of my day as the opening act for my coach's larger than life lifts. And it was freakin' AWESOME!  How many people can say they have shared a platform with the person that inspires them the most?  Well, I have now!  She staked claim to a 1250 total with a 440 squat, 281 bench...barely missing her third lift of 303, and a 529 deadlift.  The good thing was...at least I didn't have to go after those lifts!  And you had to feel some sympathy for the guys loading the bar, they had to strip all that weight every time so that we could start the rotation over.  I would venture to guess they might be a little sore today.   

As for me, I came pretty damn close to hitting all my goals for the meet...and each of my lifts was a PR for me in the 165lb weight class.  My squat, which I had started from scratch with less than a year ago, is just two pounds shy of the 200 mark.  Although the 200lb bench still eludes me, I did hit a 187...up six pounds from my last couple of meets.  And finally, I hit and exceeded my big goal of a 350 deadlift, ending with a 352, a twenty pound meet PR.  My deadlift came courtesy of: 1. lots of strongman training, 2. my judge at California's Strongest Woman, Donnie Rhodes, who mentioned to me after the event that he thought my 365lb deadlift was more me than the suit (I'm guessing because I use so much back rather than leg), and 3. Jill's husband, Milo, who was standing next to me when I went to put in my final lift.  I was going to play it safe, but he gave me much higher numbers to pick from.  And with one pull, no hitches, it all came together.  It was just like hitting a game winning buzzer beater from half court...without the post game dog pile, thank goodness.

A big, huge congratulations to all of my Barn Crew and coach on some freakin' great lifting!  And even bigger thank you for making this day one of a kind! 



      


 

Game Plan

"If you are prepared, you will be confident, and you will do the job." Tom Landry

I have spent a lot of time drawing up game plans; all the x's and o's, on scraps of paper, napkins, and even courtside on the floor.  I could break down the strengths and weakness of every player on the floor.  In a split second, I could identify what was going to happen when the ball was inbounded after a time out...just by watching the players return to the floor.  The player with her head down...that was the one that lacked confidence and would either be a decoy or completely out of the play.  The two that came back on the floor discussing what went on during the time out...the one talking is your shooter while the one listening is your screener.  The quiet, wide-eyed player...that is your in-bounder that is repeating to herself, "do not turn the ball over".  And the one that runs back on the floor and immediately takes her position, that is your point guard...your confident leader.

Hopefully, everyone understands a little about basketball...otherwise, that probably didn't make a lot of sense.  But that was my job as a head coach, to prepare my players for a game that lasted forty minutes.  Five players versus five players. 

This weekend it is my job to prepare myself...for a game against myself.  And I have to say, although I am getting better at it, it is not an easy thing to accomplish.  Five on five with a bench full of subs is a lot easier!  Between powerlifting and strongman competitions, there have been plenty of times when I wish I had a time out so I could get my game back on track.  But in these two sports, I really don't think asking for a time out would be well received.     

This weekend my game plan is in place:  I have actually taken most of the week to deload, so I am well rested, my personal goals are set and include PR's in two of my lifts (a third would just be icing on the cake), and the plan to reach those two very attainable PR's is done.  But we all know that game plans sometimes go right out the window before the game even starts.  So, my main goal is to start strong on the very first lift, focus on each lift individually, and don't spend time over-thinking...just attack each one, make adjustments as necessary, and hit some big numbers!

Regardless of the outcome, as long as I come out a stronger and more mentally tough athlete...then my job is done.  And finally, and most importantly...I am going to have fun!!!

Time to pack up and hit the road!