Usually, when I return home from a competition, my body is beat down from the events, heavy weight, and the mental preparation that binds it all together. This time, however, I have to give credit to a 24-48hr bug that single handedly destroyed every part of my body. I have fought through many competitive events in my life when I was not 100%...you simply block it out, fight through, and worry about the consequences later. And with two events to go on saturday, that was my game plan.
Hope for the Holidays 8 was my first United States Strongman competition. It was also chalked full of record breakers...i.e. if you want your name highlighted in the USS record book, this was the place to be. Each contestant was able to pick one of two deadlift variations, as well as a clean and press with the log or axle. (Format: three attempts at the chosen lift to achieve a max, each attempt was one minute in length, failing to complete a lift within the minute allowed = you're done). The final three events included a short farmers, five tire flips, and an incline log press...the latter being my favorite.
I was more or less tagging along with Jill on this trip, who had been invited to be a celebrity judge at the competition. Record breaking is not necessarily something that drives me, but a weekend of competition surrounded by top notch athletes in strength sports, well, that does. It was also a once in a lifetime chance to get to hang out with Willie Wessels, Mike Johnston, and Jill to hear legendary stories, as well as plans for the future of US Strongman. And if you must know, the future looks bright! This group is, without question, bound by passion, hard work, and love for strongman.
After a short flight to St. Louis, tracking down my luggage, a shooting at the hotel, and an evening at Hooters, I woke up saturday morning with a game plan in mind, and ready to compete. I opened my axle clean and press at 150lbs, something easy to get on the board. My next attempt at 170 felt solid, even though my overhead lock out was not quite as smooth. 180lbs would have been a PR for me, but my jerk failed twice, the subsequent clean failed, and I called it a day.
Next up was the deadlift. I did a few warm-up pulls under 300lbs, squeezed into Jill's old squat suit, had Jill pick my opening pull (since I have never pulled conventional in gear, it was a shot in the dark), and easily completed my opener at 325lbs. My second attempt was somewhere in the 360-70 range, which, thanks to the gear, flew off the floor. So, with my final attempt, I jumped to 405#. This is a number I have been chasing for quite some time, and regardless of the gear, I wanted know what 400lbs felt like in my hands. It felt awesome!
With the max lifts done, I retreated to my space on the gym floor to kick back, throw down a protein bar, and relax before the farmers carry. I found that I wasn't that hungry, but choked down a few bites before heading to the back gym to check out the tires we were up against in event #5. The tire weights were not an issue, but a slick floor would turn the driving force behind the flip into a straight deadlift. No big deal really.
As I geared up for the farmers carry, Jill mentioned that there was an extra pizza from the pizza truck, if I wanted something to eat. Knowing that I needed some fuel, I agreed, and she brought it over. Now, I am a pizza hound...but the smell of this thing completely disgusted me. Less than an hour ago, as I was talking to the strongman doc, I was thinking how good his pizza looked...kinda weird. Oh well, no time to think, I was up for the farmers...a light, seven second run across the gym.
I was fairly pleased with my run, and already contemplating how I could have made it faster, when this feeling of complete physical exhaustion hit me like a brick wall. Before I even had time to think, I broke out into a sweat, was light-headed, and nauseous. I grabbed a bottled water and sat down. In a matter of minutes, I went from game planning the next event, to wondering if I was going to be able to complete it. The extent of my mental conversation...it's only five flips, suck it up and do it. By this time, I was having trouble putting together or conveying a complete thought...my mind was scrambled, I did not have a clue what was going on, but I finished the flips none the less.
The event I was most looking forward to was remaining, the incline log. I approached the log with the same mindset as the tire...just get through it. I vaguely remember warning my spotter, Jill, that I felt like crap, and beware of flying vomit. I grabbed the log, pressed it twice, put it down, dropped to one knee...and wasn't quite sure if I was going to be able to walk away. One of the last things I remember is Jill telling me to go lay down, stumbling to the other end of the gym, and curling up under some piece of clothing. Both the contest, and I, were done.
The next twelve hours I have very little recollection of except adding layers of clothing when freezing, and shedding those layers when burning hot...and worrying. Although my communication skills were left to simple yes and no responses, my mind was running non-stop. From what the hell is going on...to how am I gonna make a flight the next morning. But guess what, I had the World's Strongest Woman (and a nurse) looking after me the entire night...there was really no need to worry.
Thanks again Jill!
Showing posts with label deadlift. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deadlift. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Washington: Strongman Sunday
Before I sit down and write about my awesome road trip to the Northwest, I figured I would begin with a blog about the sunday strongman competition at RAB Fitness, the competitive reason I traveled over 4000 miles in one weekend. By 9am on sunday morning, over 50 strongmen and women had weighed in, rehydrated, refueled, and now gathered at the front of the gym waiting for the rules meeting. Competitors in grey, judges in red, Mike Kromer explained how the day was going to go, where the events were going to take place, and the standards for each event. The mass of strong people then proceeded to the adjacent room to get individual measurements for the first event, the tire squat.
I spent much of the morning debating whether to use wraps or knee sleeves for the squat. For me, a 256lb squat is a bit out of my range, but I also did not want my legs to cave like a new born deer on the first event of the day. My debate ended when HW competitor Kristy Scott pulled out a pair of SBD knee sleeves, and told me to try them. I came close to not giving them back. Although I knew 256lbs would have been a 50lb PR, I did not back down or scratch the event....miracles do happen. Ok, maybe not on this day, as I took a zero for the event. I must have missed the portion of the rules that said you have to stand up with the bar in order for the rep to count. On to the deadlift medley!
Starting a competition with a big fat zero is not optimal, but I was pretty confident going into event #2, the deadlift medley. Four bars (a 283 axle bar, a 365 trap bar, a 411 bar with tires, and a 500 frame) were lined up across the gym floor. The only pull I had little experience with was the frame, but I knew it would be doable. I was the first middle weight to attempt the event. The axle went up fairly easy, the trap bar was a bit of a slow pull off the floor, and I hitched the crap out of the tires. With plenty of time left on the clock, I still managed to rush my set up on the frame, didn't tighten my straps well, and just before lock out lost my grip on the right side of the frame. With 15 seconds remaining, I reset my stance but had nothing left to even budge the frame. But I did set the pace by completing 3 out of the 4 lifts, which would only be surpassed by one competitor.
The third event made me a bit nervous, a max clean and press on the log. I train with a 10" log, and let me tell you, the 2" difference from a competition log is HUGE. I knew the 130lb starting weight would make it overhead, so there would be no zero score for this event. As the LW women finished the event, the log was loaded to a starting weight of 140lbs. Hold the damn phone. 140lbs?? It is one of those mid-comp, mess with your mind kind of changes, but none the less, I was able to get the bar overhead. Only one competitor completed the lift at 150lbs.
For the next event, a medley, there were three implements staggered at different lengths, all to be loaded onto a small platform and a long 410lb sled drag to the finish. I knew there would be quicker competitors, the words "Ashley" and "quick" are not synonymous, so I decided to find a good pace and stick with it. With the constant encouragement of my judge, Grant Higa, I never stopped moving and completed just over twenty feet on the sled portion...good enough for a first place finish.
My first place finish allowed me to go last in the final event, the atlast stones. There were five stones ranging from 140lbs to 230lbs, all to be loaded to a 51" platform. At this point, I knew that the only stone that could pose a problem would be the final 230lber, and I just hoped my adrenaline would fuel me enough to eclipse the 51 inches. I moved through the first four stones in twenty-one seconds but fell short of the platform three times on the final stone. With Mike Kromer in my ear telling me I needed to move faster, I was able to win the event by two seconds.
As I stood in the freezing weather in a sports bra and tight shorts, removing spider tack from my hands, I realized that regardless of my zero score on the squat, I was pretty happy with my overall performance. And as my coach, Jill Mills said via text, "nice comeback". In the final standings, I remained in third place. The points I lost on the first event were too much to overcome...and for what its worth, one single squat would have landed me in a tie for first. But I can not look back at what could have happened, only move forward and squat my ass off until my next competition...a return to my first competition ever, Texas Strongest Man/Woman!
Thank you RAB Fitness, Mike and Lisa Kromer, and Roger and Ally Baker for an amazing weekend of lifting!!!
I spent much of the morning debating whether to use wraps or knee sleeves for the squat. For me, a 256lb squat is a bit out of my range, but I also did not want my legs to cave like a new born deer on the first event of the day. My debate ended when HW competitor Kristy Scott pulled out a pair of SBD knee sleeves, and told me to try them. I came close to not giving them back. Although I knew 256lbs would have been a 50lb PR, I did not back down or scratch the event....miracles do happen. Ok, maybe not on this day, as I took a zero for the event. I must have missed the portion of the rules that said you have to stand up with the bar in order for the rep to count. On to the deadlift medley!
Starting a competition with a big fat zero is not optimal, but I was pretty confident going into event #2, the deadlift medley. Four bars (a 283 axle bar, a 365 trap bar, a 411 bar with tires, and a 500 frame) were lined up across the gym floor. The only pull I had little experience with was the frame, but I knew it would be doable. I was the first middle weight to attempt the event. The axle went up fairly easy, the trap bar was a bit of a slow pull off the floor, and I hitched the crap out of the tires. With plenty of time left on the clock, I still managed to rush my set up on the frame, didn't tighten my straps well, and just before lock out lost my grip on the right side of the frame. With 15 seconds remaining, I reset my stance but had nothing left to even budge the frame. But I did set the pace by completing 3 out of the 4 lifts, which would only be surpassed by one competitor.
The third event made me a bit nervous, a max clean and press on the log. I train with a 10" log, and let me tell you, the 2" difference from a competition log is HUGE. I knew the 130lb starting weight would make it overhead, so there would be no zero score for this event. As the LW women finished the event, the log was loaded to a starting weight of 140lbs. Hold the damn phone. 140lbs?? It is one of those mid-comp, mess with your mind kind of changes, but none the less, I was able to get the bar overhead. Only one competitor completed the lift at 150lbs.
For the next event, a medley, there were three implements staggered at different lengths, all to be loaded onto a small platform and a long 410lb sled drag to the finish. I knew there would be quicker competitors, the words "Ashley" and "quick" are not synonymous, so I decided to find a good pace and stick with it. With the constant encouragement of my judge, Grant Higa, I never stopped moving and completed just over twenty feet on the sled portion...good enough for a first place finish.
My first place finish allowed me to go last in the final event, the atlast stones. There were five stones ranging from 140lbs to 230lbs, all to be loaded to a 51" platform. At this point, I knew that the only stone that could pose a problem would be the final 230lber, and I just hoped my adrenaline would fuel me enough to eclipse the 51 inches. I moved through the first four stones in twenty-one seconds but fell short of the platform three times on the final stone. With Mike Kromer in my ear telling me I needed to move faster, I was able to win the event by two seconds.
As I stood in the freezing weather in a sports bra and tight shorts, removing spider tack from my hands, I realized that regardless of my zero score on the squat, I was pretty happy with my overall performance. And as my coach, Jill Mills said via text, "nice comeback". In the final standings, I remained in third place. The points I lost on the first event were too much to overcome...and for what its worth, one single squat would have landed me in a tie for first. But I can not look back at what could have happened, only move forward and squat my ass off until my next competition...a return to my first competition ever, Texas Strongest Man/Woman!
Thank you RAB Fitness, Mike and Lisa Kromer, and Roger and Ally Baker for an amazing weekend of lifting!!!
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Capital of Texas Open
Next weekend I am headed to Austin, Texas for the USPA Capital of Texas Open, my third full powerlifting meet. We will have a pretty good group headed up from San Antonio to represent Jill Mills' training, including a chunk of the Barn Crew. I truly enjoy this sport and the challenges it presents, even though you are required to wear a singlet (worst idea in the history of sport's uniforms).
Since I have been concentrating more on strongman competitions, this meet will be more of a test to see where I am on my lifts. I have remained pretty consistent on my bench, I hope to go a lot bigger on the deadlift, and it is always hit or miss as to whether my squat will show up or not. But if it does, my goal is to go over 200lbs. Yes, I am one of those that can bench as much as I squat. But considering where I started with my squat, over 200 would be a big accomplishment.
My other reason for choosing to compete in this meet is to work on becoming stronger mentally. During my last meet, I put myself in a position where I had to repeat my opening weight on my very first lift...something I have never experienced. I was shifting my weight really bad to one side, which I used to do all the time in Crossfit in attempt to avoid using an injured knee. Now, there is really no reason for it except for a lack of focus on my form. The squat issue then lead to me missing a lift on the bench...my butt came up on a fairly easy weight...again nothing but a lack of focus on my part. And finally, on my second deadlift, the weight was loaded improperly...5lbs or so heavier on one side. At this point, there was nothing else I could do but laugh. I was finally relaxed and not over or under thinking things and pulled an easy 315 on my final deadlift.
BUT the main reason I am going to Austin is to see my Barn Crew training partner, Rich, lift in a singlet. Just kidding!!! I can not wait to see everyone lift...some for the first time in a meet! Surrounded by a great group of friends, we will all have a good day and represent ourselves and our coach well!...no matter what anyone looks like in a singlet.
Since I have been concentrating more on strongman competitions, this meet will be more of a test to see where I am on my lifts. I have remained pretty consistent on my bench, I hope to go a lot bigger on the deadlift, and it is always hit or miss as to whether my squat will show up or not. But if it does, my goal is to go over 200lbs. Yes, I am one of those that can bench as much as I squat. But considering where I started with my squat, over 200 would be a big accomplishment.
My other reason for choosing to compete in this meet is to work on becoming stronger mentally. During my last meet, I put myself in a position where I had to repeat my opening weight on my very first lift...something I have never experienced. I was shifting my weight really bad to one side, which I used to do all the time in Crossfit in attempt to avoid using an injured knee. Now, there is really no reason for it except for a lack of focus on my form. The squat issue then lead to me missing a lift on the bench...my butt came up on a fairly easy weight...again nothing but a lack of focus on my part. And finally, on my second deadlift, the weight was loaded improperly...5lbs or so heavier on one side. At this point, there was nothing else I could do but laugh. I was finally relaxed and not over or under thinking things and pulled an easy 315 on my final deadlift.
BUT the main reason I am going to Austin is to see my Barn Crew training partner, Rich, lift in a singlet. Just kidding!!! I can not wait to see everyone lift...some for the first time in a meet! Surrounded by a great group of friends, we will all have a good day and represent ourselves and our coach well!...no matter what anyone looks like in a singlet.
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