Greater London competition
So! Yesterday was the Greater London powerlifting open at my home gym. It was a loooong day, as they usually are - I weighed in at midday, lift-off was 2pm and we were finished just before 9. Matt, as ever, was a superstar and hung around all day, despite it being a slightly boring process.
I weighed in at 70.2kg which is bonkers light for me. My weight class is 72kg (max), and last time I competed - in June - I was 71.9kg! So it was nice to not have to worry about my weight as much as I usually do. After weigh-in we went off to Brick Lane for beigels and coffee (perfect pre-competition food, lots of quick carbs and caffeine!)
There were 2 other ladies lifting - one guest lifter in the 63kg class (she hadn't enrolled in time so wasn't officially competing, but turned up to lift and set some personal bests) and one lady who was lifting equipped in the 84kg class (equipped lifters wear special suits & shirts which assist their lifting, so they can lift more weight). There were also loads & loads of men lifting - I'd say about 40 people in total. Hence the long day!
So my goal this year has been to lift a total of 245kg, which would qualify me to GBPF British Standard in the 72kg class and entitle me to compete in the British competition next year. In April I totalled 225kg, and in June 235kg, so I was kinda hopeful I'd make it. My plan was to squat 87.5kg, bench 47.5kg and deadlift 110kg to make the total.
So, squats first. I started at 75kg and while this lift felt really easy when I set my openers on Monday, yesterday it felt, frankly, dreadful. I got the lift but I wasn't happy. I had intended to go to 85kg next, but Martin suggested we try 82.5kg next and see how it felt. That also felt awful, but I made it. I had wanted to try for 87.5kg on my last lift, but we decided to go for 85 instead, as I was more confident of getting it. And I did - ironically, it was the most comfortable lift of the 3. Doh. Still, a new personal best achieved (in competition anyhow - I'd done 85kg in the gym before).
Then on to the bench. First I did 40kg which is an easy one for me. The plan was to go 45kg then 47.5kg but DISASTER, I failed my 45kg attempt. I was so angry with myself - I do 45kg in the gym all the damn time (admittedly, I do it without the regulation 2-second pause on the chest, which makes the lift a LOT harder). So for my third lift I took another attempt at 45kg and nailed it. Thank fricking god.
By this point I was feeling pretty miserable. As far as I was concerned, I'd blown my chance to qualify and was only going to total 240kg. Not a bad total, but not a qualifying one.
Anyhow, I still had to deadlift (which, incidentally, is my favourite lift). I did 100kg to start, which is easy-peasy for me and it went up nice & quick. Then 110kg, which is my previous personal best; previously it's been tough but doable, but this time it flew up.
Then Martin & I decided, what the heck - I needed 115kg to qualify, why not just go for it? I had a total set, so I had nothing to lose.
And yes, I fucking nailed it. That 115kg deadlift went up like it was on springs! And my hands - which have often failed me in the past - managed to hold on to it until the referee was satisfied and allowed me to put it down.
So not only did I get a new personal best - I QUALIFIED FOR THE BRITISH!!! Holy crap, I was so happy that I did a little arm-windmill on the platform. Seriously, my jaw aches today from smiling so much.
As an added bonus: as I was the only lifter in my class, I "won" it and got a trophy - the biggest one yet ;-)
Please excuse massive cheesy grin and utterly knackered face!
Everyone gave me a huge cheer (even though I was the feeblest lifter of the day!!) and Martin was stoked. I think he feels super-proud that he sends so many lifters to the British ;-)
Then Matt took me home, I ate a massive Papa John's pizza, drank most of a bottle of wine & passed out early.
The end!
I weighed in at 70.2kg which is bonkers light for me. My weight class is 72kg (max), and last time I competed - in June - I was 71.9kg! So it was nice to not have to worry about my weight as much as I usually do. After weigh-in we went off to Brick Lane for beigels and coffee (perfect pre-competition food, lots of quick carbs and caffeine!)
There were 2 other ladies lifting - one guest lifter in the 63kg class (she hadn't enrolled in time so wasn't officially competing, but turned up to lift and set some personal bests) and one lady who was lifting equipped in the 84kg class (equipped lifters wear special suits & shirts which assist their lifting, so they can lift more weight). There were also loads & loads of men lifting - I'd say about 40 people in total. Hence the long day!
So my goal this year has been to lift a total of 245kg, which would qualify me to GBPF British Standard in the 72kg class and entitle me to compete in the British competition next year. In April I totalled 225kg, and in June 235kg, so I was kinda hopeful I'd make it. My plan was to squat 87.5kg, bench 47.5kg and deadlift 110kg to make the total.
So, squats first. I started at 75kg and while this lift felt really easy when I set my openers on Monday, yesterday it felt, frankly, dreadful. I got the lift but I wasn't happy. I had intended to go to 85kg next, but Martin suggested we try 82.5kg next and see how it felt. That also felt awful, but I made it. I had wanted to try for 87.5kg on my last lift, but we decided to go for 85 instead, as I was more confident of getting it. And I did - ironically, it was the most comfortable lift of the 3. Doh. Still, a new personal best achieved (in competition anyhow - I'd done 85kg in the gym before).
Then on to the bench. First I did 40kg which is an easy one for me. The plan was to go 45kg then 47.5kg but DISASTER, I failed my 45kg attempt. I was so angry with myself - I do 45kg in the gym all the damn time (admittedly, I do it without the regulation 2-second pause on the chest, which makes the lift a LOT harder). So for my third lift I took another attempt at 45kg and nailed it. Thank fricking god.
By this point I was feeling pretty miserable. As far as I was concerned, I'd blown my chance to qualify and was only going to total 240kg. Not a bad total, but not a qualifying one.
Anyhow, I still had to deadlift (which, incidentally, is my favourite lift). I did 100kg to start, which is easy-peasy for me and it went up nice & quick. Then 110kg, which is my previous personal best; previously it's been tough but doable, but this time it flew up.
Then Martin & I decided, what the heck - I needed 115kg to qualify, why not just go for it? I had a total set, so I had nothing to lose.
And yes, I fucking nailed it. That 115kg deadlift went up like it was on springs! And my hands - which have often failed me in the past - managed to hold on to it until the referee was satisfied and allowed me to put it down.
So not only did I get a new personal best - I QUALIFIED FOR THE BRITISH!!! Holy crap, I was so happy that I did a little arm-windmill on the platform. Seriously, my jaw aches today from smiling so much.
As an added bonus: as I was the only lifter in my class, I "won" it and got a trophy - the biggest one yet ;-)
Please excuse massive cheesy grin and utterly knackered face!
Everyone gave me a huge cheer (even though I was the feeblest lifter of the day!!) and Martin was stoked. I think he feels super-proud that he sends so many lifters to the British ;-)
Then Matt took me home, I ate a massive Papa John's pizza, drank most of a bottle of wine & passed out early.
The end!