My First Powerlifting Comp, Part Two

The next morning is comp day and I am up ridiculously early to get ready, including straightening my hair…. Yes I know how silly and girly I sound, but some habits dies hard and the ritual of getting ready in the morning calms me. I even manage to head up to work and work for half an hour to keep myself busy.

Then shit gets real.

I make the trek back to the other side of town, park my car and take a few deep breaths to calm myself.

Walking in I am spotted by the tiny blonde from the day before who greets me by name and with a big hug and instructs me to make my way all the way in and around the corner where all the girls are.

This is where I discover a group of 12-15 girls stretching giggling and sounding like any other bunch of girls you might see. Over the top of everyone there is a call of “its so freaking cold, I feel like going for a run to warm up” which is followed by silence as all eye fall on the culprit who looks around at the accusing eyes breaks out in a giant grin and laughs” yeah, no, I don’t know who I am either!” Which is followed by the squeals of laughter that you would expect from a group of girls an everyone goes back to their stretching.

I have found my people!
Or more specifically, my girls!

A bunch of lifters!
A bunch of GIRLS that lift!

From here I manage to settle my nerves.

A little.

The gym is a hive of activity.

Girls stretching, foam rolling.

The last of the weigh ins and rack measurements is complete .

And now we begin.

The day is explained to us. From the way that we will be broken down in to three groups as the bunch of “birds” has become the largest powerlifting competition in South Australia in over 20 years.

Each of the three groups is approximately 10-13 girls and I discover I am second last in Group B to make my first lift. Group A will begin warming up about  15 minutes before we are to scheduled to start, whilst all of the girls take their turns to lift Group B warms up. When Group B  lifts Group C warms up and so on.

Even so we are told to expect to be here all day.

We are all so told that any “bitchy shit” will result in us being kicked out, which from a group of this many girls I have to say I expect to hear at some point.

We are all given a brief explanation as to how powerlifting works and the rules and regulations regarding commands and red flags etc.

It all seems very complicated and I think I am taking in about 70% of the total of the information but I figure I will get the general gist as we go.

I would like to stop here for a moment again and just make mention of how smoothly the day ran. Both Jac and Fuzzy did a wonderful job of making sure everyone knew where they should be and when. I know how hard it is to get all your metaphoric ducks in a metaphoric row, but everyone involved did a fantastic job with such a large group.

As my group warmed up, Group A began their squats and the crowd grew, as did my nerves. But so did my appreciation for the way everyone was so friendly and inclusive. I jumped in a squat rack to warm up with two girls I had never met before and proceeded to drop it like a squat with them. Their coach was spotting them as we started to increase our weights and stayed in the rack to spot me when it was my turn to go through. Everyone was so supportive.

And then it came our groups turn to lift.

As we went through the lifts got heavier and heavier until it became my turn.

To be completely honest, I don’t remember my first lift or any lift thereafter, only that I hit my first two squats with ease, attempted a new PB and failed on the third (92.5kg is a hell of a lot heavier than my previous PB of 90kg)

The groups all rolled through their lifts to much cheering and support from the crowd which had grown to over 100 people.

Whilst warming up for my bench I admitted to Fuzzy that my biggest fear for my squats had been not going deep enough, whose response was “dude your arse hit the ground! Don’t you worry about depth!”

Now remembering I hate bench, the distraction of talking about the squat was welcomed, but eventually I had to lift any way…..

The one thing that sticks in my mind the most for the whole day was not my PB on my favourite lift, but my bench.

I had set my first attempt at 45kg which was previously my PB.

My second attempt was 47.5kg which I had never attempted in powerlifting before.

The difference for those who may not be aware is the lack of momentum. You are given the command to start which means to lower the bar all the way to your chest. There is a pause before you are given the command to “press” to which you must push the bar straight up. If there is any downward movement this allows you to use momentum and is a no lift.

The support from the crowd when I was really stuck with my lift was an incredible feeling. The rest of my lifts I was in “the zone” I did not see hear or feel anything, including the weight that I was moving. I just did it. But my bench was entirely different.

It was fun!

I felt like I woke up from a dream half way through the lift and all of a sudden I was hyper aware of the crowd and they were all screaming at me in support. When I made the lift the cheers gave me goose bumps. To me this epitomised what the day was about, breaking PB’s to be sure, but also about the wonderful supportive environment that I have since come to associate with the powerlifting community.

They may not get the coverage as much as body building, but they have heart and do it for the love of the sport not for the recognition.

The last lift of the day was my favourite, deadlifts!!!

This was the one lift I felt comfortable and confident with.

My first attempt at 100kg came off the ground with ease and I gave my second attempt for 107.5kg….. Only twice have I ever lifted more than 105kg and wow did the 107.5kg move so much slower than that 100kg did.

I was left a little worried and apprehensive about attempting a new PB, but what the hell, the rest of the day I had taken risks and so far I had pulled off one new PB from 2 attempts…. Let’s make this last lift count, let’s make it 112.5kg and a new PB. I wasn’t going to go home wondering if I could have done more.

Before I knew it, it was my turn to lift again.

And the bar moved easier than the 107.5kg!

At the top of the lift the excitement started to build.

By the time I slowly guided the bar back to the ground, careful not to dump it, I just couldn’t contain my excitement. All the nervous energy of the day exploded out of me and I jumped around like a kangaroo doing my happy dance to the cheers of the crowd who had caught my excitement and for the second time that day I felt the amazing support form a group of people who were passionate about their sport.

The atmosphere was amazing!

And now I could relax….. But I couldn’t!! I was so damn happy with my efforts for the day that I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

By this stage of the competition the weights were getting heavy and when the last group of girls went to lift there were some pretty epic weights being moved!

A tiny little girl with a cheeky smile that I had been admiring all day stepped up to the bar.

I had watched this little chick who only weighed 68kg squat 120kg, bench 65kg and now I was excited to see what she could do with her deadlifts.

Her first attempt was a massive 130kg, followed by 140kg and then lining up for her final lift of 150kg….. A gutsy little chick with a twinkle in her eye, with a scream pulled a 150kg deadlift! And even managed a wink and a nod to her coach at the top of the lift, which got a massive roar from the crowd! Every single person in the gym had a massive smile on their face! How freaking amazing!?! This was when I think the bug really bit me. I want to be this strong! This chick is going to go on to do amazing things.

The final lift of the day was from a lovely girl called Bec that I had had the pleasure of speaking to earlier in the day.

She was a really nice unassuming chick who was incredibly friendly and I was really excited to see her lift big.

And lift big she did!

The heaviest lift ever attempted by a woman in an Australian competition!!

As she lined up for her lift a hush fell over the crowd that a moment ago had been celebrating another competitors new PB.

She stared down the bar, eyed it off and managed to produce the most amazing lift by a girl I had ever seen, 190kg!!

As she was struggling with the bar at the sticking point in the lift I found myself caught in the moment with 100 other people all screaming “LIFT” when she completed the lift and the bar was safely returned to the ground, what had been a loud cheer erupted in to a deafening roar!

The goose bumps I get even reminiscing about this moment is indicative of the incredible atmosphere and support I know all the girls felt that day.

We were all in it together and we all succeeded together.

The final standing for the day were:

3^rd Sophia Mazzaferro @ 59.8kg: squat 95kg, bench 50kg and deadlift 135kg

 2^nd Lucy Clark @56.9kg: squt 97.5 kg, bench 52.5kg and deadlift 135kg

1^st Leana Mulyono (my new inspiration) @ 68.4kg: squat 120kg, bench 65kg and deadlift 150kg

 As I said before, I officially have the bug!

I can’t wait to lift heavy shit again!

I just want to take one last opportunity to say a massive THANK YOU to all involved in the running of the event, the spotters, the guys who worked tirelessly loading and unloading the bars, the refs whoes hearts broke for every red flag they had to give.

I would like to give a shout out to Bianca Holland (it’s a Bianca thing) of Holland Performance for her support and advice at the gym when I was having doubts.

I would also like give a massive thank you to my coach Mareike Miller for her support and training leading up to the event and for missing a family lunch to be part of my day. You have been incredible and I can’t wait to see where we go from here, thank you for believing in me, telling me I have talent when I doubt myself and my abilities. This is just the beginning!

Also, to Body Workshop Supplements for their support and belief in me, not only as a burgeoning writer, but also for my potential as an athlete. I promise you, the best is yet to come!

But the biggest thank you to both Fuzzy for hosting such an incredible day and to Jac who managed to make a complete stranger feel a part of something special.

For any of those of you who are wondering what is next for me, give my Facebook page Strong For A Girl a like and watch me on my next adventure to 100kg squats, 60kg bench and 120kg deads.

And if you are wondering where I placed, Lucky 13 for me!!

My First Powerlifting Comp, Part One

What turned out to be the largest powerlifting competition in South Australia since the mid 1990’s was my first taste as to what a powerlifting competition was all about.

To say it was daunting was an understatement! Seven weeks prior to this comp, I began my training with a new coach.

As I work in a gym, train in the same gym and often socialise in the very same gym I decided to look for a trainer who had no preconceived ideas as to who I was or what I should do.

I wanted fresh eyes.

Those fresh eyes looked at me and it was decided I would start training for a powerlifting comp.

So in my gym, I am a big fish. I lift big, I talk big and I train big. But this was going to take me out of my pond and into a lake!

I had already stepped outside my comfort zone with getting a new trainer and I came to the conclusion: “What the hell?! Give it a go!!”

So I started my new training.

And I trained.

Hard.

But in a new way.

Previously, I had always trained like a bodybuilder, training a different body part each day and now I was training like a powerlifter.

I was training bench, squat and deadlift.

Let me pause here to just mention how much I HATE chest day!!

I may be considered odd, weird, crazy even, but legs has ALWAYS been my favourite day and now I got to train deadlift and squats ALL the time and I was loving it!!

But the bench….

Oh the pain!!

I hate bench.

So six weeks into my training I have a freak out. I decided I really must have lost my marbles to think I was strong enough to do this comp. I may have been training hard, even on bench day, but how hard was everyone else training? It must be waaaay harder than I was. How much heavier were they lifting? At this point in my training I have told all my friends that I under no circumstances am I going to compete.

Some are telling me to just do it, it will be fine, what have I got to lose…. (Oh my dignity… ehhh that’s not important) But they aren’t the ones doing this damn comp, that’s all on ME!!

The Friday before the registration closes my coach is sick. I don’t have to face her for our last training session. It is fate! I don’t have to do it!!

But then she goes and tags me in the facebook post reminding me to register!

How the hell do I bail now?!?!

All weekend I freak out!!

Then Monday night rolls around.

And for some reason I happen to stumble across the Australian womens powerlifting stats.

60kg division.

And I realise I am only 15kg off the weight to be inside the top 10 60kg powerlifting women in ALL of Australia.

And suddenly I am back in the game!!

This is a local comp!

Little old Adelaide.

I will be fine!

So I register.

And proceed to freak the hell out all over again!!

So Friday night rolls around again and I have my last session with my coach before the comp. I admit my fear and come clean that up to the Monday I had decided to bail. My coach manages to produce the right mix of empathy and “suck it up princess” and manages to say the right things and I leave our session feeling confident about the weights we have decided on for my initial attempts, full of nerves but enough excitement to stop me from puking in the car on the drive home.

The next day is weigh in and I have managed to convince one of my “what have you got to lose” friends and favourite training buddy to pack her two boys in the car and come to the other side of town with me to watch someone weigh me.

Industrial area.

Other side of town.

“Power Gym”

I manage to keep my nerves contained and fake a confidence I certainly don’t feel. As we walk into this strange place we are greeted by the yapping of a small white fluffy dog, alerting everyone to our presence…… So much for sneaking in inconspicuously!

The smiles that greet us from everyone in sight does a little to tame the butterfly’s violently trying to escape out of my stomach. The giant introduces himself as Fuzzy and from nowhere a tiny blond chick appears with a massive smile announcing she’s “Jac” and will be able to get me all sorted.

At this point I would just like to take a moment to thank both Fuzzy and Jac for making me feel ridiculously at ease whilst in the middle of a complete and utter freak out!

Leaving my training buddy, her children, the fluffy white dog and Fuzzy, Jac ushers me in to a private room for the weigh in.

I manage to come in at 60.2kg and am beyond stoked at this weight.

Then the part I am dreading more than getting on the scales…. Giving my initial attempts.

All my training and I am still freaking out that I am a little fish.

Very quietly I answer, 80kg for squats, 45kg for bench and 100kg for deadlift.

Impressive deadlift is the response I get from Jac.

Is it?! I am completely dumbfounded.

For a 60kg chick apparently 100kg deadlift is not particularly common.

These guys are making me feel more and more comfortable!

From here I am passed back to Fuzzy to get my rack height for bench and squats…. And this is my first encounter with the squat rack.

Holy shit balls batman, what is this giant orange contraption?!? It looks like a medieval torture device! But I jump in and measure up, faking a confidence I certainly don’t feel. Bench is measured up and I am thanked for coming in so early and off I go to eat.

And eat.

And eat.

And sleep.

All this nervous energy has taken its toll and I nap for 3 hours!