OK, not an epic battle, but certainly a good time for all! Trash talking was abundant leading up to this team competition pitting 6 members of Team Crossfit (George, Pat, Chelsea, Terre, Kellene, and Mike) versus 7 members of Team Weightlifting (Ron, Keith, Zach, Jordan, Fern, Erik, and Abby). The contest consisted of: clean (3 attempts to maximum), dead lift (2 attempts to a maximum), and the medley (various stuff to get the heart rate and lactic acid levels up). In the unlikely event of a tie, Fern had brought in the Concept 2 rower for a 1000 meter drag race.
Points were scored for the top 10 positions and the team with the highest point total would be declared the winner. The winner would take all the money, pride, and bragging rights until the next time. Fortunately, there were no injuries so, the day was a good one and, to spare the reader the agony of going through the whole story, the winning team was Team Crossfit. Here are the details.
(one caveat: I think that I have all the numbers right, including the intermediate Battle for the Belt details. But, there might be a revision after a couple of days of other eyes on it besides mine...so, check back!)
First up was the clean to a max. No jerk, just clean. Since we had competitors of all ages, the Sinclair formula was used as well as the master's factor. Lifters were ranked according to their formula number, i.e. Sinclair x Master x Clean (in kg)= posted total. The numbers don't lie, either.
George ended up with the highest formula as he hit a 130 clean. There may have been some illegal contact on his final clean, but it was declared good. In order, we had: Ron in second, Pat, Keith, Mike, Zach, Chelsea, Jordan, Kellene, and Terre.
Now, the lifters prepared for the dead lift. This was a conventional dead lift with the knuckles facing out, same shoes as was worn in the snatch, no straps, and hands outside the feet. So, no Sumo allowed. Fascinating to watch the preparation for the lifters.
The junior lifters and female lifters went first. Chelsea squeezed out a dead lift of 121 that was one more kilo than Fern. Terre, Erik, Kellene, and Abby rounded out the rest.
On to the lightweight (under 200#) men, where there were three lifters. Pat made it not even close as he pulled 175 followed by Ron @ 150 and Keith @ 125.
Heavyweight men were next. George went all out, going 2 for 2, and pulling 215. Zach, also 2 for 2, hit 202, saving it for the medley. Mike and Jordan rounded out the field.
On to the medley which was a sled push, sled pull, implement (!) carry, plate carry, and 20 squats with an empty bar. Fastest time would be the basis for points. The field was divided into juniors/female and men. (it may be better to change how competitors are ranked the next time as this event was a dead heat on points 51 to 51).
Chelsea and Erik were the first pairing and she posted a time to beat of 1:19.72. Abby and Terre battled next followed by Fern versus Kellene. Finishing order had Chelsea followed by Fern,Terre, Erik, Kellene, and Abby
Keith went alone, paced by Ben. Ben had just finished his heavy day 4 lifting and stepped up to help out. Keith hit a pretty good time of 1:19.52 and was just faster than Ben who hit 1:30.00.
Pat and Ron went head to head with Pat posting a fast time of 1:13.63. Mike and Jordan went next. Lots of humanity out on the course with these two going at it. Mike blazed to a 1:02.38 with Jordan, despite taking a header during the plate carry, posted a fast 1:16.68.
Zach and George were battling for pride at this point as Team Crossfit was already spending the prize money. Zach smoked the course and beat Mike's time with a 1:01.94. George, developing a new appreciation for Crossfit and hate of oxygen debt, hit 1:18.56.
Final score: Team CF 146.5 to Team WL 133. Great competition and fun!
Intermediate Battle for the Belt standings have Zach (42) in first followed by George, Chelsea, Pat, Ron, and Fern. Now, Chelsea and Pat can only score a theoretical maximum of 6 points in the 10/20 meet but Zach could lose points according to the battle rules. And Ron could catapult himself into the lead with a
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Progress in a steady manner
Erik, a.k.a. "Rio", is our 14 year old lifter who started lifting after being a spectator at a meet a few months ago. Which emphasizes the importance of getting someone to a meet so that he can get excited about competing. If you are an adult weightlifter going to a meet and you don't have a youngster with you, well, I could go on and on, but this post is about progress.
Last night at practice, he is putting in a lot of effort doing his push presses. He is struggling to drive that weight up there as his legs were probably burnt out by the heavy squats just completed. I walk over to him to tell him he just completed 5 reps in the push press with a weight that he could not squat just a few weeks ago.
How is that for progress? What kid or adult would not want to experience that kind of progress? A loaded barbell that you cannot roll across the floor and now you are putting it up overhead for multiple reps??
Can I get a Cincinnati Reds rally howl?
Last night at practice, he is putting in a lot of effort doing his push presses. He is struggling to drive that weight up there as his legs were probably burnt out by the heavy squats just completed. I walk over to him to tell him he just completed 5 reps in the push press with a weight that he could not squat just a few weeks ago.
How is that for progress? What kid or adult would not want to experience that kind of progress? A loaded barbell that you cannot roll across the floor and now you are putting it up overhead for multiple reps??
Can I get a Cincinnati Reds rally howl?
Round 1, Battle for the Belt goes to...
Great meet hosted by Central Kentucky Weightlifting on a late Sunday morning had lifters chasing personal goals. A few PR were set and lifters were close to getting into upper level, national meets. Then, this meet started the next Battle for the Belt competition.
Abby and Fern started the event off. Fern is chasing state records and has tied one in practice. Abby is chasing qualifying totals for junior nationals and university championships.
Corrections follow:
Fern hit a 40 in snatch, tying a meet PR and headed into the CJ. Her opener proved to be the only one she got. She gave 48 an easy ride to hit the lift and post a PR tying total of 88. A two sticker performance!
Abby looked sharp in warm ups and went to the platform for her opening snatch. No problem with the 48. Her next two lifts of 51 and 52 were overhead, but not tight enough to complete them; she was credited with the 48. Her opening CJ was easy and she said, "...should have started higher..". Jumping to 57 for her second attempt, she gets it. The third attempt: way too far in front from the first pull so, no lift. She is credited with 48/57/105 which should get her university qualification and did get her 3 stickers and the first reward level!
Dave, one weight class lower than previously, nails his opening snatch. The next two were smooth and fast with plenty in the tank. The CJ was the same way. Finishing with a strong 80 on his final attempt, he was credited with a 58/80/138 in his first competition in a looong time. Nice work.
Keith was looking to tune up for the American Open in a few months. Goals were fairly modest (72/92/164) and he was able to hit them nicely. Opening snatch of 70 was routine and then 72 flew up there. The third attempt of 76 was just glued to floor a bit too long and he left it out in front. Same story in CJ: 88 up nicely, second attempt of 93 in the groove. The 96 was cleaned, jerked, but just not straight up enough so, a miss. He was credited with a 72/93/165.
Zach was well rested and moving nicely in warm up. The opening snatch was smoked as was the second. The third was a PR attempt. It came off the ground nicely, swept in, and pop. It was locked out and he was credited with a new PR of 80. CJ had a modest opener. The clean was fine, but the jerk was wobbly and he got three red flags for that. No matter, he was going up. 102 to tie his current gym PR. Clean: good. Jerk: a bit of an arm bend! Can he hold it without pressing out? He did and only the center judge gave him the thumbs down. On to a PR attempt. 105 cleaned and witnesses say his hips actually went down so that he could receive the bar. Good enough for me. The jerk was missed. 80/102/182 for 2 PR.
Ron was ready to begin the defense of the Belt. Warm ups smooth and he comes out to smoke the opener. he goes up, following himself. No problem with the 86. Calling for a new PR of 90, he just cannot get that timing right to get himself fully under it. In the CJ, if he can clean it, he can jerk it. 102 was easy for him today. The next two attempts at 107 and a PR total were not made. He is credited with the 86/102/188.
In this first event in the three event Battle for the Belt, Abby has the lead with Zach in second, and Dave in third. It is still very close with the next event set for October 6 there should be some shuffling of positions...Fern is close in the 4th position
Abby and Fern started the event off. Fern is chasing state records and has tied one in practice. Abby is chasing qualifying totals for junior nationals and university championships.
Corrections follow:
Fern hit a 40 in snatch, tying a meet PR and headed into the CJ. Her opener proved to be the only one she got. She gave 48 an easy ride to hit the lift and post a PR tying total of 88. A two sticker performance!
Abby looked sharp in warm ups and went to the platform for her opening snatch. No problem with the 48. Her next two lifts of 51 and 52 were overhead, but not tight enough to complete them; she was credited with the 48. Her opening CJ was easy and she said, "...should have started higher..". Jumping to 57 for her second attempt, she gets it. The third attempt: way too far in front from the first pull so, no lift. She is credited with 48/57/105 which should get her university qualification and did get her 3 stickers and the first reward level!
Dave, one weight class lower than previously, nails his opening snatch. The next two were smooth and fast with plenty in the tank. The CJ was the same way. Finishing with a strong 80 on his final attempt, he was credited with a 58/80/138 in his first competition in a looong time. Nice work.
Keith was looking to tune up for the American Open in a few months. Goals were fairly modest (72/92/164) and he was able to hit them nicely. Opening snatch of 70 was routine and then 72 flew up there. The third attempt of 76 was just glued to floor a bit too long and he left it out in front. Same story in CJ: 88 up nicely, second attempt of 93 in the groove. The 96 was cleaned, jerked, but just not straight up enough so, a miss. He was credited with a 72/93/165.
Zach was well rested and moving nicely in warm up. The opening snatch was smoked as was the second. The third was a PR attempt. It came off the ground nicely, swept in, and pop. It was locked out and he was credited with a new PR of 80. CJ had a modest opener. The clean was fine, but the jerk was wobbly and he got three red flags for that. No matter, he was going up. 102 to tie his current gym PR. Clean: good. Jerk: a bit of an arm bend! Can he hold it without pressing out? He did and only the center judge gave him the thumbs down. On to a PR attempt. 105 cleaned and witnesses say his hips actually went down so that he could receive the bar. Good enough for me. The jerk was missed. 80/102/182 for 2 PR.
Ron was ready to begin the defense of the Belt. Warm ups smooth and he comes out to smoke the opener. he goes up, following himself. No problem with the 86. Calling for a new PR of 90, he just cannot get that timing right to get himself fully under it. In the CJ, if he can clean it, he can jerk it. 102 was easy for him today. The next two attempts at 107 and a PR total were not made. He is credited with the 86/102/188.
In this first event in the three event Battle for the Belt, Abby has the lead with Zach in second, and Dave in third. It is still very close with the next event set for October 6 there should be some shuffling of positions...Fern is close in the 4th position
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Do you have ring around the collar?
Overall responsibility. That is a boring topic.
You sweat, your collar of your shirt gets dirty, you pre-soak the shirt in detergent, wash the shirt, and, magically, the ring disappears. Referring to this rather ancient laundry detergent advertisement is rather odd, you may think, but the true responsibility is that you must wash your neck. There is not anyone available to apply the Wisk so that the ring is removed; you need to keep that neck clean so that the ring doesn't appear in the first place.
Coaching responsibility is to get the best out of you in every session of every day. Doesn't always go as planned, but that is still the responsibility and goal of every individual session. A program (whether a 4 week or 12 week or 48 week program) has the objective of raising your lifts beyond what you thought you could do. A coach is irresponsible if he or she shows up with a "training program" generated when he was pumping gas earlier that afternoon.
A lifter is responsible for putting forth the effort needed in each training session taking place. Specifically avoided here is the terminology of "workout". A lifting session is not a workout. To me a workout is just to do some exercises to get a sweat going so that you can eat more at the next meal. A training program wants you to improve by 2-5% by the time you finish it. Our experienced lifters know that the six week "Russian Squat Program" works 100% of the time giving a hard working lifter a 2-5% increase in his or her squat.
A new lifter has the responsibility to learn the lifts, learn the definitions of the lifts, understand what warm up is required, what different effort feels like, etc. New lifter must also be willing to accept that there may be a need to do brain surgery. Take out all the old yucky crap that is residing in the gray matter about what is involved in lifting, replace that crap with fresh material on the lifts and their accessories, allow it to grow for a while, and then affix the skull before sending you on your merry way.
450 pound sumo deadlift? Part of that soon to be replaced crap. 320 pound low bar squat? Ditto. Clean and press 100 kilos? Ditto.
An intermediate or advanced lifter must accept the responsibility that focus and attention is needed from the moment the first warm up is started until the barbell is unloaded at the end of the training session. Once this lifter wraps his or her hands around the bar, hopefully employing the hook grip, there is nothing but the barbell. Want a 2% improvement at the end of 4 weeks? You need to accept the responsibility of focusing on the task at hand. Want 5% improvement at the end of 12 weeks? Might want to make double sure that your neck is clean.
So, the question to you is: Are you a lifter waiting for someone to beat your ring around the collar every time or are you a lifter who keeps his neck clean?
You sweat, your collar of your shirt gets dirty, you pre-soak the shirt in detergent, wash the shirt, and, magically, the ring disappears. Referring to this rather ancient laundry detergent advertisement is rather odd, you may think, but the true responsibility is that you must wash your neck. There is not anyone available to apply the Wisk so that the ring is removed; you need to keep that neck clean so that the ring doesn't appear in the first place.
Coaching responsibility is to get the best out of you in every session of every day. Doesn't always go as planned, but that is still the responsibility and goal of every individual session. A program (whether a 4 week or 12 week or 48 week program) has the objective of raising your lifts beyond what you thought you could do. A coach is irresponsible if he or she shows up with a "training program" generated when he was pumping gas earlier that afternoon.
A lifter is responsible for putting forth the effort needed in each training session taking place. Specifically avoided here is the terminology of "workout". A lifting session is not a workout. To me a workout is just to do some exercises to get a sweat going so that you can eat more at the next meal. A training program wants you to improve by 2-5% by the time you finish it. Our experienced lifters know that the six week "Russian Squat Program" works 100% of the time giving a hard working lifter a 2-5% increase in his or her squat.
A new lifter has the responsibility to learn the lifts, learn the definitions of the lifts, understand what warm up is required, what different effort feels like, etc. New lifter must also be willing to accept that there may be a need to do brain surgery. Take out all the old yucky crap that is residing in the gray matter about what is involved in lifting, replace that crap with fresh material on the lifts and their accessories, allow it to grow for a while, and then affix the skull before sending you on your merry way.
450 pound sumo deadlift? Part of that soon to be replaced crap. 320 pound low bar squat? Ditto. Clean and press 100 kilos? Ditto.
An intermediate or advanced lifter must accept the responsibility that focus and attention is needed from the moment the first warm up is started until the barbell is unloaded at the end of the training session. Once this lifter wraps his or her hands around the bar, hopefully employing the hook grip, there is nothing but the barbell. Want a 2% improvement at the end of 4 weeks? You need to accept the responsibility of focusing on the task at hand. Want 5% improvement at the end of 12 weeks? Might want to make double sure that your neck is clean.
So, the question to you is: Are you a lifter waiting for someone to beat your ring around the collar every time or are you a lifter who keeps his neck clean?
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Battle for the Belt: 1st successful defense!
The latest battle for the belt went to the final event with the winner in front by mere seconds at the end. Lifters had to do 4 snatches @ 92% then 4 clean & jerks @ successively more weight, ending with a PR CJ. 4 lifters made it to the leg killing Triple C Leg Cranks which consist of a ride on the Air Dyne, step ups, single leg squats, and squats.
Pat and Chelsea threw down the gauntlet on Thursday night.
Snatches for both were routine and more strength than technique. The hips were never in peril of going below or even near the knees on either lifter. Pat ended with a solid PR in CJ as did Chelsea. The tiebreaker was right in their sweet spot so, personal expectations were high. Pat did the Triple C Leg Cranks in a quick 4:22.08. Chelsea paced herself to a finish in 5:05.57.
Saturday started with Kellene. She hit all the snatches and her first two CJ. Despite strong encouragement from Fern, who was spectating, the 98% third CJ lift proved too heavy for today. Zach, Keith, Ron, and Ben all smashed the respective 92% snatch. Ben was operating under a newly established snatch PR and had good speed.
Keith was able to nail his first CJ. The next jump had him easily cleaning it, but just could not fix the bar overhead and himself under. Finally, he was able to get the weight on his 4th attempt; taking the weight for quite the exciting ride as he did so.
Zach sailed through his first three attempts and then came the final attempt for a PR. He was able to do it with only a quick little jump forward. New PR and a sticker!
Ron was the same way: first three attempts lead to the comment from one that he could at least make it look hard. His fourth PR attempt went up for an easy clean. Then the jerk was solidly locked out overhead.
Ben had recently set a new PR in CJ, too, so today's lifting could prove to be quite challenging. His first attempt at 92% would prove to be far too heavy and he just could not rack the weight. Ron and Zach continue on to the tiebreaker!
Zach goes first and hits a respectable 5:09.50, just behind Chelsea. It is up to Ron: Will he defend the title? Overthinking the process at first, he went through the bike portion fine. Step ups were a bit of a challenge, then he settled down finishing in a time of 4:19.87.
Ron is the first to defend the belt successfully with Pat in second and Chelsea in third. Great contest!
Pat and Chelsea threw down the gauntlet on Thursday night.
Snatches for both were routine and more strength than technique. The hips were never in peril of going below or even near the knees on either lifter. Pat ended with a solid PR in CJ as did Chelsea. The tiebreaker was right in their sweet spot so, personal expectations were high. Pat did the Triple C Leg Cranks in a quick 4:22.08. Chelsea paced herself to a finish in 5:05.57.
Saturday started with Kellene. She hit all the snatches and her first two CJ. Despite strong encouragement from Fern, who was spectating, the 98% third CJ lift proved too heavy for today. Zach, Keith, Ron, and Ben all smashed the respective 92% snatch. Ben was operating under a newly established snatch PR and had good speed.
Keith was able to nail his first CJ. The next jump had him easily cleaning it, but just could not fix the bar overhead and himself under. Finally, he was able to get the weight on his 4th attempt; taking the weight for quite the exciting ride as he did so.
Zach sailed through his first three attempts and then came the final attempt for a PR. He was able to do it with only a quick little jump forward. New PR and a sticker!
Ron was the same way: first three attempts lead to the comment from one that he could at least make it look hard. His fourth PR attempt went up for an easy clean. Then the jerk was solidly locked out overhead.
Ben had recently set a new PR in CJ, too, so today's lifting could prove to be quite challenging. His first attempt at 92% would prove to be far too heavy and he just could not rack the weight. Ron and Zach continue on to the tiebreaker!
Zach goes first and hits a respectable 5:09.50, just behind Chelsea. It is up to Ron: Will he defend the title? Overthinking the process at first, he went through the bike portion fine. Step ups were a bit of a challenge, then he settled down finishing in a time of 4:19.87.
Ron is the first to defend the belt successfully with Pat in second and Chelsea in third. Great contest!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
The feeling sinks in
That feeling of lifting a heavy weight (whether a relatively or absolutely heavy is immaterial) when it just feels good. Many times, the emphasis on partial lifts (either hang or block) is lost on a lifter. The question, "When do I get to do the full lifts?" comes up often. The answer is nearly as complicated to explain as asking, "Can you make a muscle?"
Pressure here, pressure there, weight balanced fore or aft...it seems pointless until the feeling sinks in. The past two weeks have seen many of the lifters feeling it.
Pat can now do snatch and CJ and say how each felt. Kathryn working off the blocks was able to figure out the feeling of in front and just right. Chelsea able to feel when she lowers herself or when she bends over to meet the bar. Nice stuff.
Fern working week 4 of her programming last week got that feeling as she was able to PR in the snatch and her top 3 attempts all looked the same. Her CJ matched her current PR; netting her a PR total and a 2 sticker. Steady improvements of a few percent every few weeks is nothing to at which to sneeze.
Ben, last week, hitting his snatching hard, but not quite getting it. Then the 100, 102 come easy. The mind blew up at the 105 as panic set in. Had the lift been done the same way with the same feel, it would have been made as there is plenty of hydraulic strength there.
Then, this week, 3 stage week, drilling in that explosive feeling above the knees, he gets it. Going after the singles in CJ, there was plenty of room for a big weight and PR. 130 went up so easily that it dropped 2 inches onto his rack. He went for 140 which was nailed, too. The mind was concentrating on the feeling of driving, pulling, moving under. A mere 2.2 kilos is added and then suddenly the feeling is lost (oh, no! 142 kilos on the bar!) and the lift is not made. Nonetheless, a few PR and the next reward level is reached.
Nice build up by lifters as we approach the battle for the belt on Saturday and meets in September, October, and December.
Pressure here, pressure there, weight balanced fore or aft...it seems pointless until the feeling sinks in. The past two weeks have seen many of the lifters feeling it.
Pat can now do snatch and CJ and say how each felt. Kathryn working off the blocks was able to figure out the feeling of in front and just right. Chelsea able to feel when she lowers herself or when she bends over to meet the bar. Nice stuff.
Fern working week 4 of her programming last week got that feeling as she was able to PR in the snatch and her top 3 attempts all looked the same. Her CJ matched her current PR; netting her a PR total and a 2 sticker. Steady improvements of a few percent every few weeks is nothing to at which to sneeze.
Ben, last week, hitting his snatching hard, but not quite getting it. Then the 100, 102 come easy. The mind blew up at the 105 as panic set in. Had the lift been done the same way with the same feel, it would have been made as there is plenty of hydraulic strength there.
Then, this week, 3 stage week, drilling in that explosive feeling above the knees, he gets it. Going after the singles in CJ, there was plenty of room for a big weight and PR. 130 went up so easily that it dropped 2 inches onto his rack. He went for 140 which was nailed, too. The mind was concentrating on the feeling of driving, pulling, moving under. A mere 2.2 kilos is added and then suddenly the feeling is lost (oh, no! 142 kilos on the bar!) and the lift is not made. Nonetheless, a few PR and the next reward level is reached.
Nice build up by lifters as we approach the battle for the belt on Saturday and meets in September, October, and December.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
In keeping with the theme: PR smashes
With the great results from the Record Breakers meet of a few weeks ago, the theme was continued this past week. Three lifters were able to set multiple PR this past week, leading up to Singlet Saturday.
On May 31, 2011, Ben called to anyone who was listening that he would hit 100 in the snatch. Well, I was not getting any younger and Ben had not hit the mark. Finally, this past week, 90 up nice, 95 up nice, then the 100 is loaded. Somehow, he turned his brain off, made that lift, and got a sticker in the process. And, this is the first time he can claim a higher than body weight (now 97) snatch!
Singlet Saturday proved to be very interesting. Fern's schedule called for some near PR attempts, but it was Singlet Saturday so why not go for some PR?
Warming up, the light weight was tough to control so a lot of the lifts were out in front. The so-called around the knees rather than through the knees lifts. Suddenly, it came together for her, and that 40 (PR tie) went up fast and smooth. She jumped up, shrugged down, and locked that weight overhead. Nice. Two more kilos; can she make the lift? She did. Very nicely, new PR and a sticker.
CJ has proven to be a bit tough for her especially as the weight approaches 85%. Today, not the case. Fast elbows and fast feet ruled the day. Just 4 weeks ago, she called for an ill advised 50 in her CJ. It was cleaned but not jerked. Today, she cleaned it and then she jerked it for a PR. A 3 PR day for her. She is now in the hunt for her age group records!
Not to be outdone on Singlet Saturday, Ben and Steve decide that they will have a little contest to see who gets the bigger CJ. Steve, if he can clean it, he MIGHT be able to jerk it versus Ben, if he can clean it, it is jerked. Many an injury has happened in these little events so, my nervousness is a bit high. Steve makes his 125 CJ but cannot jerk anything higher than that. Ben puts 130 to bed and then goes all the way up to 135. He cleans the 135, easily stands up, then misses the jerk. A PR clean, but not a full lift. Ugh.
Steve won this time and then the conversation turned to who was the better "baller".
Erik, a.k.a. "Rio", working hard on his snatch, asks if he can give a PR snatch a ride on Monday night. Why not? he was close to his next reward level and hitting a PR is never a bad thing. His partial lifting done, it is time to translate that explosiveness into the full lift from the ground. Snatch 1: ties a PR and he has plenty left. Snatch #2: new PR. BAM! Paydirt. Snatch #3: he increases the weight and hits it. 2 PR in the same night and he gets the next reward.
Nice work by the lifters.
On May 31, 2011, Ben called to anyone who was listening that he would hit 100 in the snatch. Well, I was not getting any younger and Ben had not hit the mark. Finally, this past week, 90 up nice, 95 up nice, then the 100 is loaded. Somehow, he turned his brain off, made that lift, and got a sticker in the process. And, this is the first time he can claim a higher than body weight (now 97) snatch!
Singlet Saturday proved to be very interesting. Fern's schedule called for some near PR attempts, but it was Singlet Saturday so why not go for some PR?
Warming up, the light weight was tough to control so a lot of the lifts were out in front. The so-called around the knees rather than through the knees lifts. Suddenly, it came together for her, and that 40 (PR tie) went up fast and smooth. She jumped up, shrugged down, and locked that weight overhead. Nice. Two more kilos; can she make the lift? She did. Very nicely, new PR and a sticker.
CJ has proven to be a bit tough for her especially as the weight approaches 85%. Today, not the case. Fast elbows and fast feet ruled the day. Just 4 weeks ago, she called for an ill advised 50 in her CJ. It was cleaned but not jerked. Today, she cleaned it and then she jerked it for a PR. A 3 PR day for her. She is now in the hunt for her age group records!
Not to be outdone on Singlet Saturday, Ben and Steve decide that they will have a little contest to see who gets the bigger CJ. Steve, if he can clean it, he MIGHT be able to jerk it versus Ben, if he can clean it, it is jerked. Many an injury has happened in these little events so, my nervousness is a bit high. Steve makes his 125 CJ but cannot jerk anything higher than that. Ben puts 130 to bed and then goes all the way up to 135. He cleans the 135, easily stands up, then misses the jerk. A PR clean, but not a full lift. Ugh.
Steve won this time and then the conversation turned to who was the better "baller".
Erik, a.k.a. "Rio", working hard on his snatch, asks if he can give a PR snatch a ride on Monday night. Why not? he was close to his next reward level and hitting a PR is never a bad thing. His partial lifting done, it is time to translate that explosiveness into the full lift from the ground. Snatch 1: ties a PR and he has plenty left. Snatch #2: new PR. BAM! Paydirt. Snatch #3: he increases the weight and hits it. 2 PR in the same night and he gets the next reward.
Nice work by the lifters.
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