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My first experience on the big stage…...

...and I mean big!  Thankfully I had enough coaching and experienced lifters to pre-warn me about what I was in store for.  This is one fast paced, hard nosed judging, tough competition meet.  The flights flew by, you barely got done sitting down and taking a breath after your last lift when it was time to wrap up, suit up, buckle up and chalk up for the next go-around. 

The meet started on Saturday with the light weights (132 and under).  I popped in and out of the meet watching mostly the squats and the judging.  I watch several people, including one cute little teen get 'bombed out' for lack of depth on squats.  That is the most nerve racking lift.  I also watched two World class lifters get bombed on squats, the judging was harsh.

The intense magnitude of the meet requirements, not only of you but also that of your coach and others, are out of this world.  I had Les Chow running in the numbers and Darrin Richardson at my side for support.  It was like I had a whirl wind of people around me. 



Here is the run down on my lifts and numbers:

Squats:
Since this was only my third 3-lift meet and the judging was harsh on squat depth, we decided to drop my opening squat to 160kg (352.5lbs).  I was a little wobbly, but nailed it with great depth.  My second attempt was 167.5kg (369.25lbs), but I lost balance on my way up and tipped backwards.  At that point I forgot that I was not in the gym and my spotters weren't like my brother Ivan and fellow lifter Brent and I was ready to just walk away from the weight as if the spotters were going to handle it all for me when the head judge reminded me to stay with the weight. The third attempt was with the same weight, which this time I got.

Bench:
My bench opener was 82.5kg (181.34) which was a breeze.  Then the 2nd attempt we made a huge jump to 95kg (209.25).  My grip was too narrow (I guess I decided to go 'close grip' that day) and who knows what else was wrong, but the weight did not go.  I attempted the same weight for my third lift and was unsuccessful again.

Deadlift:
Deads are my baby, I love them and I love ending the meet with my best lift.  I opened at 172.5kg (380.25) and ripped it off the floor.  My second attempt was 190kg (418.75) and again ripped it off the floor.  My third and last lift of the meet was 195kg (429).  It flew off the floor, but the lockout did not happen.  If I had locked this lift out, I would had taken second place at the meet.  So very frustrating!  But I did manage to set a new Washington State record with the 190kg deadlift.


So with those totals, I took 3rd place at my first Nationals.  It was a bitter-sweat experience.  Overall, my performance was good, but the few minor mistakes along the way cost me some serious pounds in the end.

With my experience I want to give a special thanks to several people that helped me a lot at Nationals.  Liz Willet, Darrin Richardson and Leslie Look for all their support and encouragement.  They welcomed me and took me under their wing from the time I got there on Thursday to our departure on Monday.  To my new bud Kara Bohigian, thanks for letting me watch you eat McDonalds while I dieted down (gotta love ya for that!).  To Les Chow for running my numbers, helping me in gear and for making me laugh; to his 'cute as a button' wife Sami Lee for letting me wear her singlet when mine didn't pass IPF guidelines; to her friend Donna who is just a kick in the pants and a wonderful supporter.

To Robert O Smith, Mike Greene aka 'Beer' and Mike Trupiano thanks for all the e-mails full of encouragement and for telling me to squat deep, really really deep!  I did it !!!

To my awesome brother Ivan for helping me in and out of gear for several weeks straight, I love you!  To Wes Kampen at MonsterMuscle, thanks for  the gear, to the 'guys at the gym, Brent, Chris, Luke and Agnar, thanks for the spots!  And to Brent, thanks for 'giving a shit about my hair!'  (After all, looks are everything!)  And to my best friends, thanks for all your support, you have no idea what you mean to me!

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