” This is a post Tom has asked me to write in relation to competing in my first powerlifting competitor yesterday at the BDFPA Welsh Qualifier in Cardiff.
I’ve been weight training for around 25 years in numerous ways of training such as specific for throwing events in athletics, bodybuilding, strength training and callisthenics. But for me I’ve always enjoyed lifting heavy ass weight, with the correct technique as this is the most important factor of any training style.
I’ve always been very competitive in whatever sport I’ve participated in, from playing football for 20 years on a Saturday to Badminton with my Dad on a Sunday morning. So when I retired from football 2 years ago, I decided to concentrate on solely lifting weights and getting stronger.
I approached Tom back in January this year and asked if he’d help with my training as I wanted to improve my conditioning and build more muscle quality. About May time this year and I said to Tom that I still had that competitive streak in me and felt I had something to give both mentally and physically, and mentioned training for specific powerlifting strength.
I went to watch Tom at the 4 Nations comp back in August and after seeing and feeling the awesome atmosphere of the meet itself, along with the fact that I could lift what some people were lifting in those specific events, I knew I had to give it a go.
Watch Simons Best Squat
So that night after being inspired by watching Tom lift at that comp, I joined the BDFPA straight away with an aim – an aim to commit myself to competing myself. I looked through the events schedule for the remainder of the year and with the advice of Tom, chose the Welsh Divisional Qualifier.
So then the 13 weeks of pain and suffering of which in a sadistic sort of way I love began. After the first 6 weeks of hard graft the comp still felt a long way off, but then the next 7 week programme was the countdown. It read 7 weeks out, 6 weeks out, 5 weeks out and so on until the last week entitled Comp week stared me in the face. Now this was real!
I must say that in all these 25 years of weight training as mentioned previously, have I never trained as hard as I have done in prep for this 1st powerlifting competition. But man did it pay off!
The word ‘Quit’ doesn’t exist in my vocabulary, and if there is something for me to go and get then I will do everything I can to get it. “Good” pain and suffering when it came to this journey were my friends, and with the support of Tom I knew this experience would be amazing.
I can now call myself a Competitive Powerlifter, and I feel proud when I say those words.
If any of you are thinking of competing then do it, don’t think about it just do it. The feeling you will get will be awesome and unforgettable.
Thank you for your time. “
Recent Comments