Setting Records

On October 1, 2005, I competed in the Albany Strength Challenge, in Albany, NY.  I was 23 years, and had completed an 8 week cycle to get me ready for this meet.  The results of the meet can be found here http://usapowerlifting.com/newsletter/28/results/1001albany.html. 

The records can be found here http://www.goheavy.net/records/viewrecordset.aspx?recordsetguid=a048d93c-bce8-4f1f-83ad-0aeb4180f208

This would be the second meet of my career that I was lifting in.  The first one came in December, 2004, at the American Open in Philadelphia, PA.  In PA I lifted in the 242lb. weight class.  Here in Albany I competed in the 275lb. weight class, weighing in at 274lbs. the night before the competition.

Just recently I came across a VHS tape of the meet.  My parents came to Albany to offer their support, and taped my lifts.  I have been looking for that tape on and off for a couple of years.  I came across it this past weekend, while staying at my in-laws for the 4th of July.  It was in a box of old track & field VHS tapes, along with some WWE and WCW VHS tapes.  I watched the tape when I got home with my son.  My son, along with my wife, probably could care less of what I did way back in 2005.  My son may appreciate it someday, depending on if he begins to lift with me in our garage gym.  My wife, well that is another story.

As I was watching the tape, a couple of thoughts came to mind:

1.  I obviously looked much younger back then, but my body also looked different-fuller and stronger

2.  My intensity on the platform was 100x higher than the last couple meets I lifted in

I mentioned both to my wife.  She watched my squat attempts, and said that my body looked much different back then.  I am still roughly the same height, 6'0", and I weigh pretty much the same 275lbs.  She also said that I did look much stronger in the video, but that may have been the Inzer Hardcore Squat suit that I was wearing.  It definitely makes my quads look bigger, and it took three people to get it on me that day.  I put it on last night without a problem.  It came right up over my quads and hips without any issue.  Not very motivating with a meet coming up in a couple of weeks.  I was also wearing my Inzer lever belt, over my squat suit in the video.  Now, it just hangs in the garage.  I was able to wear it back in November, 2013, on the very last hole, and it was extremely tight and uncomfortable.

My wife also commented on my intensity on the platform.  She said that I had this look that she has only seen in my eyes when I threw the hammer.  She specifically said I had that look at the last Empire State Games I competed in back in 2008.  She also said that in the videos of my lifting from September 2013 and November 2013 that I did not have the same look.  In the same breath she said I have more important things to focus on, like our family and my son specifically.

The USAPL New York State Open 242lb. and 275lb. records are way out of my reach right now.  Well above what I ever lifted in a gym or meet from the past.  The chase is what motivates me now.  I ask myself everyday, "Can I reach those numbers?"  I am not sure that I can, but I will continue to try. 

I wonder if a Junior in New York State someplace looks at the numbers I set and thinks, "I hope I can break those records someday?" 

Charles