State Games of America, Trip Report

The Promise Land :
USA Weightlifting Training Center in Colorado Springs
The best bar I have ever touched, and it was in the warm-up room.

Introductions
Notice I'm one of the tallest in my weightclass, i.e. bad levers.

Everyone was punters compared to this guy.
He made the Clean but missed the Jerk.
(That is 170K/375lbs @ 94K.)

Final Results

I attending my second Weightlifting competition at the State Games of America at the USA Weightlifting Training Center in Colorado Springs. I still felt the almost cripplingly nervousness but better than my 1st comp. I went through distinct cycles of anxiety followed by nausea and finally calm.

I could only briefly enjoy the ambiance of the Olympic Training Center. There were was a sharp contrast between the bristling muscles of the athletes and the husky waddle of the tourists. I ate my lunch of hard boiled eggs and almonds next to a family munching on McDonald's. This time I was clam enough to enjoy watching the woman lifting. One of the female Olympic Training Center resident athletes did the most beautiful lift I had ever seen.

Being self-coached at Oly meet is hard, but I getting used to it. However, the people at CrossFit Front Range Weightlifting Club help me in innumerable small ways. I did my standard warm up of 500m row and mobility drills. I hit all my warm ups, using the template from Greg Everett's book. I went too fast so I took 55K three times, every 8 minutes.

I went 3 for 3 on Snatches (60, 65, 71), still more power-style. Attempt #2 almost got away from me. In the process of wrestling into control, I strained my left middle back.

I was prepared for some heavy C&J, coming off a string of training PRs. I stuck to the same plan: open very conservatively, big but doable jump, and set PR. I went 3 for 3 on C&J (85, 90, 95). During my 2nd attempt I pressed it out a little with right arm, enough to strain my shoulder.

Overall, the event was incredible. I set 3 PRs (Snatch 71, Clean & Jerk 95, and Total 166). I felt completely maxed, physically and mentally. There is a lot of work going into, but worth it. I love competing. Olympic Weightlighting is distilled to pure essesence: you, a bar, and a couple seconds of intense effort.