Over the past couple of months, I’ve really been feeling like my life has been constantly focused on the future. It has been a continued anticipation of working towards something – a lifting meet, finals, and a little vacation. Although it could be worse, it is not the way I prefer to live my life. I want to appreciate the present and live in the moment… But sometimes things don’t work out that way.

Let me start with a recap of the USAPL Southside Winter Classic from December 7th (2013):

SQ: 325-pounds/147.5-kg (a meet PR by 25 pounds in 3 months)

BP: 187-pounds/85-kg

DL: 336-pounds/152.5-kg

Total: 847-pounds/384-kg (meet PR by 23-pounds)

In Powerlifting, the most important element is your Total and I cannot complain about a 23 pound PR for my Total. I was quite content with my performance on a personal level, and it feels phenomenal to look back to one year ago (my first Powerlifting meet) to look at the progress I’ve made.

Let me give you some perspective – here were my lifts from last year (2012) at the USAPL Southside Winter Classic:

SQ: 248-pounds/112.5-kg

BP: 165-pounds/75-kg

DL: 303-pounds/137.5-kg

Total: 717-pounds/325-kg

Here’s the 303/137.5 DL from a year ago:

And while I am reminiscing, here is a handful of SQ attempts at 303 from late-June 2013:

To be perfectly honest, just now was the first time I’ve actually looked at those numbers and it put a smile on my face.

It really is all about the small victories.. The little steps you take in the grand scheme of things. I took most of this week off to deload, recuperate, and reset myself physically and mentally before a 11-week cycle leading up to the Arnold. However, I was feeling good yesterday, so I decided to work up to a heavy SQ double and just let my body dictate things. I managed to squat 305 for 2 reps (previously, the most I had ever squatted for a double was 300 a couple weeks ago) and then hit 315 for a solid single. Seems as though 315 is now an “any day of the week” kind of lift. Little victory, but oh-so sweet.

My athletes (Courtney, Paige, Megan, & Dylan) were a group of stud muffins at the meet last weekend. The group of 4 went 30/36, which means they MADE 83% of their lifts with 9 PRs total! I could not be more happy with their performance. The only scary moment as a coach was when Dylan got caught up watching the women’s flight of SQs and forgot to start his warm-up. He went out and NAILED his SQ opener of 314-pounds/142.5-kg after only doing 5 warm-up reps at 132-pounds/60-kg. WHOOPS! But he pulled off a solid day regardless.

I come out of every single meet a stronger athlete and so very motivated, no matter how I feel I performed. I learned so many lessons last weekend about myself as a competitor. My support system is full of die-hards and I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am. So, to all of you, THANK YOU and I hope you’ll stick with me because this is just beginning.

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger [people]. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.” Phillips Brooks