lct99
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by lct99 on Jan 16, 2008 21:08:24 GMT -5
I am 47 (will turn 48 next month). The only competitive lifting I ever did was back in my senior year of high school when I helped start a weightlifting team at the school. I lifted off and on over the years since. In addition to my job, I coach a lot of youth sports and I am a community coach for the local high school football team. A couple of years ago a couple of the players needed to get a lot stronger to have a shot at playing D-1 football, so I started training them at home. I decided I would lift with them, and ended up getting hooked on it. I took Westside type training and modified it for drug free, equipment free training and we got very good results. This time last year, I was doing around 410 on a touch-and-go bench. (After a herniated disk last year knocked me out of training for a while, I am back up to about 385-90.) I decided I might be able to compete if I kept working at it and learned what I was doing with regard to competition rules.
I would like to compete, but I have to admit (and I am embarrassed to say so) I don't know some things and respectfully ask for any input or advice you may give me. For one thing, do you have to bring your own spotters to the meets? The kids I trained have gone off to college, and I train alone at home and use my wife as a spotter, so I hope that spotters are provided. Also, it appears that the rules require one to wear a singlet. I have never worn one. Where do you get one that is approved? Would it be the same kind of singlet that our high school wrestlers wear, or is it a special type of singlet? There are other questions that I have, but I would appreciate any advice you will give. I suppose it would help to simply go watch a meet, but there aren't any (of which I am aware) around Southwest Georgia where I live, so if I travel to a meet I'd like to compete while there.
Also, did any of you start lifting competitively when you were in your late forties or older?
I apologize for bursting on the scene with a lot of questions, and appreciate any input.
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Post by sdeans on Jan 17, 2008 1:12:54 GMT -5
I'm new to 100% raw too, but I have competed in one of the meets and can answer some of your questions. The singlet is the same as a wrestling singlet. And the spotters are provided. In the bench, you can have someone hand the weight out for you (the spotters don't do this). Unlike the usapl a liftoff guy is not provided to give all lifters handouts. If you don't have someone that is no problem though. I had no one as I was lifting out of state, but a guy at the meet was happy to give me a handout when I asked him, and he gave each of the guys that didn't bring someone a handout. I had a great time and am sure you will too. Compete and watch, it's more fun.
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Post by 3speed on Jan 17, 2008 7:00:03 GMT -5
First - Welcome aboard!! It looks like sdeans answered your questions so I will just add congratulations on getting started. That's a lot of weight for any age. I would also like to say thank you for the work you do with the youth in your area - a most admirable endeavor for those who have the inclination and the patience. Check out the list of scheduled 100% RAW meets for 2008 here - www.rawpowerlifting.com/upcome.htm. You will find quite a few meets already scheduled for Florida. There will be more events added to the list as their plans are finalized. You could also look at the website for the WNPF. (just google it) They hold several meets in Georgia each year. Again, WELCOME. Take some time and look around the board. There is a lot of good info here. Ask any questions you want to. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people here who are very willing to help.
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lct99
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by lct99 on Jan 17, 2008 9:22:11 GMT -5
Many thanks sdeans and 3speed. I just looked at the WNPF, which I did not previously know of, and it looks good for me due to the meets being closer to my area.
3speed, I appreciate your acknowledgment of the importance of working with youth. I love kids and sports and it is great to be able to combine the two. This may sound corny, but one of the greatest things ever said to me was on a plaque from a group of 5-6 year olds I coached one year in flag football; it said simply: "Coach, thank you for teaching us the game of football." Hopefully I taught them something about the game of life, too, and sparked a love for sports that will stay with them the rest of their lives.
In that vein, each of you should know what an inspiration drug free lifters are to the kids out there in competitive sports. They get a lot of pressure to "cheat to compete," and they have a lot of people telling them that the only way to get really strong is to use drugs. One reason I keep lifting is so that when the kids I coach are told they must use drugs to get strong, they can say, "My coach is old (haha!) but he's stronger than you, and he is drug free!" Believe me, there are kids looking up to each of you and you are positive, inspiring influences on them.
Thank you for welcoming me aboard and I look forward to getting to know you folks.
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Post by fidler on Jan 17, 2008 16:33:05 GMT -5
I just wanted to add my welcome to you as well. I don't know if you are familiar with the PowerliftingWatch site: www.powerliftingwatch.comIf you click on the Powerlifting Meets link in the lefthand column, you can search for meets by federation and date; nothing shows up for 100% Raw in Georgia at this time, unfortunately. I am also looking to compete in my first meet at age 55, and I will have to travel out of New York State to compete. Again, Welcome! This list is a fantastic resource, and I have received so much support and useful information in my short time as a list member. All the best with your training. Bill
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Post by lysimacus on Jan 20, 2008 16:04:09 GMT -5
Welcome! I started last year at the tender age of 50. The first (and only so far) meet I competed in was a great experience. With so many supportive and helpful members I only regret not having started sooner.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2008 8:22:02 GMT -5
I AM 57. STARTED LIFTING IN ONE OF THOSE GYMS WHERE YOU CHANGE THE WEIGHT WITH A PIN AT 52. SWITCHED TO A FREE WEIGHT GYM AT 56 AND COMPETED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 56. WARM UP, STRETCH AND HAVE FUN. I TRIED A COUPLE OF SINGLE PLY AIDED EVENTS. PREFER THE RAW LIFTING. PLENTY OF GOOD HELP OUT THERE WILLING AND ABLE TO ASSIST YOU. JERRY KING, 57, 181, ILLINOIS
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Post by IronMan on Jan 26, 2008 9:53:42 GMT -5
A rules question from a relatively new PL'er, but one unintiated in Raw competition:
I'm not entirely clear on what might be construed as "supportive" underwear under the singlet. Clearly cotton briefs are not, but cotton briefs are prone to bunching and other unpleasantries in my experience.
Are the plain vanilla version of UnderArmor or spandex bike-type shorts under the singlet regarded as OK? Does it help to have them visible at the bottom of the singlet legs so that judges can verify the material construction?
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Post by gridironcoach on Apr 2, 2008 18:36:36 GMT -5
Hello,I did a meet last Saturday---Master's Nationals and we could wear the spandex under the singlet.I had on Black under armour w/ a supporter under that.Take care---GC Phil 4:13
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