CONFESSIONS OF A POWERLIFTER AND CAFFEINE ADDICT
Leah was out with friends, Laura, Danni and Azza who all came back and crashed for the night. Trying to get Azza out and about after the car accident a few weeks ago.
Adult Riding was on at the weekend also, despite some residual bruising from last weekend’s top effort I was still intending to venture into the arena for a jumping lesson. As I was riding down from the paddock I noticed that a couple of the jumps look awfully close – thinking that this must be a mistake…. No, as I discovered this is what they call a bounce jump – no stride in between. Quite difficult for someone at my lowly level… and I proved it too, nearly falling off after the 2nd bounce - winding up out of the saddle and up on Mojo’s neck! So lucky he’s patient with me as I worked my way back into the saddle and around again to attempt the bounce jump - have to make sure I finish on a good note! Well, think I’ve added to those bruises….
My latest news…. Im the proud owner (well the bank actually…) of an Amberley Horse float. OK - so I don’t have a car that can pull a float – minor detail… Thankfully my brother will come to the rescue and has offered the use of his car when I need to float and he’ll keep an eye out for a decent and cheap 4WD that I can use just for towing. Looking forward to being able to particpate in lots more events – as is Madi - who will probably make more use than I, by entering lots of pony club events and riding clinics. No excuses now!
Went out for my first run in ages Tuesday lunchtime – wow its been a while, I checked my calendar, I haven’t been running regularly since December/January. Anyway managed a 4k run, with the orthotics in place, but must admit that I had to walk up Anderson street (quite steep…) this was after 2k’s. The orthotics didn’t hurt as much as I had expected – perhaps the new shoes also made a difference. The total run took 35 mins – that’s including the 5 mins to walk up Anderson Street. I have a Polar SX625 HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) - Yes I like lots of toys! LOL It measures the time, distance and my heart rate during the run - pretty poor compared to what I was doing around Christmas, but what the heck, this isn’t my primary sport – I’ll just be happy to complete the 7.5k marafun in October – Glutton for punishment with all these things I take on.
Wednesday saw Andrea, the Chiro, first visit since the Nationals. Everything is holding up pretty well and only found that my left calf was tight – painfully worked through that. Probably the running…. Well that’s what I think.
Into the Gym again Wednesday night, deep wide squats at 70kg and as for bench, 6 sets of 6 as a speed movement. Hip a little niggly but overall nothing to complain about. Hammy curls next on the agenda, heav(ier) than I would normally do so only 5- 6 reps per set and finished up with some one-leg squats to really hit the glutes. Do I know it what…. Its Friday now and I’ still feeling it in the glutes when I get up! LOL
No training last night - had (and needed) a rest! I figured that I could afford the time off since tonight Madi’s basketball game is not until 9.30pm – yes, late for an under 16’s match, but it gives me the opportunity to train on a Friday night, which I normally do not do. Tonight will be bench work again – Very light technique work - I really need to get this under control if I’m ever going to be successful at using a bench shirt, more triceps work again, T-bar rows and some delt work.
Weekend plans… back in the saddle again tomorrow morning. Adult riding club for me and Sunday will see Madi in the saddle for her formal rally at pony club. None of the rallies for ARC (Adult Riding Club) are formal thank goodness! Usually our lessons are followed up with a few glasses of wine and a chat on the clubhouse verandah! I’m still hoping to get some pics from last weekend’s show jumping; I’ll put them up as soon as I get them.
Love Vicki
xxx
We’re in the finals! Friday night basketball and the girls had a resounding win in their last game against Camberwell. This week the finals start, currently Hawks U16/3 girls are placed 3rd on the ladder. We’re still hanging in there!
Saturday morning rush around, Madi and Mojo had a sleepover at Erica’s. Picked up Madi mid morning and then off to the local Shopping centre to get myself a new pair of running shoes – selecting from the list given to me by my podiatrist. First were the Brooks Vapour – nice fit and very comfortable. The guy serving me was very helpful getting out heaps of shoes including some not on the list that still matched the required “moderate motion control and high lateral stability” One pair actually tipped me forward – which might be ok for running but I really need to sit back in the shoes for squatting and deadlifting. After trying on lots of shoes I went back to Brooks vapour.
Over to Shaz’s place for a coffee and to return her bench shirt and other gear I’d borrowed for the Nats. Cheeked out some photos she took and I’ll post some of these here in the next couple of days. Then off training, christened the new shoes with a leg workout. Seeing how heavy we could go on the leg extension machine – Up to 70 on the stack – The total stack was 95. Worked on good mornings, getting correct form and also some low wide leg press movements. Box squats – they get really hard when your legs are starting to fatigue. No sooner had I fired up off the seat, I was back down again – balance and control totally shot by now! Tried some various ways to hit hammies using a type of dumbbell hypers but couldn’t quite get the feel – will have to work on that a bit more.
Sunday morning, up early to check out a horse float the member of the pony club is selling. Dragged Madi and her friend Talia with me – They both slept in the lounge and were not keen to have their photos taken early in the morning. LOL.
I’m a cruel mother!
Big day today – my first show jumping competition. So nervous!! 6 competitors I grade 5. I’ve never jumped more that about 5 jumps in a row and apart from last week I haven’t done any jumping for about 4 months. The AM7 course is 9 jumps which have to be done in order, plus, if you get go clear in your round and within the specified time, you have to do an immediate ‘jump off’ which is another 6 jumps – but out of order. My legs were like jelly about half way through the course and Mojo was fired up and wanted to canter and I’m pulling him back, finally around to jump eight and I’m telling him “OK Mojo we’ve just gotta clear this last one” Over it beautifully and I hear the bell ring signaling me to go straight on to the jump off. The idea here is to clear the 6 jumps in as fast a time as possible. I was just glad to clear them all and stay on!! What an adrenalin rush !! My heart was pounding and legs shaking….. What a team! 4th place ! An hour later and I’m in the ring again doing top score jumping - where each jump is given a point value based on difficulty. The rules are to jump as many as possible within 60 seconds – any order, any direction but you can only jump the same one twice. Needless to say I fared poorly in this event, however I did attempt the most difficult jump once and had a clear round – place 6th.
At the weekend, Saturday morning, I managed to get graded at Donvale Adult Riding Club (DARC) Finally have my grade 5 level assessment (bottom grade! lol) Even managed to make it thru the show jumping lesson without falling off! Go me! Then was ambushed on Sunday to enter the Doncaster BMW 5 Star show jumping series. I want sure if I could make it as I have a power lifting meeting at 2pm on Sunday to discuss next years Nats as we are hosting it here in Melbourne. Yesterday I received an email from the club president with my times for the show jumping... at this point I hadnt actually comiited but its seems everyone wanted me to have a go. Looks like I'll be giving my apologies for not attending the powerlifting meeting.
Tried out box squats for the first time this week - they’ll take a little getting used to and I certainly pulled up sore enough the next day. Performing sets of 3 at 60kg (just about half my max) and really powering up out of the bottom off the squat - speed work! Last night was bench night. Worked on technique and again speed - so just 55kg on the bar for 3 reps per set. Some sets performed with a wide grip - some with a narrow grip. Then onto floor work with dumbbells - pressing up fast hitting the triceps followed up with skull crushers (EZ bar down to the forehead and back up). Finished up with some delt work - side lateral raises and front bar raises. Surprisingly I'm not sore today - although my legs still have some residual soreness from a) last weeks good mornings b) box squats and c) horse riding (inner thigh) - Mojo is going to have to go on a diet - cant wrap my legs around his fat belly! LOLDoing some research on Westside training techniques and will tryout some of their methods - once I understand it a little better. I have someone in the gym where I do most of my training that is very well versed with Westside; he's a strength and conditioning coach. I had a chat with him the other night and he gave me some articles that he has on Westside and I'm also printing out some off the web. What I've read so far makes sense to me but I'll need more time to work out how I can tailor this training style to suit.
My training this week has just been 'back to basics’ doing some bicep / triceps work on Wednesday, back and abs last night and trying out some of the 'core' exercises of Westside. Things like heavy good mornings and pull thru's. Needless to say my hamstrings are quite sore today. I'm keeping up the cardio - summer is coming.... well ok spring is nearly here... LOL I'd like to get into a little running again and participate in the Melbourne Marathon. Not that I can run a marathon over even a half marathon for that matter, but there is a marafun which is 'only' 7.5 km on October 8th which would give me enough time to train and it falls between the next powerlifting comps (Bench press Sept 16 and the Raw push/pull on Nov 18) so shouldn’t interfere with training for those.
This weekend I’m getting back in the saddle too – literally! Adult riding club tomorrow and I might even finally get graded. Madi is graded at level 4. Maybe sometime I can catch up but at the moment I need to get my first grading – Level 5. seems like forever since I have been riding.
Carrying the pager this weekend for work so I wont be able to stay at riding for all that lonmg – probably a good thing, no doubt I’ll be sore. Fingers crossed that it’s a quiet one.
Up early Friday morning for a 7 am flight to Brisbane. Checked my weight at home before I left was looking good to make my weight class. Met up with Sharon at the airport and we went up to the Qantas lounge to drink foul coffee and wait for the flight. Arrived in Brizzy about 9am. Collected our luggage and Shaz picked up the hire car. Off to the Mecure for the weigh in.
As we came out of one of the shopping malls, who should Shaz spot? None other than the legend herself, Taylor Young. Now here is great female powerlifter and bodybuilder holding many Australian records and body buildings much coverted Miss Universe title.... With her was Susan Stewart who has just competed earlier this year in the figure division and cleaned up. Shaz and Taylor had a chance to catch up while driving them out to the airport (doing the taxi run - picked up Steven Brown and Maria Barba for the return trip!) - unfortunately Taylor and Susan weren't staying for the powerlifting comp but Taylor wished me luck and since I would be competing in her weight dvision I reassured her that her records would still be standing! LOL Watchout for Susan in future tho' - she's competing again in a couple of months and is bound to take the comp by storm!
Next discipline is bench. Decided in the warmup against wearing the shirt - a little concerned that my lack of experience with a bench shirt I could mess up the lift all together, so lifted 'raw'. Opened with 70kg - easy! Second attempt 75kg - also went up well. Third attempt at 80kg - arghhh almost - I could feel it but it wasnt meant to be. Maria on the other hand was able to press up an impressive 80 kg - well this is her pet lift and she's a very strong bencher! Well done Maria!
At the end of the day it was the light weight girls that took the honors as I had expected with their awesome more than double bodyweight lifts. Congratulations to Teresa and Tegan!!. When I get hold of the results sheets I can tell you what some of the other girls were lifting by comparison, but I was definately in the ball park with my lifts and still have a lot more to come!! Wait 'til I master that bench shirt - there'll be no stopping me..
Deadlifts on Saturday with Shaz and Charmaine - another great workout. Warmed up with 30 mins of cardio on the stepper waiting for the girls. This time at Fitness First in Chadstone.
Monday heralded in my last training session - bench. Had another try out with the Denim shirt - its far more suitable for the style of benching that Shaz is teaching me. Still I'm having a little trouble mastering it. We can use the denim shirt at the comp - Shaz cheked this out with the official up in Brisbane, Mason Jardine. So now its up to me whether to use it. At this point I can bench probably as much without the shirt as I can with - simply becuase I have not mastered the technique of using a shirt. I'm erring on the side of using it simply for the experience - and maybe I'll be lucky enough to wing on the day for a good lift.
