Workout of the Day:
“Elizabeth”
21-15-9 reps of:
Clean 60Kg
Ring dips

Post times to comments.

Previous attempts at Elizabeth:
March 25th
September 3rd
February 9th

The Converted – CrossFit Ventura

Yeah Buddy! My First Olympic Lifting Comp

Originally I wasn’t meant to enter the Leinsters, as we needed one person to keep CrossFit open. So I indulged in a diet mainly consisting of Chocolate Milk and Natural Confectionery in the evenings. Until, after a tough workout on Thursday, Will tells me he’s not competing.

I step on the scales – 79.2 – Bugger. I’ve to cut weight to make 77Kg. I don’t look back fondly on the cutting weight part of my sub wrestling/MMA days, back when once I had to cut 7Kg in 3 days. It was not fun.

Even though my cut this time was far less arduous, and only required about half a day of sacrifice, it still sucked. Particularly when Will, Amy and The Shane all had steak at mine on Friday night, while I had some chewing gum and a tumbler of water.

I woke early enough on Saturday morning, and my first mental image was me missing a snatch – not a promising start but I corrected that and thought of me hitting many PRs to get me in the right frame of mind. With that, I headed over to Coolmine Sports and Leisure Centre.

I was one of the first people there, and introduced myself to Jimmy Jennings, who I’d been in contact with on a few occasions. Quickly I became known as ‘yer man from that Cross-Type-Yoke’. Everyone who I spoke to was very friendly, and would offer advice seeing as this was my first comp. “Very important to get that opening lift” seems to be a mantra in these circles, as most lifters’ days will go to pot if they miss that first lift. I weighed in at a healthy 75.56Kg and was asked my opening weights. Nervously I looked over at Harry – who’d graciously offered to coach me during the day – and we decided on 65 for the Snatch and 85 for the clean and jerk. Sure they could always be changed.

Just after weigh in we’d our first problem. The rules in Olympic Lifting state the lifter must wear a singlet, or some other form of figure hugging bottoms. Now, while it’s well documented that I’ve no problem with tight t-shirts, tight shorts are just a different story altogether. For the next hour or so, myself and Harry roamed Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in search of cycle shorts, eventually finding a pair of rugby shorts in a sparse JJB Sports.

At about twenty to twelve I put on my leave-nothing-to-the-imagination shorts, lucky Batman socks and lifting shoes and started warming up. Bam! My heart rate exploded on the first set of Overhead Squats. Holy Shit! This was crazy. But also very cool. I didn’t get this nervous at the Invitational, not by a long shot. Maybe that was because it was in my gym, and I’d designed the workouts, and I wasn’t part of the ranking system. But here, man I was bricking it. Deadly!

I did a few squats and stretches then went into the Burgener warm up with the bar, and after that Harry had me do some Snatches from the hang and from the floor. Another little tidbit I was given was that so many lifters have failed lifts by putting the bar down before the centre judge gives the call, so even in my warm ups I waited til Harry gave me the down command.

I began to get the groove on singles, which I did at 50 and 55, and Harry said I was well able for 65Kg. He then told me to sit down, as this seems to be another thing they do to lifters to get them to relax their legs.

First attempt, and all I’m reminded by Harry is to make sure I finish my extension, stabilise, and stand up. Tony had showed up with Amy (his daughter), I think he was talent scouting for “Team Awesome” so I didn’t want to let him down. Then, just before I go onto the platform, Harry takes off my Oakleys. I’ve never lifted before without Oakleys. Frankly, I think it’s a little dangerous.

I didn’t know where to look when I went for that first snatch, and rushed it a bit. Pcheew!! 65Kg went up and over and behind. Whoops! Stumbled backwards a bit and managed to stand up with it. I have never missed a Snatch behind before, I guess it was just the adrenaline, which was flying through me at this stage. Harry reckoned it was the change in my centre of gravity without the sunglasses on my head.

Second attempt and we went for 69Kg, which wasn’t good. I didn’t bring that aggression to the bar, never finished my pull, and lost it at the bottom. Drat! Oh well.

I was given 2 minutes to repeat the lift, and think I took all of 40 seconds. Stamped my feet on the platform, got the focus on, and Wham! 69Kg Power Snatch! “Oh yeah, bring it on” I said as I walked back to the warm up, now displaying some of that trademark Reilly cockiness.

We were given ten minutes between snatches and clean and jerks, so I took a little break and went out to talk to Tony, who was now joined by Will, Ames, and Big Shane. With the extra support, I was even more nervous. Will gave me some timeless CrossFit advice, DFTU!

We warmed up fairly quickly with some jerk drills, then a Clean, Front Squat, and Jerk at 55kg, C&J @ 65Kg, and one at 75Kg. The Jerks felt really good, even if my catch on the cleans didn’t. Harry wanted me to do another warm up at 80Kg originally, but with my heart rate going ninety it was best if I relaxed and focused.

85Kg was a weight I was very confident I could get, and I walked onto the platform quite focused. Just as I began my lift, Laura – a friend I know who used to train at KO Martial Arts – says “Go CrossFit” and I’m almost tempted to look over as I come out of the clean. The Jerk feels solid as well and we go for 90, my old PB.

90Kg goes up, and I think for a brief second about missing the Jerk, but again it goes up really well. Happy days.

Harry asks me what’s next, and I tell him I’ve never pulled more than 90, so we go 93. He tells me the Jerk isn’t a problem.

Big Clean, and Whoosh (I think I’m running out of words for sound effects), it went overhead. I wasn’t sure my left arm locked out, so I anxiously put down the weight and waited for the judges. Three white flags. A side profile air punch was my only celebration, not sure my over the top antics would be appreciated by the IAWLA. As I came off the platform Harry high fived me, and said, in his best Ronnie Coleman impression – “That’s good old NATURAL STRENGTH, baby!”

My total was 162Kg, which was good enough to get me Silver in the 77Kg division, which makes me the second most powerful man in Leinster now.

Honestly this was the most fun I’ve ever had competing. Back in my competitive jitz days, I’d feel the same nerves. These would either be complimented by a sense of relief if I won, or a sense of disappointment in myself if I lost. Here, there was a real sense of achievement when I put the weight overhead. It felt fantastic to get that PB Clean & Jerk, great way to end the day on a high!

I wonder if I ask Will really nicely will he let me compete again in two weeks time. I mean, hell, I’ve already bought a singlet.