Well, I did it.
I had made up my mind last month to compete in the Tioga County Fitness
Challenge--a series of 12 events scheduled to take place once a month in
2007. The first competition was the bench press on Saturday.
I didn't have to lift much heavier than usual, as this was a max rep
competition and not a max weight event. In my age class I would be
required to lift 60 percent of my weight as many reps as I could.
To get ready for the event I stepped up my chest routine. I started
doing several reps at an easier weight (65 lbs), then did several at a
weight I knew was heavier than what I would be required to lift (75
lbs), then did as many reps as I could manage at the highest weight I
could manage (85 lbs). I worked this routine once a week all through the
month of December and twice a week during the first week of January.
I also did push ups, flyes, hammer or bicep curls, and tricep push
downs.
On the day of the event, I was feeling like crap. I had been fighting a
losing battle with a chest cold (I'm going to the docs today...), and
got about four hours sleep the night before. I weighed in at 122
lbs--two pounds over my normal max weight. Blech!! But I was still
within the range of what I planned to lift for the event, which was 70
lbs.
After a glass of oj and some warmups (two sets of 15 pushups and light
bench press), I was ready to go. I watched the kids lifting, which was
very cool, then watched several of the women compete. I wanted to see
what I was up against! There were many women in the over 40 age group,
and they were pretty scrappy. There weren't many younger women, which
surprised me.
My turn came when one of the spotters yelled "Amy--get over here!"
(small towns...). I was ready by then. I told them to put 70 lbs on, got
comfy on the bench, grabbed the bar and said "let's go." I made sure to
concentrate on each rep, touch and go, and keep my form solid. I managed
12 reps before I gave out...on the 13th I got the bar about half way up,
and said "no mas."
I came in second and earned a silver medal.
My sister (unbeknownst to me) took video during my lift (she came in 4th
place). You can view it at
http://www.myspace.com/80217756 --it cuts
out at rep number 10. For info on the Challenge, check out
http://www.tcfitnesschallenge.com/. The broad jump is next month--I'm
getting ready!
Amy
168/122/115
Bench Press Competition (long) 
) You're a pro!
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