48-Hour Countdown: The 2010 YMCA Seattle Summer Classic

As I type this post it is about 9am, which means there are exactly 48 hours until lifting begins in the 2010 YMCA Seattle Summer Classic. This will be my first powerlifting competition ever, so as you might expect I'm getting nervous. Nevertheless, I'm excited and confident as well, and am looking forward to competing.

If any of my friends or family would like to see me compete, the YMCA Seattle Summer Classic is being held on Saturday, June 26th at the Meredith Mathews East Madison YMCA, located at 1700 23rd Ave. Seattle, WA 98122. Lifting begins at 9am, but there are three flights (groups) of lifters and I'm in the third group, and probably will not first lift until closer to 10am.

For those not familiar with powerlifting, here's how the day will go down. The lifters in flight A will perform their first squat attempt in order of increasing weight (being lifted, not that of the lifter). Then each will perform their second squat attempt, and finally each will have a third and last opportunity to squat. Then flight B will squat three times in the same fashion, followed by flight C--the group I'm in. So you can see that though lifting begins at 9am, it will be a while before I'm first up to squat.

After all three flights have squatted, flight A returns to the spotlight to bench press, three attempts just like the squat. Then, flight B will bench, followed by flight C. After the bench press flight A will perform their deadlift attempts, followed by flight B, and finally flight C will deadlift. The event promises to be a long one, and my flight may not close out the day until 1pm or later.

Here is what I'm planning on lifting:

Exercise	First Attempt	Second Attempt	Third Attempt
Squat	192.5 kg. (423.5 lb.)	220 kg. (484 lb.)	232.5 kg. (511.5 lb.)
Bench Press	137.5 kg. (302.5 lb.)	147.5 kg. (324.5 lb.)	155 kg. (341 lb.)
Deadlift	227.5 kg. (500.5 lb.)	245 kg. (539 lb.)	265 kg. (583 lb.)

If successful on my third bench press attempt above, I will break the latest USAPL Washington State Men's Open record for RAW bench press in my weight class. Likewise, if successful on my third deadlift attempt, I will break that record as well. And if successful on all of my third attempts above, I will break the record for RAW total in my weight class. There's a lot of opportunity here!

Whether you will be there or not, your prayers and well-wishes are welcome and appreciated!