Nationals' nightmare

Yep, I had a shocker. I wanted 122/150. I got 118/143. Embarrassing and gutting, but there are a few lessons to learn here. I weighed in at 94.3kg and I cut almost two and a half kilos, just missing the 94kg bodyweight. Hindsight being as it is, this said a lot about the day.

The most important thing was that the competition was a resounding success. There were 43 lifters which is the biggest competition Irish weightlifting has had since the 60's. Most people lifted really well and I think it is safe to say the Jordanstown University is the best competition venue in the country. Irish weightlifting is really improving and our overall standard is gradually going progressing.

On to my report. I arrived for the weigh in at around 10.30am and I lifted at around 5pm. It was a long wait, but the 94kg and upwards lifters all had to wait the same amount. I did a quick warm up session to wake myself up after waiting around for so long. I did two doubles with 50 and then did Power Snatch singles with 70, 80, 90 and 100kg. Maybe 30 or 35 minutes later I started my proper warm up. I did a few doubles with 50 and 70kg. I then did singles with 80, 90, 100, 105 and 110kg. I felt the strongest I have ever felt pre competition and I was 100% confident that I would hit 122.

Wayne had me open with 114kg and it was a joke. I went on to smoke 118 and actually pulled back on it slightly, which made the recovery tricky because the bar was pretty far back. It felt stupidly light though and I was ready for why I was there in the first place. I gave 122 everything I had but the bar was out front and I missed it. The bar was high enough and I was low enough, but I could not fix her overhead. I was genuinely surprised I missed it.

I then chilled out for 15 minutes and refuelled. I did a bit of bar work and did a few doubles with 70. I then warmed up with singles with 90, 100, 110 and I power cleaned 120 and 130 before I jerked it. In hindsight this was a mistake, but I wanted to really finish the pull and use my hips. I then hit 137 as my last warm up and Wayne had me open with 143kg. I was feeling a bit light headed but I knew what I had to do. I cleaned it easier than I have ever Cleaned 143 and somehow contrived to miss the Jerk. This very very rarely happens and I simply just took the Jerk for granted. Stupid is as stupid does. I then hit it again and got the lift, but the Jerk was tough. Wayne bumped me up to 148 and I pulled too far back on the Clean and ended up not even being able to rack it. I felt heartbroken and extremely disappointed. I went upstairs and finally got that Front squat with 160 after missing it the last four times I went for it.

Lessons learned:

1. I did not prepare properly: I don't actually need to go back to the drawing board, I simply needed to give the original drawing board a proper go. I put the effort into the training, but it was in the preparation outside of the actual training itself where I let myself down. My training has not been as productive as it should have been because of general fatigue. I am fatigued because I am not sleeping enough to recover from my demanding lifestyle. I am only training three times a week, so I am not tired from training. It is life outside training that causes fatigue and I am not sleeping enough because I am idling what spare time I have away online. The perfect embodiment of my lack of preparation was in how I did not make weight. In and of itself, this is not important but it speaks volumes on how I was not organising myself accordingly. My behaviours are simply not matching my goals and this has to change. If I want to qualify for the European Championships, and I am so staggeringly close already, I simply need to sleep far more.

2. Conservation of energy: I need to be more disciplined about internalising my energy, particularly when I am waiting so long to lift. I made an effort to contain my enthusiasm, but the simple thing to do is to organise somewhere else to go. I went to Tesco for an hour with German and Oleg, but walking around a supermarket is not an ideal resting place during a seven hour wait. Doing something else not only conserves my energy, but also keeps me from brooding on what is to come. This allows me to stay more relaxed and conserve more physical and mental energy.

3. The Ulster Open in June is going to be awesome: Myself and Byrdie have some unfinished business with Jordanstown and this will occur on June 11th. I will be more prepared and I will have my squats and training lifts at a higher intensity. Weightlifting is simple but it sure isn't easy.

Nationals' newbie mistakes

Well, it really did not go the way I wanted, but there is plenty for me to take away from Saturday. It was my first Nationals and I performed nowhere near what I am capable of, but I know it will be better next week and I would rather learn these lessons now than next Saturday at the Small Nations competition in Malta.

I arrived for the weigh in 15 minutes early to check my weight. I was under weight by .6 of a kilo, and the scales were changed after I weighed in officially because of a battery problem and the scales were not official. The second set of scales were generally supposed to be more accurate and they were .8 of a kilo lighter. This means that I was 1.5 kilograms too light, which is a lot of energy that should be there. Mistake number one. Mistake number two was not eating enough after the weigh in which was ten in the morning. I was lifting at around three in the afternoon in the third group and all I ate was porridge with fruit, two shakes, a wrap and some fruit.

When I started my warm up I felt ready to go and amped to the max. Hindsight being the muse that she is, I should have left the venue for a few hours and gone somewhere to chill out and eat a nice lunch. Instead, I stayed around the venue until it was my time to lift. My warm up went swimmingly. I missed my last warm up attempt at 100, it was bit too relaxed.

Competition lifts:
1x1@100--I knew I had to speed this one up. We originally wanted to open with 102, but I missed 100 so we dropped back. This lift was very quick, but it was not controlled at all; it jarred at the bottom as you will see in the video.
1x1@105--I started my pull too early on this one instead of staying over the bar as Morgan and Harry have told me to do. I ended up behind the bar and missed it.
1x1@105--I focused on staying over the bar and finishing my pull. Again it flew up and I got the lift because I was able to get through it.

After the Snatches, my legs started to get the rubber feeling so I knew I needed to get some sugar. I had a sugar energy pouch and some fruit juice, but I was hungry ny now. I started my Clean and Jerk warm up and things were going really well until I missed my last warm up lift of 125 because I tried to Power Clean it rather than bring it down. Damn you ego! I was supposed to open with 130 but then we went down to 128 because I did not have time to repeat 125.

Competition lifts:
1x1@128--I messed this up very badly. I overpulled the Clean and my feet did not go out, so I went back on my heels. I just about made the Jerk, but I messed that one up too, pushing it out front. At this stage, I was a little frantic. Weights that were normally so basic felt very heavy and my technique had taken a back seat.
1x1@134--This clean was better but still ugly. I have no idea how I did not make the Jerk. Looking at the video I did not get through it, but what caused my technique to give me the fingers is a mystery.
1x1@134--I panicked like a lost ten year old in Tesco's. Instead of calming myself down, I got more anxious to rip the bar as hard as possible. I forgoed my usual routine and raced up to the bar. It barely got off the ground. Then came the heartbreak.

Things to learn from yesterday:
1. Buy a decent set of scales--Mine is useless and I never know what I really weigh.
2. Come prepared with more food and a pre-selected spot to go and relax in after the weigh in for a few hours.
3. Have more immediate sugar hit products ready. One is not enough.
4. It is not a question of power in my Snatch, but of control.
5. Instead of thinking I need to lift harder--which causes me to use my arms like I did in all the Clean and Jerks--I need to think smoother.
6. When something inevitably goes wrong, I cannot let instinct take over. Calm must be restored like it was after my 2nd attempt Snatch miss. I knew what I had to do and I did it.
7. Ego is the enemy. I have to stop thinking about what I should be doing and and just accept what I am currently able to do, irregardless of whatever potential there may be.

Considering I got 105/130 in October after only lifting for five months, this was a massive disappointment. But, I know I have improved in technique and power since then so I just have to learn from my mistakes and enjoy the process. I love weightlifting, even on the bad days. Those bad days are a cruel mistress though.

On a better note, well done to Gill for her 5 out of 6. She will be going to the Eiliko women's Grand Prix in a few weeks. Laura Snatched really well and Sami was smooth in his Clean and Jerks. There is a lot more in all of us it is safe to say. Cathal hit a great 142 Jerk and Kevin did a lovely 120/160 with room to spare for next week. Eamonn and Andy looked very strong as did Neil Dougan. It was great to meet Pete Stewart who I though was the best lifter there. Very fast and precise. My lifts are below, warts and all.