First Money Meet?

[benchmonster]

Hey guys,

The okie's have a meet coming up on July 6th. There is an option if you pay an extra 10 bucks to enter the "Pro Open" division. The pro's are still in weight classes, but are also competing for money, not a lot of money, 5th place gets his entry fee back, and 1st gets like 150 or 200 dollars.

Placing in the pro's is determined by Schwartz formula. I already know who will win first place. Jason Jackson will bench in the 600 range at 242, if Kim Brownfield is healthy enough to enter the meet, he will go upper 500's at 242, so 1st and second are spoken for right there.

I have a new shirt coming in Friday which Karin and I are planning will take 530 or so to touch, it will be my 3rd attempt shirt if it fits as expected. I am thinking of going 480, 505, 530 or very close to those attempts. I am 100 percent confident of the 1st two attempts and a little over 50 percent sure on the 3rd attempt. I will weigh in at 218 lbs.

Assuming all goes well, do you guys think it would be a good idea to jump in with the sharks? This will only be my 1st year anniversary of taking up powerlifting. Exactly one year before this meet, I entered my first meet and got 355 at 215. My last meet a month ago, I got 475 really easily, and locked out 505 very strong only to get 2 reds and one white on butt raise, which was a result of not putting plates under my feet.

I am kind of torn about whether to enter the pro division or not.

Any thoughts?

B.

 

[Cubanito17]

Now I've only done one meet but here's how I see it big bro. If you know ur competing for money your gonna wanna give it hell and tear up that 530 now if it's not for weight then why worry about cutting weight and just compete in 242's with those guys and maybe you'll be a bit stronger by then u got 3 weeks. Unless your going for a record than that's a different story.

my .02 cents

 

[Twitched]

I think he's worried about weight as well, because the schwartz formula is a function of weight and weight lifted, as I understand it.

 

[CytoMel]

Benchmonster I think you should enter the pro division. It sounds like you are interested and its only $10 more. I wouldnt worry about winning $ either but make sure that new shirt is ready for you before you enter the pro ranks.

Check this out from the Bench Bash last year.This is from last years Powermag in the middleweight (220) division.

Some of the top 10:

10. 512.5
9. 523.6
8. 534.6
7. 534.6

So benchmonster if you could get that 535 than you would be in the top 10 for the benchbash which sounds like even tougher
competition than your upcoming meet.

I say GoPro

 

[Screwball]

"If you wanna run with the big dogs; you have to get your ass off of the porch."

What the fuck, it's only $10 more and your chances are excellent. Go for it!

 

[bigokie]

Hell yes you better enter the pro division, or else the scrawny little Screwball will sit on you! HAHA Honestly, you have as good a shot as anyone, and you never know about those two you think will finish in the top. Everyone has bad days. They could get out of groove or pull something warming up. Shit happens. Definitely go pro, shit it's only $10!!!

 

[p03t1c]

i saw jason jackson lift today. he makes lifting look like a joke. he didn't look too happy when he went for his second deadlift attempt and his grip gave way. he did come back to nail the 3rd attempt and set a record.

 

[powerlifterjay]

I would say go for it. Its only 10 bucks. Win or lose so what. Its all good. Dude you never know what will happen.
It might make you lift more!

 

[benchmonster]

Po3t1c,

If you saw him lift in person will you tell me if he looks way way to big to be in the 242's. I for some reason am on the same pissing schedule that he is on at every meet I have been in with him, and when I look at the two of us in a mirror, I look like I am 40 lbs lighter than he is, and he is a big 242 and I am a big 220er.

Where did you see him lift by the way?

B.

 

[p03t1c]

i'm not a great judge of weight. most powerlifters are rather short, but he didn't seem to be a heavy 242 (though i could be wrong). he was lifting in the plano, texas meet put on by strouds. he has huge thighs and an enormous back. i'm 6'2" so he looks quite a bit shorter than i am, but he's thick as hell. does his wife/girlfriend always go to the meets with him? this is the chick that smacks him around before he lifts.

 

[benchmonster]

Wife, and she has been at all the ones I saw him at. If you are six foot two and went to a powerlifting meet, you must have looked like a giant.

I remember being at one with my brother who is six two or three, and he made the comment that he felt like a giant. Now he knows how out of place I feel at a volleyball match or basketball game.

And Jason is only about five six. I am just a shade taller than he is.

B.

 

[p03t1c]

height wise i felt like a giant, but i'm not much over 200lbs so i'm very small compared to most of the guys. being this tall and weighing so little makes powerlifting a bitch. i'm steadily gaining weight to make up for the years i dedicated to trying to have a sixpack. what jason didnt have in height, he definately made up for in thickness. there were a few other guys there that were about his size but i didnt catch their names because i was just staying around to watch him. too bad i didnt get to see him bench (i showed up too late).

 

[Mac Sledge]

Go for the money, I know how many kids you have and you could use the $10. Of course if you don't win one of them might go hungry.

Let me know if you need anymore motivation.

Mac

 

[benchmonster]

Nobody REALLY knows exactly how many kids I have, they just know how many live with me.

I guess I am going to sack up and enter the pro division. If I make an ass of myself it won't be the first time. You know what they say, you don' t make any of the shots you don't take.

By the way, guys. bigokie and Screwball came down yesterday, and I hit a new P.R. 525!!!!

Pretty fired up about that. I don't even have my shirt in from Karin yet, this was in my old shirt. May have to up the attempts.

I could not get 475 to touch, went up to 495 and smoked it, then pulled the shirt down too far, could not get 525 to touch, readjusted the shirt, and got that too. I was most proud of being able to come back after a miss or two and get the weight. I used to never be mentally or physically strong enough to do that.

Very happy about the P.R. but much happier I was able to come back. Things are definately clicking right now. If the new shirt fits like I am hoping, maybe 540 for a 3rd attempt? Who knows?

B.

 

[Geno_O]

I say go for it. This type of thing will give you big time
motivation. It could be the catalyst that pushes you to
the next level.

By the way, you will not "make an ass out of yourself". You
will only make yourself better.

Good luck.