So, the time is finally here. I'm one week out from the last contest I'll be doing in what has been my busiest year for competing.
It's been a year of ups and downs, but ultimately I've seen the largest gains since I was a beginner, putting another 200# on my yoke, 25# on my log, and just recently, getting comfortable getting a 20" stone out of my lap. I also bombed two unsanctioned contests earlier in the year, and got my first first place finish.
In the context of the past 3-4 years since I began strongman (first touched the implements Nov/Dec 2007), this year has been significant. My first couple years, I went to contests expecting to scratch (miss) the overhead event. I also went knowing that my strength levels weren't up to par with any of the guys (even smaller local shows), and that my only saving grace was a little bit of speed, conditioning, and a knack for doing light-ish stones to high platforms kind of fast. All of the above actually helped me to a few respectable finishes. I came to appreciate strongman's way testing strength, power, speed, and conditioning, not to mention preparation and skill, in a variety of ways. But, I never felt quite like a competitor - I was more the perpetual underdog.
As fun as being the underdog is, and getting all of the comments about how my looks don't match my capacity, this was the year I was able to go to contests knowing that I could hang with some solid competitors on all fronts. I scratched the overhead event ~5 contests in a row. And that was back when the log was typically at 200# - not the 220+ we see now at local events, or the 250 that will be at Nationals. I haven't scratched an overhead event this year, and that's included two circus dumbbells (115-120), and 220 log. In some contests, I actually wasn't last either on the press event (gasp).
Whatever happens at Nationals, this has been a great year. Preparation has paid off, and I'm looking forward to 2012.
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