Running a bit late for this.
6th September 2023
Riccarton Racecourse
Ōtautahi Christchurch
Aotearoa New Zealand
2023 NZPF Powerlifting Championships
I had trained quite hard for this meet over the past 10 weeks. Coming back from a small hamstring/adductor tweak everything progressed nicely, and built up to a comfortable and strong peak. My peak week strategy had not realistically changed from last meet. The main difference is eating at maintenance or slightly above for the entirety of the training cycle.
Flew down to Christchuch on the Tuesday morning, got some food, went to the venue and checked weight, went to the AirBbB and relaxed for the evening. Normal mixed sleep, was ok, woke feeling ok but the normal vague aches that appear after recovering for the peak.
Lifting was starting at ~1.30 but I think it went out to 2pm, and because I was second flight, it was right on 3pm before I realistically stepped on the platform.
I weighed in at 117.6kg, so a little heavier than regionals, but realistically not that different. So, competed as 120kg class M2 Male. First thing was a can of creamed rice and some salt enriched sports drink. About 1.5 litres down quickly. Warmups were eh, but all ok. Started Musashi Energy Drink.
Squat
Opener: 215kg - Three white lights and comfortable
Second: 232.5 - Got messed up with who was on the platform (I thought I had one more lifter before me) so got out there quickly. Three white lights and moved ok. New WCPA M2 Record.
Third: 242.5kg - Better, and moved well. Three white lights and new WCPA M2 Record.
Had wanted to approach the old M1 WCPA record at 240kg. But it got broken to 270kg in the earlier flight.
More sports drink and some more. Warmed up for bench. Moved fine. Another Musashi Energy Drink.
Bench
Opener: 170kg - Three whites- moved fast
Second: 180kg - A lot more work three whites - WCPA M1 and M2 Record.
Third: 182.5kg - guessed that I didn't have a lot left from 180. The bar moved towards my waist so dumped the bar - miss
Ok. Some more rice and some drink. Just trying to keep moving as it was closing in on 6pm and feeling it. Warmups did not feel the best, but I wasn't really aggressive with these. Started my final Musashi Energy drink of the day, and when I realised they didn't have as much caffeine as I thought (I was thinking 250mg but they are 160mg - so overall dose for the day wasn't particularly high).
Deadlifts
Opener: 252.5kg - three whites - really easy. WCPA M2 Total Record.
Second: 270.5kg - moved fast - three whites. NZPF M2 record. WCPA M2 Record. Regional M2 Total Record.
Third: 283kg - Didn't move as fast, but three whites. NZPF M2 Deadlift Record. NZPF M2 Total Record. WCPA M2 Deadlift record. WCPA M1 and M2 Total Record.
Total: 705.5kg
Really proud of that performance. I knew I did not have any competitors going into the meet. So all I had to do is total, to win the title. So it was irrelevant.
The targets for this meet were
Make three lifts
Make a total
Squat over 240
Bench over 180
Deadlift over 270
Top 3 M2 lifters
Out total M1 120kg class
Break National M2 deadlift record
Break National M2 Total record.
I also wanted to keep the M2 WCPA records and the M1 total record. I wanted to break the M1 local squat.
So from those I got three lifts and a total, I squatted over 240 but didn't hit the local M1 record (it increased 30kg 30mins before I started). I hit 180 which was good. I deadlifted 283 for the Deadlift records. I hit 705.5 which was 0.5kg total record. I also kept the WCPA M1 total record, which was reset at 705 before I started deadlifts, but I chipped it. I hit a 45.5kg personal best total. I achieved nearly every single goal I had set for myself.
I also got better than 3rd M2 - instead I was Number 1 - so got a trophy (top ranked NZr didn't compete as he was heading to worlds).
I also would have placed second in the M1 class, by 2.5kg to Richy, who beat me by 2.5kg in the Bench Nationals in 2019!!
I would have placed fourth in the open.
I am currently #6 on
Open IPF for 120kg M2 lifters.
Stoked.
