Sorry guys, been super busy but got a interesting post by one of my lifters.
It’s been a while since I’ve written a post. In addition to a hectic schedule—graduating, the bar, job search, fellowships, and of course working out—I’ve had a bit of a writer’s block. I don’t really like to write posts about the technical aspects of weightlifting. Besides having a great coach that writes on that sort of stuff, I’m just not qualified. My writing is individualistic and personal. It’s generally about me and my feelings and meant to inspire those who can empathize or sympathize. I hadn’t really gone through any unique personal transformations regarding weightlifting that I wanted to write about. It was the same old, same old sort of story: focus on positioning, stay healthy, keep at it.
*Thanks to Jerrian at SET Performance (Jacksonville, FL) for giving our lifters a gym outside of NYC.
But on November 27, 2013 I finally had an experience I thought worth writing about. I was out of town visiting my parents for Thanksgiving. Clearly I had to find a gym to train at. Now obviously this isn’t the first time I’ve been out of town and had to find a new gym, but today it really hit me how a different environment with different weightlifting equipment can make a big difference. It was a great place: people were friendly and respectful, and I was able to focus and workout in peace. But it was just different: Different floor, different bar, different plates, different air, different lighting, and generally different atmosphere.
It made me realize how training in a new environment now and then could actually be a good thing for a competitive weightlifter. You don’t want to get use to a rhythm and then when things don’t go your way, fall apart. I think it’s good to switch it up (but only now and then) and experience different sensations. Everything felt heavier for me that day and more difficult; but I got through it and was grateful for the experience.
So here’s a good excuse to go visit out of town family and friends more often. Go change it up. It might do you some good.
Stay strong,
James