Rhi Reynolds
The more I compete, the more hungry I get for improvement. I feel confident now that I am developing a platform presence. This is now my 5th competition, and although I still get the weightlifting jitters, I notice that I feel at home competing. I train for the electricity that I feel in the competition – there’s nothing quite like it.
There’s also nothing quite like having your first win. The Baltimore Open marks my first gold medal in my weight class, as well as best overall female for the entire competition. I also had a PR total of 146. I snatched 63 and clean and jerked 83kg, click for the video! Both are competition PR’s. Actually, I had never done 83 ever before. Hard work pays off, that’s all I can say. I think every athlete will agree. Before I wrote this blog, I stumbled across a quote by Herschel Walker that I think most everyone can relate to:
“If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat.”
If you aren’t aware of who Herschel Walker is, look him up before reading any further, and then you will fully appreciate his words of wisdom. There can’t be more truth behind this statement. Training for competition (as well as training for a goal in general) takes you through so many different levels and experiences that will not only change you, but amplify your character. You may find out who you really are during these situations, whether you like seeing it or not. The good thing about exposing your ‘true self’ is that you are also exposed to ‘true solutions’. When you’re able to see the true you amongst precarious circumstances, you’re then able to find a solution to deal with the problem. But it’s never an easy route. You have to train hard and overcome whatever adversity you are faced with. Once you’ve grown accustom to this, you’ve then built yourself a suit of armor that’s impenetrable to any situation that may have wounded you before. Once you’re equipped – it becomes harder and harder to pull you down.
I’ve noticed the transformation in myself not only as a weightlifter, but as an individual. I was accustomed to hiding behind a wall of self-consciousness. Although I still see remnants here and there, the experiences I gain through weightlifting are slowly tearing down the wall, brick by brick. I enjoy having an audience now. I take pride in putting myself out there on display. I especially enjoy the adrenaline rush I feel as grab the Eleiko competition bar: always the right hand first.
Along the way, I’m also gaining some weightlifting friends. You are surrounded by fellow competitors, but it’s also important to make contacts. It also eases the tension when you start small talk with someone when you’re sharing a warm-up platform with them. I saw a lot of familiar faces at the Baltimore Open. One of those lifters happened to be in the same session as me at the American Open. I guess that happens when you’re involved with a community!
Now that the Baltimore Open is over, it’s time to get back to the grind. Ending with new competition PR’s at this time is great because it’s time to switch up my program. This is another thing I look forward to: working with a new cycle with heavier weights. When I look back to what I was doing last year at this time, it’s almost comical. I wasn’t even snatching 100lbs or clean and jerking 135. It’s amazing of what a year of work can do. Now it’s time to put in more.