March
22 Diary entry: "I have not been able to get out of bed or
off of the couch since Saturday when I got home.
Can you say...PAIN?!?! If I could make that word PAIN larger
or more bold to emphasize the amount of pain I am in, I would.
Does that explain how I feel???
"Let
me start off by saying I have the highest level of respect
for the women
who compete in Strongman. I have found both Powerlifting
and Bodybuilding to be painful in ways...whether it be in the
dieting and water depletion in getting ready for a bodybuilding
show...or the extreme internal pressure you feel "in the
hole" while squatting in a canvas suit...or the grueling
workouts you put yourself through for both. However, I can say
with not one ounce of doubt...none of that even remotely compares
to the pain I felt while competing in strongman.
"I
arrived on Saturday morning around 8 am and got breakfast. Then
I headed over to the arena. The show was set to start at
noon. I weighed in at 156 pounds, and then had time to play around
with the equipment before the meeting and rules. Now mind you,
I never trained for this, nor have I ever used any of the equipment
that I would be using during the competition. I was able to have
a friend show me how to get under the tire (which was 500 pounds)
and throw my body into it to flip it...that is all technique
(and of course some strength). The way I originally tried to do
it
rendered the tire motionless. Once I was shown how to do it,
it moved, not necessarily with ease, but nonetheless, it flipped.
Ok, some confidence there. I played with the rest of the equipment
but didn't really get the full force of it because no weight
was on the apparatus. The only exception there was the kegs...I
had to lift 150 pound kegs, which I tried and was able to do.
...
"I
ended up taking 4th place in the event. I am proud I gave it a
shot, and though I had a really hard time and I am paying
for it now, I am happy I did it. I have nothing but respect for
those women I competed against. They were all amazing, and all
so very nice. I didn't expect the level of camraderie that was
there....when it is your event everyone rallies around you and
supports you, cheers for you, and tries to egg you on to finish
the event no matter how painful. I was introduced to a world
in a sport I knew nothing about, and they welcomed me with open
arms!!!
"I
also have to thank my support crew....My husband and family,and
all of my friends for coming to support me...Marta, Bianca, Claudia...and
Elena who was there in spirit since her brother was getting married
that day. She would have been right along side me cheering me
on, if not competing herself! And a special thanks to Bianca
who worked 'till 4 am the night before and still got her butt
up and drove all the way there for me!!! :) (Even though I caught
her napping in the competitors warmup area, LOL!!!!!!!) HAHA!!!!
BUSTED!!!!
...
'Till next time,
Keep pumpin' hard!!!
XOXO
Heather Lee |