Your first meet.

[KeepOnShruggin]

iPotato picture from my meet on Saturday. Weighed in at 173

300 squat, failed on 315
205 bench, failed on 215 on 2nd and 3rd attempt (gym PR is 215...)
415 deadlift for third attempt..

Once I figure out how to make a video with voice-over I'll upload something lengthy

[CharlieMats121]

BUTTERFLIES I always get so nervous when performing in front of other people and stuff...

[NeonDeon21]

Know all the rules and don't cut weight simple as that

[JetLife]

I strained my knee a few days ago and my first meet is in 3 weeks. The Dr. gave me some meds and told me to ice it and stay off it for 7-10 days. By that time I'll have maybe a week and a half to train before said meet.

Any suggestions on what I should do with the 1.5 weeks I'll have left before the meet. Go back to lifting heavy or ease back into it?

[ParsonBrown]

I've been curious to compete in a meet and there's finally one taking place April 6th. I know my 'Gym' pr's but I'm a little nervous about what to list for my attempts. I don't want to under/over estimate myself. How long are the wait times between attempts? I'm use to waiting 3-5 mins when going heavy.

The event is going to be a USAPL one and I'm curious about a couple things. The rule book mentions no Psychomoto Stimulants allowed. So taking Jack3d or C4 extreme months prior and the morning of is forbidden? How do they go about drug testing, do you get them done yourself and then bring your documents from the Dr. in?
Also what's the difference between the Military Division and the Junior division?

Gonna decide this weekend if this is my first event or not too. I live south of Statesboro...so not too far from Savannah. Are you going? If I do I would meet the infamous SPFjudge too. That makes me as nervous as lifting I think LOL. It's not a matter of if I want to, just have to figure out some other schedule stuff that is coming up soon.

EDIT: I see your last post and you are planning to be there. Good luck on recovery. I don't have any advice on that...

[JetLife]

Gonna decide this weekend if this is my first event or not too. I live south of Statesboro...so not too far from Savannah. Are you going? If I do I would meet the infamous SPFjudge too. That makes me as nervous as lifting I think LOL. It's not a matter of if I want to, just have to figure out some other schedule stuff that is coming up soon.

EDIT: I see your last post and you are planning to be there. Good luck on recovery. I don't have any advice on that...

Regardless of my injury I'm excited to go man. I'd suggest you do the same if your schedule permits.

[michael_xyz]

Week before meet - week off or go in once or twice and hit some light work?

I took my heaviest deadlift 10 days out, squat 7 days out (did some light pulls after these too) and bench 8 days out. For my first meet I did light work but I'm thinking maybe a week off would be better. My worry is about losing the groove in the lifts but then again I only train them once a week so not sure if that would be the case.

[claricSTi]

A little bit nervous but I just entered my first meet for may 18th. I don't care about placing but would be stoked if I could meet some fellow lifters and hit a PR.

I am also curious about what standard protocol is for the week before a comp? I would imagine a deload type week(75% or less) would be a good idea but that may be wrong.

[BradGregg]

Training for my first meet in June. It's 100% RAW. I don't take any preworkout, but I do take 5g creatine every morning with my multi and fish oil. I'm assuming this is no issue and hesitated posting, but figured I'd save myself an awful experience if creating isn't allowed.

[BruteMutant]

Training for my first meet in June. It's 100% RAW. I don't take any preworkout, but I do take 5g creatine every morning with my multi and fish oil. I'm assuming this is no issue and hesitated posting, but figured I'd save myself an awful experience if creating isn't allowed.

I am as well. Looking to total at least 1700.

[davisj3537]

Training for my first meet in June. It's 100% RAW. I don't take any preworkout, but I do take 5g creatine every morning with my multi and fish oil. I'm assuming this is no issue and hesitated posting, but figured I'd save myself an awful experience if creating isn't allowed.

You can look up banned substances on the website for the federation you will be lifting in. I'm pretty sure most or all of them allow creatine.

[simp3204]

Creatine is a legal substance for any fed/organization.

[BradGregg]

Creatine is a legal substance for any fed/organization.

Thanks, appreciate it.

I have an Inzer belt on the way, to start using over the next few months on my singles.

[khc1080]

I have wanted to try a powerlifting meet for a while but was too concerned about embarassing myself. (because i'm so freaking weak) but this thrread may have just changed my mind. awesome read, thanks so much!

[WolfMan93]

Fantastic article! Thank you so much, Im going to try and compete later this year and this really helped me understand a prepare

[amonamatt]

Watch the obviously experienced powerlifters warm up and do what they do. Don't do 5 workout sets before a max attempt.

[amonamatt]

You'll be suprised how you stack up. You may not win, but usually people do better than they thought they would. No one worth a damn at any meet i ever went to ever treated a guy poorly for weak lifts. Everyone starts somewhere and new lifters should be encouraged to come back and compete again. Basically, it should be a fun experience regardless of how well you perform.

[piedog]

dem gainnnnnnzzzzzzzzzz

[scullin]

I am as well. Looking to total at least 1700.

Cool. I might go to that one just to watch and then possibly start training to do the one coming up in September.

[claricSTi]

Cool. I might go to that one just to watch and then possibly start training to do the one coming up in September.

Don't watch man, enter. Even if you do something like bench only or deadlift only, enter.

I just did my first meet last weekend and had the time of my life. This is what I took away from it.

Everyone is there to help and hit PR's, maybe when you're at a higher level the competitivenss could come out but everyone was cherring one another on and instantly giving feedback as to why lifts were failed. I can't really express how awesome everyone was and can't wait for my next event.

I will also add that if your doing a smaller state type meet, the chances of you "placing" somewhere are VERY high. We didn't have more than 2-3 people in each weight class/division so pretty much everyone took home a trophy.

[scullin]

Don't watch man, enter. Even if you do something like bench only or deadlift only, enter.

I just did my first meet last weekend and had the time of my life. This is what I took away from it.

Everyone is there to help and hit PR's, maybe when you're at a higher level the competitivenss could come out but everyone was cherring one another on and instantly giving feedback as to why lifts were failed. I can't really express how awesome everyone was and can't wait for my next event.

I will also add that if your doing a smaller state type meet, the chances of you "placing" somewhere are VERY high. We didn't have more than 2-3 people in each weight class/division so pretty much everyone took home a trophy.

Well the one I'm thinking about watching in June is less than 2 weeks away and I think that would be a mistake. But I've decided to enter one in July that is in my town. Will at least be able to train for it.

[pumpkineskobar]

This thread has given me something to work to. I've only started lifting in the last couple of months and the idea of competing, even with a poor placement, excites me.

Maybe when I can bench my weight (225) lol

[DreEveryDay]

I'll be doing my first meet in August. If I break 1000# I'll be a happy camper. I'm only going to set a goal I can beat the next time.

[stronglift1]

My first meet ... it was quite a disaster.

I was 19 and prepared to do a deadlift only meet. The prep went well for many weeks (could hit a PR with 210 x 3 reps raw) until I burned out (my trainer had me doin' heavy deadlifts twice a week for many weeks, what went well, like I said, but only until a certain point) and also hurt my lower back. I lost a lot of strength and had like a month to get something back from it before the meet. So I kept on doin' deadlifts regardless the pain in my lower back (yeah, I know not the smartest thing to do) and used a painkiller on the meet day.

My opener was 170 kg, then I went for 190 kg and got it. The last attempt was 200 kg ...missed it. Weak result, because I weighted 96 kg. So it was a ****ty ass meet.

[Kevin71]

http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/4421

Bah. I was really excited to enter my first meet in August-November but the only one listed under Arizona is June 29th and several hours away :/

[miws1ckcunttt]

looooooooooooooooooooool

[Kevin71]

Bah. I was really excited to enter my first meet in August-November but the only one listed under Arizona is June 29th and several hours away :/

Nevermind, just checked again. Arizona State Open on the 17th. FYEAH! I'm excited. That'll also be perfect timing for me finishing my Madcow cycle.

[TheJuice4]

First meet in a little over 3 months. Stoked. I am still to get my squat- and deadliftingshoes. I've only been training for 6 months, because I et new friends at a my high school(17 years old) which I went to 9 months ago. I am so god damn happy I met those guys. Btw. I need a belt too. Gladly I've earned like 2000$ in this holiday, and I'm ready to spend. Going for: Adidas Power Perfect 2, A Wahlander PL belt, with lever and some deadlifting slippers/flat boxing- or wrestlingshoes.

I went for a little "meet" in our gym 2 months ago, because a competetive PL'er wants to help us out. We did the three lifts back to back, and I ended up with
315 squat, which he said was easy. I could've maybe squeezed 10 more lbs out.
200 bench, easy, went for 210, stuck at chest.
and a 360 deadlift, using a new form (conventional) I was pulling sumo before. Doing conventional put 50lbs on my 1rm.

I'm hoping to hit a 370 squat on the meet, since I have gotten a nice strength improvement here. It's a little high, but well. Besides, it's a new national record in the 200 weight class.
I will go for a 400 deadlift, it should be no problem, really.
Benching is my greatest flaw. Hitting 225 will be my all-time goal, but it's probably more realistic to say 210-215.

It's funny, because my squat is almost as high as my friend who's been lifting for almost 2 years. He blames my genetics. I, in return blame him of his genetics with his 530 pull at 17. We will go to the meet together. It will be epic.

[scullin]

Registered for bench only next Saturday in 220 masters. I"ll probably get smoked but I'm mainly there for the experience. Next one after that will be in mid-September.

[Exiled93]

Looking to enter a powerlifting meet within the next year. Not sure if I'm ready.

I have 4 months until I turn 20 and would have to be in a different age class, so I'm thinking if I should do it before I turn 20 or wait until I am 20.

I am 153lbs, I would probably do the 165lb class, I really don't want to go back below 150 ever again.

My current lifts are:
Squat: 265
Bench:225
Deadlift: 335

I'm not sure how much improvement I could get out of those in 4 months. I know there are strong people in my weight class and I'm thinking of waiting to get my stats up a bit, and put on 10lbs of muscle.

So the question is...enter one kind of rushed before I'm 20, or wait and have more time to train but be in juniors instead of teens?