Here I go again. Jumping back on the blogging train...(?) Not sure that makes a whole lot of sense, but I'm going to go with it! I'll blame it on me being rusty- since I haven't blogged in MONTHS. All time low.  But I figured as I'm waiting for my phone to get charged I can spend some time talking to myself.  :)

There's been a lot going on and happening since.. umm, February. So I will give you the down and dirty.. wait that's not right either... QUICK and dirty.. lol that's better.  I told you it'd been a while! I just had to go back and re-read my last few posts because I couldn't remember where I left off.  I had made my goal sheet- and was nervous about that. nervous about putting it all out there. nervous about going to places I've never been- mentally, emotionally, physically, athletically, everything.  New can be scary!

Man, I wish I hadn't waited so long to start blogging again because there's been a lot of progress that's been made.  Daggum.

On the road to recovery, Ellyn and I had created a road map each week to progress to collegiates.  We started the week of February 19th and went through April 15th when I competed in Louisiana at University Nationals.  Ellyn and I creatively called this "The Plan".  There were three columns: CONSERVATIVE, MODERATE, and AGGRESSIVE.  The Plan and the structure of the plan was put in place to guide, push, and pace my recovery.  The goal each week was to hit the Aggressive columns, but if there was any pain in my wrist Ellyn and I knew we would stop.  Our communication and connection throughout this plan was pretty darn perfect- and the columns helped with that.  There were a few days when the lifts were going REALLY well and the numbers in the Aggressive column were a piece of cake- but because we had a plan Ellyn and I stopped there.  The Plan helped keep us both in check.  Pushing us and preventing us from doing too much.  It's easy to get caught up in wanting to do one more, and add another kilo and seeing how far we could go- but the consequences of adding that extra kilo or taking another rep could be devastating for the health of my wrist.  So we waited and we stuck to the plan.

Here's a picture of The Plan that Ellyn and I used

Before Collegiates/University's I competed in two meets: Atlantic States Open- where I was a late entry.. aka the day of... and the Ginny Robinson Memorial Meet... At the Atlantic States (February 19th)I was out of my cast for about three weeks, but I was well, and able enough to compete- so I did.  I finished with at 110 total (snatched 50 and clean and jerked 60).  I felt kind of silly lifting those weights, but that's where I was, and I was happy with my performance.  At the Ginny Meet (March 16th) I hit at 150 total (65 snatch and 85 clean and jerk).  I was getting closer and closer to 'being back' but there was still work to be done.  The Ginny meet was big for me because I had hit the A-session numbers for Collegiates. I was on my way back! Here's a video of the Ginny Meet

Another month-ish of training and then comes Collegiates.  There was a.. umm.. major melt down in the airport on the way down there... I wasn't close to making weight and Ellyn had to tell me I'd be competing as a 75+.  I was so frustrated, upset, mad, disappointed etc and it took the whole trip down to Louisiana to finish my crying and actually act like a normal person.  Ellyn was surprised I didn't take the whole weekend to pull myself out of my funk- but maybe I'm learning a thing or two. . .?

So I was down there with my team and I got to eat and I got to me merry and I got to lift.  What's there to be upset about.. i mean honestly!? The first two days of the meet the rest of the team competed and did really well.  For a lot of them it was their first national meet and the results were top-notch.  Very proud to be RWL with everyone there!

When I lifted there were 4 people in my session and that included the 75s and 75+. It went quick. Just my speed! I missed my first snatch. oops. and especially oops after hitting the same number in the back. oopsy! so once I missed that one I was determined to not miss the others.  My snatch lifts went 65-miss, 65 make, 68 make.  Clean and jerks I went 92-make, 95-make and 98-make.  I finished second with a total of 166- which was only 2 kilos off of my American Open total before surgery.

The cool thing about hitting those numbers (98 was a national level life-time PR) was that my wrist didn't feel like it was 100%.  It still doesn't, but every day it's closer and closer to getting there.  Two weeks after Collegiates there was another meet- West Hartford Open and again I missed my opening snatch after taking it in the back. womp. felt like a dummy when that happened.. again.  I missed 64, made 64, and then made 70 (post surgery PR) and with the clean and jerks Ellyn and I opened at 98- which is where I finished at collegiates.. made it, then went to 101 made it and then 104 and made that. The 104 was a life-time PR for clean and jerk. Here's a link to the video from that meet.. Hartford Open

This is a photo of the back of my lifting notebook.  It's got my totals from each of the last 5 meets I've done.  Starting with the American Open (pre-surgery) and the last 4 meets.  It's a nice reminder of the work I've done and that there's still more to go! 

Now the lifting cycle is focusing on getting us all stronger.  I think it's working.  I want to catch up to the boys this summer.  I want to be squatting what they squat.  I am chasing them down.. and I think some of them are scared :) They should be!

That's been the short of the last few months.. I forgot how much I like and enjoy writing about my lifting- so I'm going to work on doing a better job with staying up to date on it all.