A few days ago I registered for the Canadian Powerlifting Union's Western Championships which will be taking place in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in March. Just a few months ago I wasn't sure I would be able to do this competition, as the date for it changed from what had originally been determined and that created logistical challenges in fulfilling some of the provincial requirements required for attending Westerns. I sent an email to my provincial organization requesting an exemption from the requirement I was not able to fulfill, and then I waited and waited. I finally heard back after Christmas and was presented with a few options for volunteering remotely, which I was more than happy to do and so I did. After double and triple checking with my husband that he was on board, I finally sent in my registration.
It has been a long, long time since I last competed at this level. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Westerns in 2016, but that was more than 7 years ago and before I herniated a disc. My last attempt to compete at Westerns was in 2021. I was registered, excited, and en route when disaster struck in the form of atmospheric rivers that destroyed multiple bridges and shut down every major highway between my home and my destination, leaving us stuck kind of in the middle for nearly a week. Needless to say, I never made it to the competition. Because of that experience, neither my husband nor I are interested in driving through the mountains in winter. The date change for this year's Westerns instantly created some stress for both of us as we considered the reality of driving through the mountains in early March to get from the interior of British Columbia to Saskatchewan. This is why I double and triple checked with my husband before I sent my registration, and every time he would comment on how he didn't want to drive there. Ironically, he wasn't even willing to consider flying until our son-in-law mentioned it, and now he is absolutely thrilled with the idea. Flying will save us four days of driving and a couple of nights in a hotel plus the cost of gas and meals for those days, but the most important savings will be in the reduction of stress! Now I just need to worry about fitting all my gear into a carry on...
This competition is just over 8 weeks away! There will be a lot of hard work over the next couple of months. I need to ensure I make weight, stay healthy and take care of some nagging aches and pains, and put in the hard work in the gym. It's not always going to be fun or easy, but I am definitely excited and looking forward to it all.
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