I am sitting at just under two weeks until I step onto the platform at the Western Regional Championships in Moose Jaw. I have been asked or told several things over the past couple of weeks. How are you feeling? Are you ready? Go after it! You'll be great! Don't hurt yourself. Most of those questions and statements are completely normal and expected, but the one about not hurting myself is a slight irritation which is a rant I don't want to get into today.
I am feeling pretty good considering where I am in my training block. The last few weeks of competition prep can be exhausting as the weights get heavy and closer to personal bests. So far though, my energy levels are still decent and I'm not feeling too run down. My sleep isn't perfect, but I am having the best, most consistent sleeps and averaging at least 8 hours a night.
Since I have been working on dropping weight since late January, my nutrition has been extremely cleaned up and regimented. This is producing the results that I need, so making weight shouldn't be any problem; however, I am looking forward to post-competition when I can enjoy food again and eat what I want without micromanaging every bite.
Am I ready? As ready as I can be this many days out! My list of things to do before we fly out is fairly lengthy, although not everything is very time consuming. My list of things to pack also seems kind of long, but most of the stuff is what I need for competition (equipment, appropriate clothing, ID/membership card, etc.) Our plan is to pack the bare minimum outside of my competition stuff, but we do have the option to check a bag if we can't fit everything in our carry ons. Some of the items on my to do list cannot be done until I have finished specific things, like my last day at work before my vacation and my last day in the gym. Some items are appointments booked for later next week. Most of the packing also cannot be done until the day before we leave. So while I am feeling ready, the truth is that I will be in a perpetual state of not quite ready up until we head to the airport.
Back to how I am feeling...physically I am feeling decent. There are always little aches and pains and moments where a body part feels a little funky, but there isn't anything major going on right now. Nothing out my ordinary. Mentally...I feel quite chill about it for the most part. I am definitely excited and looking forward to competing, but there is a fair bit of nervous energy swirling inside, especially when my brain is not otherwise occupied, and that kind of energy will likely grow as the countdown draws me closer to the target. There are a lot of things that I cannot control as we head off to Moose Jaw. I cannot control the weather or any potential flight delays or other issues. I cannot control the environment in the venue, the distraction of two platforms running at the same time, or the calibre of officiating. I have no control over the flight order during competition or what my fellow M2-84kg lifters are going. Naturally, the things I cannot control are the very things that make my brain go wild, so I am trying my best to distract myself from running down those rabbit holes. Nothing good lurks there.
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