It was January 15, 2014 when I got a very short and to the
point e-mail from a Jennifer Millican. The name was familiar but, I couldn’t
put it together. I am sure I had seen this person at a meet or something as it
generally goes that way. To this day, I still can’t recall how I knew of her.
Anyway, it wasn’t but a few weeks later that in walks this tiny little lady and
her Grandmother and the rest is, as they say, history.
In that time, lots of things have happened with many
challenges. So many obstacles on a personal, professional and lifting level and
too many to list but, be assured, this has been a journey and not all has been
smooth and effortless. What did and has
happened was lots of talks, lots of messaging and lots of notes. How to get
better, how to overcome each one encouraging the other. Each meet, an
evaluation. Taking notes as to what needs to be worked on, changes that might
be made and so forth.
Once the Arnold was done this year, Jenn and I spent a lot
of time talking, well Jenn talked a lot more than I did…but, anyway, she never
shut up the entire time we celebrated which was the rest of that day into the
wee hours of the following morning. We both made a couple of key mistakes and
drew from the past successes and what we needed to do to get better and grow.
Jennifer trusts me and trusts me to rely on my experience. I have competed in
many meets and different sports at a fairly high level. I have coached at a
high level and I have judged at a high level. All those things count but, it
still has to be applied come game day and for me to be of any assistance to
her, at IPF worlds, I needed to be and we would have to be on point.
Jenn and I spend a lot of time talking about strategy and
attempts, all cycle long. I generally write down what I think is feasible for
her to attempt at the meet and she comes along and blows that out of the water
with what she thinks is “feasible”. Then we work on it, hone it down and talk
about it some more and repeat the process all cycle long until we pinpoint a
plan. We did great at 2016 nationals. We were conservative and precise and when
there was a little adversity, we didn’t panic. The results speak for
themselves. At the Arnold, we chased numbers, there was adversity and we didn’t
panic but, we fell short of our best. So, going into the training cycle for
worlds, we discussed lots of things and knew that just like nationals, we had
to make attempts and there was no ego. Attempts were discussed over and over,
warm up routine honed precisely and then we discussed with the team coaches
Siouxz and Matt Gary and they offered a few options and the plan was laid. Now,
if you want a lift by lift account, please read Jenn’s blog about the meet in
her recap. What I want to talk about is other things.
If you read any of Jenn’s writing, you will see that there
as a theme with her family. We were leaving the Sunday before Jenn lifted on
Thursday. We had a brunch and lots of family we there to send her off and some
go with her on this trip. Not many of us have that kind of support. They cooked
food, told stories, laughed and clapped for Jenn as we loaded up and headed to
the airport. It’s that kind of support, that I assure you is always present and
apparent, that is a rock for her. As you read in Jenn’s recap, we get to
Chicago, so far so good and boom, Mike has no passport. I even saw him with it
in Nashville. This was the first obstacle to overcome and by far the biggest. I
knew it was hard on both of them. And let me say this about Michael. I know he
felt awful, I could see it in his eyes and I know he felt he let Jenn down but,
let me say this. There is noone that is more resilient. He shakes my hand and
says, “take care of her” and stays behind and I hope and pray and yes, have
threatened him if he doesn’t post a blog about this because, it wasn’t easy, it
was really hard for him to pull off what he did. But more, it’s all the things
he does you never see. The morning coffee, the kids getting off to school, the
endless work hours. I have seen it with my own eyes and the guy just gets it
done. There is no bitching, no moaning, just getting it done. Today, I tip my hat
to you sir! This is the rock and glue that it takes day in and day out. Again,
let’s hope he posts about what he went through and what it took for him to get
there.
I can’t say enough nice things about SIouxZ and Matt Gary.
There was plenty of communication prior to the meet and discussions about meet
attempts and even warm ups. I like it. When we got out of the van once arriving
at the hotel, they were the first people we saw. We had time prior to the meet
to talk and it we melded and were on the same page basically immediately. It was decided that Matt and I would have a
better vantage point at the side of the platform from a distance and that also
allowed me to take video. SiouxZ would be in the coach’s box and it was easy
for us to discuss and consult between each attempt. They knew that we had a
plan and that Jenn and I are very connected on game day. It was as well a
collaborative effort as there could be and we’d never worked together. This is
where experience really mattered and for the 3 of us, it was really what was
best for Jenn and getting the absolute best result for her and the team. I
would work with them again in a flash. It was a blast and we really worked well
together.
As for Jenn, I think the thing that works so well for us is
that we are in many ways very much alike. There isn’t a ton of talk or anything
on this day. Each lift, the warms ups are hit with precision, everything warm
up wise looks great. With squats, the misses from what I felt were the
contenders allowed us to be a bit more conservative and we wanted the world
record and knew that would give us a lead and honestly, that is not where we
expected to be. I will say this about squats, I was confident. Training had
gone well. I can only recall once a missed squat and she came back to hit it. I
remember she asked, “Should I lower the weight?” and I used some colorful
expletives to gently get my opinion and point across and that was that. I say
that tongue in cheek. Now, I did blast some expletives but, to be clear, Jenn
is not someone that is looking for something outward to be motivated, she’s
already there. I’m just the one that if she gets a little nervous, or a little
concerned or even scared, I just tell her to load the f’n weight and let’s get
it done. I say it all the time, to be all time you have to be all time all of
the time. Being a best lifter at nationals and then at worlds is not a fluke.
Keep in mind, everyone there is not good, they are great and contenders and all
of them can be a dangerous opponent so, to win and then be best lifter, you
have to do the one thing that I love more than anything about Jenn, she loves
to prepare and simply, that’s what it takes. Anyway, after squats and Jenn
being in the lead, I knew she had what it took to go 3-3 in the bench and once
the bar hit the floor, based on what I was seeing and what I had researched
about each lifter, no one could beat her as long as she kept her composure. I
repeated that to her. It was 3 words. Composure, patience and execution and
every now and then I’d say something about precision but, this day was about
staying composed.
Jenn went on to go 3-3 in the bench and that kept pace with
her closest competitor Maria Htee. They both hit 100kg and for Jenn, the 100
was a big get and going 3-3 with no issues or hiccups. 6-6, all white lights
and a 2 kg lead going into pull. All warm ups were silky smooth and lots of
power. I have told Jenn since the first day, I know you love squat and think
it’s your best lift but, to me, when the bar hits the floor, it is her time to
shine and she is a great, world class puller. I knew that the gamesmanship
would come into play and what the other lifters didn’t know, how the day went
through squat and bench played right into our hands and put us exactly where we
wanted to be save we didn’t anticipate a lead. The only thing Jenn ever asked
and it came abruptly out of nowhere and we’ve since chuckled about it, WADE!
Everything looks ok, right? I mean, she is 6-6 and a lead, I just nodded and
said everything was great. I had to quell my excitement all day long and it got
harder as each lift attempt was hit. It was time to pull.
The thing that struck me at this meet, not only with the
57’s but the 47 and 52 classes were how heavy the openers were. I am all about
and teach and coach rhythm in lifting. Get an opener that is solid and gets you
a number in and gives you a good platform for your 2nd and 3rd
attempts. When I saw the order, I felt like the contenders were too heavy for
an opener and again, quelling more excitement, felt this played into our
strength. The ability to check the go and make lifts. Jenn pulls her opener and
it’s super-fast and easy, we went to 187.5 and we knew that it would make it so
to beat Jenn, 200+ would have to be pulled. I knew Jenn had a 195 and could break
the 190.5 world record. We played the game with attempts and eventually, Maria
went for her 3rd and on this day, it was simply too much and gold
was Jenn’s. She yelled, not knowing weight selection, “Wade, I want to go 9-9”
and I said, you are, you can pull this. And she did but it was turned down and
the only 2 reds she received all day. Honestly, based on video, I took it much
harder than she did. We smiled, a brief hug and it was off for her to change
and get ready for testing. There were lots of handshakes and hugs. I took a
minute to walk away, it was an emotional experience as it came back to all the
moments it took to get Jenn to this point. All the changes and growth and just
everything. I was all of the sudden just winded. I bent down, hands on my knees
and took a minute. SiouxZ came and asked if I was ok and I said yes and she
said, “Jenn needs you, NOW” and here came Shorty. She hit me head on and just
cried and I teared up. I knew what this meant to her. As a coach, there is
nothing better than to see a dream and goal achieved. What a huge achievement
and, for her to want me to be a part of it, it goes well beyond saying it is
and was an honor. What a cool thing. Lots of memories and a goal achieved. When
she went up for her golds and they played the national anthem, the tears flowed
for all of us. I can’t even express how it felt to see that and watch it. Once
all the thanks and the handshakes and hugs are done, Jenn and I walk back and
she even asks if I was just spent. I think she could tell. I got her to her
room, went to mine and had 3 bourbons so I could chill out. I messaged Jenn and
she was at the bar and in true Shorty and Ogre fashion, our way to celebrate,
pizza and some beers and it was fitting. We met with her parents and walked out
to this odd little place and ate and drank more and I was done. I headed back
to the room and the next day, it was time for me to fly to Detroit to coach my
Missy and my boy Thad. Our little gym has an IPF world champion and a top 10
finisher in the men’s Light HWT masters nationals and the women’s masters’
strongman nationals were Missy placed 3rd. A podium in her first
nationals. Thad placing 6th achieved the goal of breaking into the
top 10. All that was left was to get up the next morning and drive home from
Detroit to our little gym/home in Mt. Juliet TN.
As a coach, I couldn’t be more proud for Jenn. As her
training partner, it’s fun and a blessing for me to watch it all unfold to see
her continue to grow and to improve and how infectious it is to the others
around her. I got messages from Aaron and Michael all day. The girls, Missy,
Cory and Damn Gina were in the gym with Power Your Own gear on cheering her on
as well as many of the Team Ogre online folks. What a great effort. What an
incredible result. It’s these things that continue to spur me on to work at this
and inspires me to continue to grow and improve as a lifter and as a coach. As
a gym owner, it just goes to show you, it can be a tiny little spot in the
middle of nowhere. It’s never the building or the gear that makes the gym.
Simply, it’s the lifters that train there. I continue to be blessed beyond
anything I deserve.
So, what’s next? Cory is training for a qualifier and wants to join Jenn at nationals this year. Jon and Jodey expect to be there as they have
both qualified so, it looks like nationals will see team ogre in the house
again.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Aaron Thomas. AT and I
spent more time this cycle communicating and even some face time about
training, concerns, reports and other things. What a brilliant mind and, he
likes bourbon, too. I love, again, the total collaborative effort that went
into this. A lesson for all that lift, you do the lifting but, have really good
people around you for the thinking part. I’ll take this team into a meet
anytime and anyplace and I like our chances.
So, be on the lookout. There is more training, planning and
scheming to come. I’ll say it again, I truly believe, the best is yet to come.
Lift heavy, train smart & eat more pizza
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