A coach's perspective on the Arnold 2017 USAPL Grand Prix

The coach’s take…

I have waited a bit for any type of take. This was Jenn's moment and she didn't need me butting in but, hopefully, you will find this interesting and also learn, not only does the lifter have to learn, the coach does as well and, this meet was no exception. 

The 2017 Arnold was a tremendous experience for our little team of people. Jenn had her husband, Aaron and me in attendance, which was a first. But first, let’s rewind a bit. After nationals, I realized what a whirlwind of a year Jenn had as a lifter and now, we were looking at topping it, so to speak. Let me be the first to say, that is very hard to do. To win your class and be best lifter at the SPF women’s meet and then USAPL nationals is a career year yet, here we are, plotting to do that and more for 2017.

Jenn and I had lots of conversations about goals. I became much more interested in the weekly programming than before so, I gave my input to Aaron about my concerns. I’m always concerned. See, when Jenn wanted to cut to 114, I was not for it. It had me worried. Then I found out it was Aaron’s idea and I wanted to dump him on his ass. Weight cuts like that can be dicey when the person is usually having to cut to make the class above. And of course, as usual, my vision doesn’t always align with the lifters. It’s just a gift, a knack, if you will. I think Jenn would also tell you I had no issue voicing my “concerns”. But, to her credit, she did it and hit some crazy lifts and that was that. I have strongly urged all parties to never do that again…but I digress.Training started slow…slow! I hate time off. I hate it as a coach and a lifter. I’m very much about getting back to business. Yay, you won ok, fun’s over. Now, that is not for everyone and, if I have one regret in my career, it is that I didn’t enjoy it enough. I’d lift, focus on what went wrong so I could correct it and back to the gym. So, while I wouldn’t say I’m lax on this now, I do understand taking a few days…that said, the science is simple, within 72 hours of inactivity, that is 3 DAYS!!!, strength loss occurs and atrophy begins. So, let’s get back to work. And like I said, it started slow. It’s hard to come back from a year like 2016. Everything went well, even when we were conservative, it went well. It’s hard to top it, very hard. Jenn didn't take any time off but, it was slow to get it rolling...at least for me it was...

Once we got in the flow, it started really flowing well. Lifts occurred and many pr’s were set. I won’t go into detail about the training but, it went as well as I could hope. There were a few things that I’d like to share that took place that really make this entire experience very cool.

I’m not sure how far out we were, say 10 weeks. Jenn could tell you. Anyway, I get a message from Shorty saying something to the effect that hey, Rogue wants to come out and do some video of me, is that cool? Well, of course it is! Let me first say, I am not sponsored in any way nor is anyone that trains at the Ogre Compound but, I am a fan and I wasn’t always. But, I have several products and I love them. I had seen some of the videos from the year before of the Road to the Arnold and this is what they wanted to do with Jenn. It was very cool and exciting. Those guys did tremendous work. They made the gym look great, hard to do, they did a great job on Jenn and I was so very proud and happy for Jenn, our team and gym. There was a lot of exposure from that. It was a very positive and pleasant experience. It wasn’t but a few weeks later that I got another message from Jenn. A local Nashville news station wanted to come out and do a piece on Jenn as well. How cool is that? Inside Sports Sunday, Joe Dubin from WSMV channel 4 came out super duper early and filmed and interviewed Jennifer and I. It was cool Joe did a great job and let me say this about Joe, I listen to him almost daily on the radio on the Greg Pogue and Big Joe show. Joe is very much what you see is what you get and I like and respect that and, I’d go drink a beer and/or bourbon with him. That for me, is all I needed so, getting to meet him and talk and hang out and then show him my bourbon collection, cool stuff. All this leads to having some great coverage and positive vibes going into the last few weeks of training.

Jenn hit some really good lifts and everything seems to be on track save perhaps the weight cut. Jenn wasn’t way over but over and went into her typical water cut the week of. All went well the week of, lifts were crisp but, not as dynamic as the previous few weeks but, I wasn’t concerned. It was time to pack up and head to Columbus. Now, the Arnold is a different experience especially as an athlete. The timing is different, the warm up areas are tight and busier than most venues and there is a lot of stuff going on that can be very distracting. It had been a number of years since I had been to the Arnold and once we got to the warm up area, it came flooding back how tight the area was and it was going to be close quarters. Jenn weighed in and weighed in a 122…yikes, that was a bit more dramatic than I wanted. Just the way it goes sometimes. But, weight was made, she was eating and hydrating and we were waiting for warm ups to begin.

Once we got to the warm up area, I had forgotten the chaos of such a tight quartered area. It ultimately was a team effort of all the coaches to get all the ladies mainly on one platform so we could load and spot and smoothly get the ladies through warm ups. I have to say, it was great to see us all be competitive as coaches but, for the sake of the lifters, all cooperate and do what was best for them. Warming up was going good and then they did introductions that seemed to take for forever. Jenn had one last warm up and all went well. It was go time. I wish, at this point, I could remember anything I said to Jenn. I don’t, I can’t remember a damn word. I’ll attempt now to go over the lifts as best I can.

Squat-warm ups went good, everything seemed on point. Attempt 1, 157.5/347.2, wasn’t as crisp as I

wanted but was easy, we went to the planned 2^nd, 167.5/369.2 and it was about the same. She came to hit the world record. She had hit it in training with room to spare. I really thought hard on just going to 170 and securing the weight and to help build the total but, I knew how bad she wanted it and so long as her form was sound, it was a doable lift. I had seen it in training and knew she had it in her…that way my mistake. I called for the record, 174.5/384.7. The load and set up was great. Down she went and started up and looked great and I knew she would stick but, she can grind. Once she stuck, the bar rolled and pushed her to her toes and I knew it was a miss.  Lesson learned, always go with my gut as it had Jenn’s best interest in mind. Still, we were in the hunt.

On to bench…again, everything looked great in warm ups. The opener was 87.5/192.9. Easy enough so I called for the planned 2^nd of 92.5/203.9. She had a wrap issue and the jury alerted the head judge to it and there simply wasn’t enough time to rewrap. She was timed out. Not unlike nationals, I knew she had more in her but, I needed a for sure. So, I called for 95/209.4. I was confident and secure in that and although she grinded a little, it was a clean and solid lift. Another lesson learned. Always check the lifters gear. Even at a raw meet. It’s the little things, the devil is in the details and I simply took it for granted.

On to deadlift…let me add here, all 4 lifters were very close. Heather Connor had an injury that took her out of money contention but, not out of world records. It was crazy how record after record fell and how positive they were with and for each other. Okay, the opener. We planned on 167.5/369.2. It was easy and I felt like this was a world record day for the pull. I called the planned 2^nd attempt of 180/396.8 and it was equally easy. I wanted the bigger deadlift, get the world record and put the pressure on for the 1^st place money but, Jenn wanted to secure the world record total and the total is the priority and I knew she had the record in her but, I went with the call of 187.5/413.3 and that was enough to secure the total world record and second overall. That was my 3^rd mistake. I knew she had the deadlift in her and should have called for it.

With all that said, what a great job by the USAPL, the Arnold Festival and Rogue. It was a very fast paced meet, judging was solid and everyone was great in the back warming up the lifters and making sure they had what they needed. The day belonged to Marisa Inda, 9-9 doesn’t come easy or often and she had a great day. Congrats to her and her coach Chad Wesley Smith. Liz Craven was a very close 3^rd and just a delight to see lift and simply to be around. Heather Connor was 4^th. Now, let me put this in perspective. These 4 had totals that gave them, 4^th through 1^st, a wilkes score of, Heather 4^th-508.65, Liz 3^rd-531.31, Jenn 2^nd with-532.72 and winning, Marisa with-538.06. All the coaches, myself included, marveled and were blown away by these scores. All four were tested as well. Again, ladies, well done and congrats.

As for my part, I have work to do. I have to be better. A better call on squat and an insistence to go for it on pull, may have been the difference maker. I also have to watch and not take for granted anything when it comes to equipment. I will pay attention going forward, you can count on that.

As coach, I couldn’t be happier for Jenn. What she and her counterparts did, was hopefully begin blazing a trail for a pro outlet for powerlifting. It sure is a step in the right direction. The meet was fast paced, well run and judged tight. There was excitement and a great crowd. Records fell and pr’s were set and in the end, she had a shot at winning and that’s all anyone can ask for. As her training partner and pal, seeing her husband Mike there and all her family, was a joy to watch. They support her so much and truly speaks to being “the Gasoline” that she is always referring to. Having Mike, Aaron and myself in one spot at the same time was a great thing and I’m sure, really great for her. I, in turn, got to do bourbon talk with Mike and Aaron and that is always fun for me. All her team mates were constantly checking scores and messaging and I simply couldn’t be more proud.

So, what does that mean now? It means, time to get back to work and we are already in the ending days of the first block---getting ready for the IPF Worlds in Belarus. All of this has been quite an experience and I think Shorty said it best a few days ago once our passports had both arrived, “did you ever think when I walked in the gym door that you and I’d be getting on a plane to Belarus?” I’ll answer this here. At the time, I saw someone that needed a gym and some direction. That’s really it. Did I think she was special? I didn’t know but, I knew by her actions, her words and her eyes that she was damn serious. It has been quite a journey from that day but, there is much more ahead and I’m just blessed to be part of it. All of my girls are special. They all have such a remarkable story and I’m so glad and excited to be part of it. This day, it was Jenn and I’m even more excited about what is to come and watching her continue to grow and continue to improve as a lifter. So, watch and keep an eye out, the best is yet to come.

For all of you that have supported Jenn's efforts by buying a shirt, the messages you have sent to her and even me, thank you, really, thank you. This is something that noone can do by themselves and for those of you that have helped, I feel i can speak for Jenn at this moment and simply say thank you. 

So keep an eye out. I am always posting videos on the Facebook, Insta and Twitter and youtube. Until I decide to do this again, Lift heavy, Train Smart & Eat More Pizza!