Who Is Your Competition?

[BendtheBar]

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit."

[LtL]

100% agree for me. PL is not about winning or being the best lifter in the meet, at least not yet. If I get PBs on Sunday, I'll be happy even if I'm last in my weightclass. Beat yourself and you're always a winner.

[Hunterace]

My chronic headache and yesterday me

[J_Byrd]

I have won my share of best lifter awards, a few national championships, a handful of american/world records, but at the end of the day I still look to improve my total. To me it is a validation of the hard work that I put into the gym.

[I WILL]

In agreement, if you can beat yourself your always a winner!
That's what it is all about for me anyways!

[Squatter]

My goal at my 2nd meet in Vegas was to simply improve on my numbers AND form from the first meet. I did of course look at the numbers/final results but I only focused on the lifter right above me to set goals for my next meet.

I have alot of fun at meets and I enjoy meeting people and learning as much as possible.That is just as important to me as the lifting itself. The other lfters aren't so much competition for me in that sense. There is something to be said for just getting together with many like minded people who share the passion. This is just another reason Vince, the 67 y/o veteran who was competing at his 118th meet was so inspiring to me.

Meets really do wonders to improve the mental aspect of my lifting. It is priceless experience that will improve not just lifting but our everyday lives.

[5kgLifter]

Cardio done on a stepper/machine is always interesting in that respect; a while ago, some years now, I read a little piece which rung true...we may be exercising indoors and even on a staionary object but it we consider that we were outdoors walking/running a route we wouldn't be able to just stop...if we were halfway to our destination, we'd still have to complete the journey...so, even on stationary equipment, the goal is to complete the allotted (self-allotted) time even if we diminish the intensity in order to do so...because we can't cease halfway through our "route" and in the middle of nowhere, we have to get to the destination just as we would had we been walking/running outdoors.

[BendtheBar]

The longer the journey, the greater the reward.

[Jen]

Like LtL and JB -- I am my competition. I just want to improve my personal total.

[Ryano]

I have a basement full of 1st place truffies and best lifter truffies. Along with a wall full of World Record certificates. What means the most is the next meet lifts, not the last meets lifts. I might be old, but I'm still chasing PR's.