Sport for the Love and Practicailty of it

A couple of weeks ago I found myself at the Canadian Powerlifting Championships in Jonquiere, Quebec.  I should state the obvious, which is that I was not competing, I was there with my wife, who was.  In fact, during the morning weigh-in, a lady was handing out competitor wrist bands and asking who needed one and she walked right by me.  I thought I'd done enough over the past 4 months of the cycling 'off-season' to at least warrant a dismissive "you're not competing are you".

Anyhow, being here reminds me of all the good things that sport has to offer.  This competition has motivated hundreds of master's athletes across the country to work out hard every day of the week, eat healthy and focus on clear goals.  It has also led to some other family members eating a lot healthier than they may have otherwise tended to do.

I wonder how many of these athletes had positive experiences in quality sport programs when they were growing up.  I would hazard a guess that most of them did and the habits of working out have stayed with them throughout their life. 

As I was waiting around during the morning session while people were gradually getting warmed up you could see the camaraderie between the athletes.  They were happy to see old friends and see the progress that each had made.  There was no attitudes on display, no mind games being played and nobody talking smack.  I guess in a sport like powerlifting, you let your performance speak for you.  No point trash talking and then failing on a 50kg squat.  It was just a 'happy to be alive and doing what I love' vibe going around, and who doesn't want that?

It was interesting to see how most women clearly had a weight category that they had trained to compete in and were boundly determined to stay under that weight, while others had decided long ago that they would just go in the open class.  Either way, respect is due when you see how much these ladies are lifting.  Any women in there 50s and 60s who can squat 100+ kgs deserve recognition.

The really nice thing about powerlifting is that it's one of the most practical sports, right up there with running.  The transfer of my skills from soccer to real life are modest.  I have managed to cushion the fall of the odd plate and saved it from breaking, but as a powerlifter you can pick up heavy stuff. Who needs a car jack if your partner can dead lift 200kgs?  Bring all the groceries from the car upstairs in one trip.  The dog isn't pulling you across the street when he sees a squirrel, not with those thighs that can squat 100kgs.  Yes, the many benefits of sport and practical.  You've got to love it.

Fran deadlifts 142KGs for a new master 2 national record.