Sure! Why not? I'll compete...

I tripped on something much smaller

In September, I fell running (I know, I know) and really hurt my left shoulder. All jokes about my clumsiness aside, it was a fucking drag. I had been training my ASS off getting ready for my first WKC(World Kettlebell Club) competition in October and the IKFF (International Kettlbell Fitness Federation) nationals a month later, which was to be my first comp with the 20k bell. This injury put quite a dent into my training, I had to take two weeks off, which in the world of getting ready to try to make a personal best, (and secretly hoping  maybe just MAYBE making master of sport in November....) is a huge setback.

I did really well in both events, hitting CMS (Candidate for Master of Sport) with the 16k in biathlon for the WKC, and CMS with the 20k for the IKFF. I was happy with my numbers. My technique took a nosedive on my left side, because of the pain/impingement in my shoulder. Here is the last minute of my snatch set in Detroit, you can really see how much my technique suffers, it is really ugly...makes me squirm to be honest.

After a much needed three week rest from training (and huge amounts of sugar and white carbs...delish) I started back up. And, I couldn't really snatch. My shoulder had become seriously impinged, I wish I could tell you I went and had tons of healing body work and crystals rubbed all over it, but I didn't. I am really good at not paying attention to my aches and pains; I tend towards the "whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger..." school of thought. *A caveat, SO not like that with my clients, somehow I am the magical exception to all rules, oh...and this includes a lot of weighing myself, naked, weeping, with a donut in my hand.

Anyhoo, my training was sucking, hard. So on a whim, and with much whining to my awesome coach, I decided to try long cycle. There was a competition in LA at the end of the month, I was going anyways to coach a few of my students. Why not?

I had 3 weeks to train. I hadn't trained long cycle in way over a year. How hard could it be?

God, am I an idiot.

I trained like crazy, I did workout after workout after workout. I did all the assist work (for example, swing cleans to improve my grip and tempo). I worked my ass off. Ok, I'll be honest, I really hoped that I would hit Master of Sport with the 20k bell. I did a 10 minute test set 2 weeks before the competition; I hit 37/40. Master of Sport numbers seemed undoable (112 total reps). Hell, even CMS numbers (90) seemed ridiculous.

The day before the competition, me, John Wild Buckley, and good friend/student Kyrsten drove down to LA. I couldn't eat or drink for at least 10 hours before weighing in (sucks being in a weight based sport) and I was hella grumpy. Even so, the drive was a blast because the company was good.

We dropped Mr. Buckley off at Jason Dolby's abode and went to weigh in. Luckily we both made weight. Well, lucky I did, some people are in the middle of a weight class.

look! elle! really!

I was excited, because my online student Elle was meeting us at the hotel and competing too. HOWEVER, her flight was cancelled. Fucking Denver airport. This is the second time this has happened to her. John thinks Elle is my imaginary student.

We arrived ready to go on Saturday. I have to say, we had a great time! We saw some old friends and met some new. Luke put on an amazingly organized competition, all the flights went well. My student Kyrsten busted out 111 reps with the 12k bell with aplomb. John and Jason were not as happy (Jason had been sick, John just didn't have time to warm up) but I had a great time watching them do their awesome sets with the 32k (!!!) bells (no film, because my camera got broken by a wicked underhand throw of an 8k bell!)
Ok, on to me. I often forget that I do much better in competition than in training, this is a true testament to my vanity, I love attention. I managed to eke out 51 reps on my right, and 40 on my left, achieving CMS in Long Cycle! It wasn't my secret hope that I'd make MS, but pretty dang good for 3 weeks of training. You can see my set here. We had a good day, all in all.
We sped back to the bay area early the next day (someone, I'm not naming names, but whose initials are JWB needed to watch football) cheerfully listening to music and eating bad food at IHop.
After I got back, I did my usual: "obsessively watch my set and tear apart my technique" and here is what I came up with, from good to bad:
good-my breathing was spot on!
good-my backswing was straight on both sides
mediocre-not relaxed enough on the clean, leaking energy
mediocre-my lockout and fixation was not consistent, especially on the left
mediocre-pacing, started too fast, wore out
bad-lifting heels on the first dip, this is a major issue I have been working on, to some success
bad-legs not always straight in the rack, sigh, stupid hip flexors

and I wasn't even wearing a 10 gallon hat

bad-WTF is up with my legs??? they start out shoulder width apart, and the suddenly I'm riding the fat horse.
All and all, it was a good learning experience and I had a great time.
But, I'm back to training biathlon now. Oh snatch, how I missed you!!!!

-juliet