As I stepped into the gym and out of the cold, I looked around and saw many of the regulars that frequent that place on a daily basis. For many of them, today was about giving it their all. They were going to put their bodies to their limits in a fight against gravity. And while it’s referred to as a competition, the comraraderrie I felt walking in that day told another story.
For the uninformed, powerlifting is a sport with three specific lifts: Squat, Bench, and Deadlift. Lifters try and lift as much as they can in any or all three. Winners are broken down by gender, age, and any type of assistance they might use, such as lifting suits or straps. Some were so suited up, they coyld barley walk on their own, while others showed up in just the minimum required singlet and t-shirt.
It felt wierd, walking in there with regular clothes. Typically, my normal dress for such a place, would be a pair of 15 year old basketball shorts and a dri-fit shirt that is a little more snug that it needs to be. However, today, I was a spectator, I went to support my girlfriend as she competed.
Of course, I was not going anywhere without bringing my trusty camera. Armed with my Sony A3000 and a Canon 24-70 I took my spot in the second row. This competition already had a photographer, who was nice enough to let me sit beside him at times to get my shot. Therefore, I focused my efforts on my girlfriend and her friends. Needless to say, I was impressed by their efforts. The looks on their faces say it all. They gave it everything they had. As did all of the other lifters.
I left that day wanting more. Next year, it will be me up on the platform along side many others. Hopefully someone else can bring the camera.
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