My brother UncleBoo56, my son, War Machine, and I were discussing our National ABC experience today and we all agreed that we all learned a lot. The most important lesson was not letting surroundings/environment derail the plan and not letting ego ruin opportunities.
When Sam Byrd came over to help me with my squat, I was working around 315 with plans on going up to try to get 420 for a single which would have been a PR. Instead, he had me try what he told me with no weight first, then 135 and finally, 225 for sets of 3. Meanwhile, I was watching the other people at the squat station rep out with weights in the mid 300s.
Then I looked over and saw my brother deadlifting going for a PR. I was tempted to go over and work up to something in the 500 range just so nobody would think I was a weakling. But that was the devil talking. I'm so glad I stayed right where I was with Sam watching my squats and that I was still there when Ibn came over to talk about keeping the core tight.
Really, I never want to be that guy who cares so much about gym PRs that he sacrifices performance on the platform. What sort of douche would walk away from a world champion, world record holder so he can look good in the gym? Like I said, I'm glad I stayed right there and learned from one of the best.
War Machine said he had the same ego struggle because Richard had him deadlifting with less weight than two girls who were training right next to him. That's pretty rough for a strapping 18 year old young man. But I'm proud that he withstood it.
My brother said he went for a PR but realized that his plan in going to the National ABC was to get tips from Higa Monster and P. Diesel cause he has a strongman competition coming up next month. His first strongman competition at that. He was happy that he got some good tips from Richard Hawthorne along with Higa and P. Diesel. So the weekend was not only a success but a bonus. It may not have looked that way to someone unfamiliar with our situation, I'm not discounting the fact that we had both just driven about 8 hours before standing for 8 more hours in The Cage. I'm just pumped that we got in the training we needed to elevate our game despite the circumstances.
All because we kept our egos in check.