The official letter of selection.
"On behalf of the New Zealand Powerlifting Federation we are please to inform you that you have been selected to represent New Zealand at the 2015 Commonwealth Classic Powerlifting Champs to be held in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada"
Oh my freaking goodness. I've made national rep level.
Oh my freaking goodness. I've made national rep level.
What is the Event?
Powerlifting, unlike Olympic Weightlifting, is not an Olympic or Commonwealth Games sport. This is the Commonwealth Classic Powerlifting Championships, so it involves the British Commonwealth countries - New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa, India, Canada, Nigeria etc. So it's not the Commonwealth Games, but it's on about the same level. The basics on powerlifting here.
It is going to be held at the Richmond Olympic Oval, just outside of the main city of Vancouver. The event starts November 30th and ends December 6th, and includes Special Olympians events, benchpress only, equipped competitions and all the classic lifters, men's and women's, in all the different age and weight classes. My session is 12:30-4:30 local time on Wednesday the 2nd of December - incidentally the day of my 15th wedding anniversary!
It is going to be held at the Richmond Olympic Oval, just outside of the main city of Vancouver. The event starts November 30th and ends December 6th, and includes Special Olympians events, benchpress only, equipped competitions and all the classic lifters, men's and women's, in all the different age and weight classes. My session is 12:30-4:30 local time on Wednesday the 2nd of December - incidentally the day of my 15th wedding anniversary!
What Does it Mean to Me?
I have had the Commonwealths in mind for some time, as a plausible but enormous goal. Before I started specifically training powerlifting, I had been reading up about it, and realised that what I could lift through just training CrossFit would qualify me to compete internationally. So I went to an unofficial powerlifting competition, then joined my local club, the Otago Amateur Weightlifting Association. I started to compete officially and made sure I fulfilled the requirements of being selected to compete for New Zealand. I came in fifth at Nationals, not as well as I I had hoped. By the time I had done with Nationals I had let go of the dream of making it to Commonwealths.
Actually getting selected, when there are at least four other NZ women in my class who can lift more than me, was a stroke of luck. But the trip is self-funded and will involve being away from home for more than a week. It's a case of not only who has qualified but of who can get themselves over there. Some will be choosing to train with a focus on the Worlds in Texas next year, and a trip to Canada for the Commonwealths would be a distraction from that goal, both in training and with limited finances.
Even though chance has had a big part to play in my selection, I legitimately qualified and was selected to represent my country in my sport. I'm not going to rank highly at Commonwealths, and might very well get last in my class, but I honestly don't care. It's an incredible opportunity, and I am immensely privileged to be going.
Actually getting selected, when there are at least four other NZ women in my class who can lift more than me, was a stroke of luck. But the trip is self-funded and will involve being away from home for more than a week. It's a case of not only who has qualified but of who can get themselves over there. Some will be choosing to train with a focus on the Worlds in Texas next year, and a trip to Canada for the Commonwealths would be a distraction from that goal, both in training and with limited finances.
Even though chance has had a big part to play in my selection, I legitimately qualified and was selected to represent my country in my sport. I'm not going to rank highly at Commonwealths, and might very well get last in my class, but I honestly don't care. It's an incredible opportunity, and I am immensely privileged to be going.
The Training Plan
The ankle, seven days after injury. It's only a tiny bit swollen now but has some colourful bruising.
In terms of training, I gotta get my ankle better first! I sprained it on a run less than 24 hours before hearing about my Commonwealth Champs selection. I was pretty upset because at the time I was in 17th place in the Nationwide CrossFit Taurus Pound4Pound postal CrossFit competition, and was hoping to hold a top 20 spot to make the finals. I've had to drop out of that competition, but I can handle it now.
I can take weight on my ankle just fine, but not flex it so squatting will be out for a while. Walking around all crooked and awkward has been affecting my back, which is badly tight now. Can't wait to see my massage therapist in a few hours.
My CrossFit coach, Bruce Perry of Remarkables CrossFit, is putting together a training plan for me from now until the Champs. He's done me good already, learning how to be a powerlifting coach, and teaching this old dog to improve my shonky movement patterns.
Besides Bruce I have on my team an encouraging family, a chiropractor, physio, GP, massage therapist, friends who know high-performance sport and friends who know me. I am surrounded by positivite, goal-focussed people. That's an important part of the plan.
I can take weight on my ankle just fine, but not flex it so squatting will be out for a while. Walking around all crooked and awkward has been affecting my back, which is badly tight now. Can't wait to see my massage therapist in a few hours.
My CrossFit coach, Bruce Perry of Remarkables CrossFit, is putting together a training plan for me from now until the Champs. He's done me good already, learning how to be a powerlifting coach, and teaching this old dog to improve my shonky movement patterns.
Besides Bruce I have on my team an encouraging family, a chiropractor, physio, GP, massage therapist, friends who know high-performance sport and friends who know me. I am surrounded by positivite, goal-focussed people. That's an important part of the plan.
The Budget Plan
There is no national-body funding for my or any of my teammates' expenses. We pay all our own costs, including travel, food, accommodation in the compulsory official hotel, entry fees and uniforms.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to be ok though, I had been squirrelling away $$ with the goal of competing internationally in mind, although after Nationals I invested a fair chunk of it back into my jewellery business. I have a part-time gardening job, and because I get paid for that in a reliable way, I'll be doing more gardening and less jewellery for now. I can make money with my jewellery, but it can't be relied on to sell and often the money comes months or years after making the stuff. I'll also be applying for grants that are available for me.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to be ok though, I had been squirrelling away $$ with the goal of competing internationally in mind, although after Nationals I invested a fair chunk of it back into my jewellery business. I have a part-time gardening job, and because I get paid for that in a reliable way, I'll be doing more gardening and less jewellery for now. I can make money with my jewellery, but it can't be relied on to sell and often the money comes months or years after making the stuff. I'll also be applying for grants that are available for me.
Adventure Eco-tourism in the untouched wilderness of Southern Fiordland has something to do with my trip... read on.
I won't be setting up a fundraising appeal for myself, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try and sell you something! Look out for a big jewellery sale in a few weeks, and if you've been thinking about taking a ride on the wild Wairaurahiri Jet (my Dad's business) book one through me, I can get you a deal and I'll be making a cut to go towards my expenses. Get in touch ;)
If you would like to give something to help some deserving powerlifters get to the Champs, here are the fundraising pages of some of the other Otago lifters: Emma Takapi, Jayden Wilcock, and Tom Hart.
If you would like to give something to help some deserving powerlifters get to the Champs, here are the fundraising pages of some of the other Otago lifters: Emma Takapi, Jayden Wilcock, and Tom Hart.
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