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$8 Standard shipping within Canada on orders under $199
Prices are in Canadian Dollars
$8 Standard shipping within Canada on orders under $199
Prices are in Canadian Dollars
$8 Standard shipping within Canada on orders under $199
Prices are in Canadian Dollars
by Erik Willis
Competing frequently is something I believe very strongly in. As of the writing of this article I have competed 21 times in the past 5 years, for an above average 4.2 meets a year. If you take out 2012 when I competed in my first meet and that’s it, that averages to 5 meets a year. Did I do a full on peak and taper for all of these meets? No, but I planned out which ones will be priorities and which ones I will do for fun.
This past spring I competed 3 times in 2 weeks, with back to back meets at the Toronto Pro Supershow doing both the 3-lift and bench only. The following week competed in my hometown of Ottawa, and made a PR total attempt on my 3rd deadlift. I had a lot of fun doing all these meets even if none of them were PR meets for me. This raises the question, why do I do this?
Now there are a number of different downsides to competing as frequently as I do. Obviously cost is a major factor with the meet fees, travel, and hotel. This is why I keep my big meets as travel meets, and my fun meets as smaller local meets with no travel or hotels. Besides that I love competing and it is something I am willing to pay to do.
Another downside is the lack of a real off season. Though this is partially moot if you and your coach periodize properly, there is nothing stopping you from dropping a Friday session and competing on the Saturday and then continuing your hypertrophy block as planned. Maybe you won’t hit 15kg PRs on all your lifts, but there is still experience to be had. You could also focus on a single lift, such as really bringing up your bench press. This is also a good strategy for when you are injured. The lack of squatting going into Nationals saved my shoulders and allowed me to train to a National Record bench press.
Do I recommend attempting 7 meets in the same year you get married? I am not sure yet, ask me when I make it through 2017!
Erik Willis is a 4-time Open National Champion. He’s also medaled at a number of international competitions including a Deadlift Bronze at 2016 Classic Worlds. Find him on IG at @erikwillis.