Little Einsteins Inspired Our Vacation

The Bligh's are headed to Norway. Yep all three of us. J and I haven't taken a big overseas trip since K became part of the crew. We've been itching to bring K along with us, but weren't sure if she was old enough or where we would go. After the move and new schools and all the adjustments she's made it was clear to us that she was mature enough to handle the long flights and unfamiliar food. But more importantly that she would remember the trip and could appreciate seeing another country and another way of life.

Enter The Little Einsteins
The first tv show that K ever watched with interest was The Little Einsteins. The first time she saw the aurora borealis she was hooked. We would spend weekend mornings getting sucked into a YouTube wormhole of breathtaking videos. When a friend moved to Alaska she sent links to watch the lights live and photographs of the amazing show she witnessed from her backyard. It seemed natural to make this her first big adventure.

Norway
J showed me we could fly round-trip to Oslo for cheaper then a trip to Cleveland and I said let's get K her passport. We'll be using Norwegian Air out of JFK. They bill themselves as a budget airline offering non-stop services from a few US airports to Europe and the Caribbean. You pay for in-flight services ala carte (Want a blanket? That's $5 but you get to keep it. That sort of thing.).

Once in Norway we'll be spending a couple nights in Oslo, then flying north to Tromso. Even though we both have traveled overseas several times, it's always startling to see how much cheaper it is to get transportation within a country in Europe. Be that a train or flying. For less then the price of one ticket to get from Norfolk to Savannah all three of us are flying.


But forget all the prices and numbers. Why take a five-year-old to Norway? Because it's supposed to be one of the friendliest places to visit. Oslo has lot's of children appropriate museums and a castle to see. Because it looks like where Frozen took place. And the Northern Lights are like magic.

Meet Review-MuscleDriver USA Fall Open 2015

I competed this weekend at the Fall Open held at MuscleDriver USA in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The event is held at the training facility for Team MDUSA, home of the 2015 National Champion teams for both men and women as well as 4 individual 2015 National Champions. MuscleDriver is a supplier of weightlifting, power lifting and Crossfit equipment as well as the manufactor of Pendlay barbells.

Event Details
This is the second time I've attended a meet at MDUSA. Both times the meet ran on time with lifters weighing in and session's beginning as scheduled. The warm-up area is separated from the competition platform. Video and sound is available in the warm-up area but it is best to have a handler/coach to be on the lookout for you.

Eight warm-up platforms are set-up with ample plates. Pendlay bars are used both in the warm-up area and as the competition bar. Locker rooms are available. There is plenty of spectator seating and the MDUSA commentators and music between lifters keeps the atmosphere fun.

The participants range from novice to National Champions. Teenagers to Masters. MDUSA coaches and lifters serve as judges and coaches for many athletes. For some this was their first meet. Clad in t-shirt and brand new lifters they were hoping for their first meet total. Others saw it as last chance to qualify for the American Open.

The $50 entry fee got you a t-shirt, samples from Gnarly Nutrition, a MDUSA sticker and a full lunch from the food truck set-up in the parking lot. Water and fruit were available in the warm-up area. Event sale prices were available on MuscleDriver and Pendlay equipment. What it didn't give you was a free live feed of the event, which is my only complaint. Previous meets were shown live on the MDUSA youtube page. This was the first time the feed was shown behind the paid subcription service of FloElite. If friends and family wanted to watch the event it cost $20 for one month of access.

My Results
Made weight easily (57.2 or around 125 pounds). Opened with 61 kilo snatch. Made it but rushed it off the floor. Missed my second attempt at 64 out in front. Came back and made it for a one kilo meet personal record. Clean and jerks are my favorite part. I didn't have someone to count attempts and a coach in the back jumped in to help load the bar and count. Unfortunately this led to my last warm-up being 77 with my opening attempt at 88. I made it easy but not prettily. Also made my second attempt at 91. Went for 94 for my final and it was my usual. Lack of patience as I pulled the bar off the ground and missed the lift out front. Ended up 5th overall by Sinclair score. I'm happy with my final snatch attempt. It felt like a good lift using what I've been focusing on in training.

I enjoy competing at MDUSA. It's an opportunity to see national level lifters and coaches as they warm-up and lift. You are exposed to their coaching cues and can see lifters of a high caliber in action. Since most of my training is alone it's nice to spend the day with other lifters and talk shop.

Courage

Courage, determination, assertiveness, feisty, brave. I can pinpoint the day I figured out I had it inside me. It was the end of the summer and I was about to start my second year of teaching in North Carolina. It was late, I couldn't sleep and I got to thinking about things I wanted to do, places I wanted to see and the excuses I had for why I couldn't do any of it. And right then I packed a bag and left my apartment and drove to DC. It's a place that makes me happy and I didn't need anyone's blessing or a reason for going. That was it for me. I started to view relationships and choices with a different light. I put myself first and stopped wasting my time with things and people who weren't moving me towards goals. 

It's that change in focus that led me to my husband, successfully navigating life as an army wife and weightlifting. In my mind there aren't many other sports where you are solely responsible for the outcome. As you stand on the platform only you can determine if the barbell will end up over your head. All the coaching, gear and Instagram likes won't make a difference if you don't have your head right and focused on yourself at that moment when you touch the barbell. 

It is not selfish to focus on you. When I've put myself, my marriage and my family first I've never regretted the outcome. 

Photo credit to Old People Snatch and my boss for adding the quote. 

My Favorite Things September Edition

I haven't lived this far north in years and I forgot how wonderful fall is as a season.  Cool weather means we've opened the windows up and I have a reason to wear a scarf again. K in all five years on this planet has never lived anywhere where fall happens. She's excitedly pointed out the leaves changing on our way to the bus stop. Hope her enthusiasm stays as she's helping rake the yard.

Training I've Loved

• Establishing a one rep max in 5-6 sets (think big lifts; squats, deadlift, bench press). I am guilty of slowly creeping up when maxing out my lifts and finding myself tired by the time I'm near my maxes. My training has called for me to establish a one rep max front squat in 5-6 sets and I find that by taking larger and less jumps I have more in the tank. I'm coming for you 250 front squat!
• Russian twist on the GHD. A fun variation to a traditional ab exercise.  Engages the spinal erector muscles, turning ab work into back strengthening work as well. You can hold onto a plate, kettle bell or wall ball to scale this up.
• Single arm dumbbell press. I re-injured my right shoulder and bicep this month and it was a good reminder to focus on single arm dumbbell work. Using dumbbells rather then a barbell allows you to focus on using your arms independently and works to correct any strength imbalances you may have.

Good Stuff to Eat and Drink

• Quaker Oats Steel Cut instant oatmeal Quick and yummy. I usually make two packets at once and add a handful of whatever berries we have around.
• St. Francis Red Splash 2011 The in-laws serve St. Francis Cabernet for holidays. This is a cheaper blend that I found at Fresh Market for $9.99

Workout Accessories

• Ladies Lift Here 3/4 sleeve baseball shirt and off-the-shoulder sweatshirt. Well fitting and supports an awesome group of women promoting the sport of women's strongman competitions. It looks like they are no longer available but follow their facebook page where they announce limited quantities of apparel and merchandise. 
  

Diet choices

I posted this to Instagram a week ago, but wanted to give more details. No need turning Instagram into a blog post.

I get asked often how I eat or what supplements I take. I'll start with the don'ts. I don't take protein or other supplements. I don't eat paleo. I don't count calories or track macro or micro nutrients. I don't drink pop. I don't look at certain types of food or food groups as off limits. I don't eat out very often.

And the do's. I do drink plenty of water, close to a gallon a day. I do sleep 8-9 hours a night. I do eat lots of vegetables. I do cook. I do train around two hours a day. I do drink alcohol. I do make sure there are quick snack choices always available.

When prepping to compete I eliminate the alcohol and limit my carbs to just vegetables. I have more specific details for the day before and day of a competition. I'll save that for another post.