Oregon Archives

Iron Works Olympic Weightlifting Meet: Feb. 2010

Here’s a video compilation of the 5 lifters of mine that competed at the Iron Works Olympic Weightlifting meet in Creswell, Oregon.  2 of them were brand spankin’ new.  So that was fun.  Every one of them either matched or broke personal records.  And Leslie won her weight class again!
If you find yourself wanting to join in on the fun, click here to find out how.

BTW, in case you’re wondering, the music in the background is mine.  Roy thinks I have a career writing music for the “adult” film industry.  Maybe I should stick to coaching …

Iron Mind Weightlifting Meet, 2009

Leslie, Chris, and I just (well … Saturday) got back from the Iron Mind Weightlifting meet at Iron Works Gym in Creswell, OR.

It was hard going getting there.  It was crazy icy between Salem and Eugene.  I think we counted 6 semi trucks stalled, jack knifed, or otherwise out of order on the side of the road.  Sadly, there were a few other accidents we saw that looked pretty bad.  One guys pickup truck was demolished, with the passenger side roof crunched down completely.

We didn’t think it was going to be that nasty when we left home, but we were clearly wrong.  At any rate, we got there safe (albeit in about nearly double the time it would normally take us).

To top it off, the pancake place we normally eat at was closed.  No pancakes!  Chris and I decided this would be our test case to see how dependent upon pancakes we are before a meet.  Read on and find out.

Leslie needs no pancakes after weigh in (if this case study has any relevance).  Not only did she win first place in the 63’s, but she broke personal bests in both lifts!  To top it off, she wasn’t even “supposed” to be in the 63’s.  She’d been wanting to diet down to them, but has been so busy with school that she was hanging out pretty comfortably in the 69’s.  She was shocked when she got on the scale, and it read 63 on the nose.

Chris did well, too, hitting an 80k, and a 105k for a 185 total.  He feels he could have done better, but I think he did good, considering the lack of pancakes!

He was head to head with Sam McLean in the 94’s all the way, and had to make his last clean and jerk to win it.  I’ve never seen him jerk a 105 in the gym, yet.  But, he stepped onto the platform, cleaned it like it was a sack of pillows, and blasted it over head for 3 white lights.  Killed it, and won his weight class.

He’s continually getting stronger and more technically proficient, and I see him hitting 90 and 115 at the State meet in June.  Maybe he doesn’t need pancakes either.

I missed everything but my openers.  I need my pancakes.  In fact, I was opening at 105 in the clean and jerk.  But, in the warm up room I missed 100k not once, but twice!  Somehow I made the 105k on the platform which gave me a 180 total (5k less than last contest).  Am I a carb-o-holic?  Without pancakes, I’m a half a man.

It was a fun meet. Too bad the weather didn’t allow more of the usual suspects of Oregon weightlifting to make it.  But, we had a good time.

For all results, click here.

Credit:  Portland Highland Games Association

Credit: Portland Highland Games Association

A couple of the guys on my Weightlifting Club and I are planning on competing this coming Saturday in the Portland Highland Games.  Should be  a rockin’ good time.  We’re all Newbies, so I’m planning on looking ridiculous … but what else is new?!  I have a new sport kilt to replace my old wool one (who wants to workout in wool?).  Should be great.

Highland Games is a rockin’ sport, but it certainly favors the big guys (like the dude in the picture).  None of us are that.  But, as Olympic Weightlifters we ARE explosive, strong, and athletic.  That should help.

By the way, with regard to my old wool kilt, I learned the reason why kilts cost as much as they do (often over $400) and I don’t see it as strange any longer.  I sewed my old kilt myself by hand.  It took a VERY long time.  Getting all the pleating right is no small task.  You wouldn’t think that sewing a “skirt” out of 12 yards of wool would be that big a deal, but it is!

My new kilt is a sport kilt, not wool but rayon (or some other fake fabric), and it isn’t as fancy nor is it hand made.  So it wasn’t too expensive (about $75).  I’ll keep my old one for “dressy” occasions, and use the new one for competing.

Buchanan Tartan

Buchanan Tartan

2 National Champions From Oregon

Sarah Bertram and Jessica Gee got 1st in the 69’s and 4th in the 63’s, respectively, at Nationals this year.  Both of them are from here in Oregon.

Both are also coached by Tom Hirtz, a legend in his own right.  My club competes against their club all the time, and it’s fantastic to see the two of them doing so well.  They both work extremely hard, and are genuinely cool people.  Congratulations!

Here’s a news story about them from KEZI news Eugene, OR. It includes shot of them practicing, and interviews.