Last night at oly I had the worst day I’ve ever had lifting. I’ve had days where technique has been frustrating and I’ve struggled, but I’ve never just been so CONFUSED about what was going on with my body until yesterday.

We started with some general work, and then moved into Max Snatch for the day. I had PRed at the FDU meet a few weeks ago and it had felt easy, so I was hoping to add 5# to that PR again. I knew it was a longshot but I was feeling confident… or maybe greedy. I don’t know.

Anyhow, I warmed up with 85# for a hang snatch and OHS complex, and then moved into straight snatch work. I went with 85#, then 95#, then 105#, and I was feeling really good, so I moved to 115#, which would have been a PR. I just froze after the third pull. I don’t know WHAT gets into my head, but I just couldn’t fathom getting under that… After another 2 misses, I pulled back to 110#, figuring I would try and do a PR match. I had a feeling I was going to still really struggle because of how I was performing with the 110#, but when I threw it up… I POWER SNATCHED it.

Yeah.

I power snatched my squat snatch PR.

So then I stood there really confused… and tried it again.

Power snatch. Again.

Umm… WHAT.

After replicating this strange phenomena a third time, I swapped back on the 110# and proceeded to miss it about 5 more times before calling it quits for the night on snatching and just finishing the rest of the workout.

I went home feeling really defeated and just… cerebrally confused. How can I power snatch my PR and then not be able to squat snatch FIVE POUNDS more than that?! I’m no expert, but that just seems so strange to me. I was super frustrated. I don’t really get frustrated like that when it comes to lifting… the last time I can remember being that confused about movements was when I was learning a step routine for my Sorority back in 2009. Yeah. That long ago. And for something I’m BAD at. I think I finally just hit that place where things aren’t super easy anymore and my strength can’t just fix everything. But still… even if that’s the case, my strength WAS what let me power snatch that weight, so I was just… lost and confused.

After talking to a few friends and really thinking about it, I think I was just super tight in the hips after having gone skiing this weekend, and because of that, having trouble dropping down under the bar the way I usually do.

HOWEVER!

The cool thing is, last night after I got home, a friend of mine who I didn’t even know lifted, posted a Facebook status list about why she lifts… and I kind of fell in love and wanted to share it with you all…

10 Reasons I Lift

1. It’s good for my health.

2. Exercise gives me energy.

3. It improves cognitive function, and boosts mood.

4. The more muscle you build, the more calories your body burns to support it, even while resting.

5. I want people to say, “she’s strong”, not “she’s strong for a girl.”

6. I would like to be immortal. Since that’s not possible, I try to get as close to it as I can. Lifting lowers chances of death from cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

7. Being able to lift heavy things makes me happy.

8. Those curves!

9. I don’t like the idea that there are people out there curling my squat max.

10. To look good as hell, naked!

I think #s 6, 7 and 9 are my favorites, with #4 being the most physically beneficial and #10 being the most narcissistically awesome one.

So there you go. Pow. Here’s to people inspiring you by accident and never, never, never giving up.