Doug Szolek
02-09-2004, 08:40 PM
I'm overflowing with nervous energy and just trying to laugh it off as best I can. I know that I'm going to be tested harder than I've pushed in training and know that I need to lead from infront to show every other knuckledragger some potential of human adaptation.
I've always had the option to set 'em down and regroup in training if something goes wrong but today right now, my performance is in my hands and I will not let anything go wrong.
My plan was to get 13reps per minute for 10 minutes, I tell myself over and over that I've done it in training and this is no different but I know it really is. I am catching the anticipation of the other competitors (my brothers in insanity) and the participants (who must all have a little saddist in them to enjoy the torture their about to see :twisted: )
The signal is given that I have 5 minutes till my start time. I borrow a dry towel and once again wipe down the handles of my 25s. They feel light but more because I numb with overflow than because of my strength. My inner pansy is lying in wait for my resolve to thin. I can smell him lurking in the shadows and I doing my best to keep him afraid to show himself.
Two Minutes till my start and I'm retying my shoes to keep my hands from shaking.
I line up to the clock as my time drifts away and the 5 second call to loaded position is given. I grip my Clubbells in Floor Park and get ready to flow.
" :!: Go :!: "
The handles are dry and the 25s actually feel light, I apriciate this sensation because I know it will only last for the first three sets if I'm lucky. Feeling out my neural groove I flow with the weight and count off the reps to 13 then park them on my shoulders and do my best to relax.
" :!: 1 Minute :!: "
I sling the Clubbells off my shoulders and find my groove right where I had left it 8) . It's warmer here than where I've been training and my hands are already wet. My attention wanes and I find that my upper body is doing too much work, "Deeper Backswing!" The inner call to form finds a home and the work is back down at my hips. 13 comes and I shoulder the Clubbells.
" :!: 2 Minutes :!: "
The Clubbells fall back to the arc I've designed for them to follow and I'm working. My breath is pulsing like a Freight Train with each Back Swing and Load into Back Position. My inner pansy see tries for an attack but gets squarely flattened by the 25 in my right hand 8) 13 finds my strong and I shoulder "my beauties."
" :!: 3 Minutes :!: "
Un loading the 25s back to their arc the one in my left hand slips slightly to the ball and I have to make quick adjustments in mid air to keep it under control. "Why did I ban Chalk from competition? :roll: " "Toughen up Butter Cup, you've got a job to do!" 13 Finds me more tired than I'd like and I haven't reached the half way yet.
" :!: 4 minutes :!: "
I'm coming to the peak of the mountain almost to the downhill and as always it gets the hardest right now. Dashing thoughts of how many sets I have left I can only bring my mind back to the two count of my breath at the Back Swing and Back Position. My form is set, from here out the only question is "Will my grip hold?" 13 Finds me doing all I can to slow my heart beat and relax my hands.
" :!: 5 minutes :!: "
Starting the downhill fatigue is coming harder and harder each time I unshoulder the Clubbells who's title has gone from "Beauties" to something I'd be better not mentioning here. My grip is contorting to something unrecognizable as I do all I can to hold the weight and move around it just a few more times. 13 almost doesn't find me.
" :!: 6 minutes :!: "
I can feel fatigue and setting in very ealy this set and I know that this will be my last set of 13. I wrestle underneath the last rep just in time to get it to Back Position and shoulder the 25's. Only three more minutes, and I honestly don't know if i'll make it.
" :!: 7 minutes :!: "
I'm burning out fast and I'm too fried to do the math for how many I need as a minimum. As my weight shifts from heel to ball of foot my legs tremble. On grace alone I make it to 10 I know that tempting fate will result in the end of the period as a dropped Clubbell so I shoulder the 25's watch the second hand speed up as my rest period dwindles to nothing.
" :!: 8 minutes :!: "
My goal of 10 proves too lofty as 9 aproaches and I nearly lose the Clubbell in my left hand. My reps are slowing down and the second hands just keeps speeding up...
" :!: Final Minute :!: "
I'm still resting well after the call is made. I know that I'm not ready to start my final charge so I wait as 5 seconds rolls by like 1 and finally the voices of brothers in the crowd find home, and I get to work. Fighting with all I've got and more than I knew I had to beat the clock I force past fatigue still smelling the rotting flesh of my inner pansy, and I manage on the strength of those present to get 8 more reps. Time is called and I shoulder the weights knowing that if I tried to set them down there'd be quite a thud. Two people grab the Clubbells from my shoulders and I walk away on trembling legs.
I've always had the option to set 'em down and regroup in training if something goes wrong but today right now, my performance is in my hands and I will not let anything go wrong.
My plan was to get 13reps per minute for 10 minutes, I tell myself over and over that I've done it in training and this is no different but I know it really is. I am catching the anticipation of the other competitors (my brothers in insanity) and the participants (who must all have a little saddist in them to enjoy the torture their about to see :twisted: )
The signal is given that I have 5 minutes till my start time. I borrow a dry towel and once again wipe down the handles of my 25s. They feel light but more because I numb with overflow than because of my strength. My inner pansy is lying in wait for my resolve to thin. I can smell him lurking in the shadows and I doing my best to keep him afraid to show himself.
Two Minutes till my start and I'm retying my shoes to keep my hands from shaking.
I line up to the clock as my time drifts away and the 5 second call to loaded position is given. I grip my Clubbells in Floor Park and get ready to flow.
" :!: Go :!: "
The handles are dry and the 25s actually feel light, I apriciate this sensation because I know it will only last for the first three sets if I'm lucky. Feeling out my neural groove I flow with the weight and count off the reps to 13 then park them on my shoulders and do my best to relax.
" :!: 1 Minute :!: "
I sling the Clubbells off my shoulders and find my groove right where I had left it 8) . It's warmer here than where I've been training and my hands are already wet. My attention wanes and I find that my upper body is doing too much work, "Deeper Backswing!" The inner call to form finds a home and the work is back down at my hips. 13 comes and I shoulder the Clubbells.
" :!: 2 Minutes :!: "
The Clubbells fall back to the arc I've designed for them to follow and I'm working. My breath is pulsing like a Freight Train with each Back Swing and Load into Back Position. My inner pansy see tries for an attack but gets squarely flattened by the 25 in my right hand 8) 13 finds my strong and I shoulder "my beauties."
" :!: 3 Minutes :!: "
Un loading the 25s back to their arc the one in my left hand slips slightly to the ball and I have to make quick adjustments in mid air to keep it under control. "Why did I ban Chalk from competition? :roll: " "Toughen up Butter Cup, you've got a job to do!" 13 Finds me more tired than I'd like and I haven't reached the half way yet.
" :!: 4 minutes :!: "
I'm coming to the peak of the mountain almost to the downhill and as always it gets the hardest right now. Dashing thoughts of how many sets I have left I can only bring my mind back to the two count of my breath at the Back Swing and Back Position. My form is set, from here out the only question is "Will my grip hold?" 13 Finds me doing all I can to slow my heart beat and relax my hands.
" :!: 5 minutes :!: "
Starting the downhill fatigue is coming harder and harder each time I unshoulder the Clubbells who's title has gone from "Beauties" to something I'd be better not mentioning here. My grip is contorting to something unrecognizable as I do all I can to hold the weight and move around it just a few more times. 13 almost doesn't find me.
" :!: 6 minutes :!: "
I can feel fatigue and setting in very ealy this set and I know that this will be my last set of 13. I wrestle underneath the last rep just in time to get it to Back Position and shoulder the 25's. Only three more minutes, and I honestly don't know if i'll make it.
" :!: 7 minutes :!: "
I'm burning out fast and I'm too fried to do the math for how many I need as a minimum. As my weight shifts from heel to ball of foot my legs tremble. On grace alone I make it to 10 I know that tempting fate will result in the end of the period as a dropped Clubbell so I shoulder the 25's watch the second hand speed up as my rest period dwindles to nothing.
" :!: 8 minutes :!: "
My goal of 10 proves too lofty as 9 aproaches and I nearly lose the Clubbell in my left hand. My reps are slowing down and the second hands just keeps speeding up...
" :!: Final Minute :!: "
I'm still resting well after the call is made. I know that I'm not ready to start my final charge so I wait as 5 seconds rolls by like 1 and finally the voices of brothers in the crowd find home, and I get to work. Fighting with all I've got and more than I knew I had to beat the clock I force past fatigue still smelling the rotting flesh of my inner pansy, and I manage on the strength of those present to get 8 more reps. Time is called and I shoulder the weights knowing that if I tried to set them down there'd be quite a thud. Two people grab the Clubbells from my shoulders and I walk away on trembling legs.