I recently started working with a new client who is interested in competing but wasn’t sure if it is a realistic goal for her. Hearing this goal got me so excited—I know she’s going to crush it on the platform! For most people, competing in powerlifting is a totally realistic goal. As long as you can perform the lift to competition standards, the minimum needed to lift is pretty achievable for most people. You also don’t need to sign up for a full power meet, you can do just bench and deadlift, if, for example, you can’t squat to depth, but can do the other two lifts. If you’re wondering whether you’re ready to step onto the platform, check out our post Am I Platform Ready? to learn more.
The sport of strongman is a bit different. Strongman shows include a variety of different events (whereas powerlifting is always squat, bench press, and deadlift). In strongman, there is a higher barrier to entry as you’ll need to lift weights that are predetermined for your class (based on age, weight, gender, and experience level). There are strongman shows that are more geared to being novice or beginner friendly (check out our upcoming team comp, Catalina Strongman Mixer for one). If you’re unsure where to start, our guide to Getting Started in Strongman breaks it down for you. That being said, there can be a lot of benefits to jumping into competing early.
Keeping Up Motivation
If your motivation can sometimes wax and wane, having a comp on the calendar can help you stay in the game. Knowing you’ve got something to prep for is helpful to keep you coming into the gym even when your motivation is a little lower. Knowing you need to be ready for your competition gives you a little nudge on days when it might be easier to just skip training.
Camaraderie of Training
At Power Plant Gym, we often send a small group of people to a competition, whether it’s a strongman or a powerlifting meet. Having some buddies to prep with can help you feel more prepped for the competition, keep your motivation high during prep, and make the competition feel more fun and less stressful. If you’re thinking about taking the leap into strongman, our Strongman Competition Prep post covers everything you need to know.
Sense of Accomplishment
Competing can give you some specific targets to aim for, and lead you to feeling more accomplished. If your fitness goals feel a little vague and nebulous, a competition can give you something more tangible to work towards. This tangible goal is more motivating, and gives you more of a sense of accomplishment than working towards “feel better and stronger”. Not that “feeling better” is a bad goal, but it’s tough to feel like, “Wow, I really knocked that out of the park! Look at me go, such a badass!”
Pride in Tackling Something New
I’ve tried a number of new sports as an adult, and no matter how it goes, I always feel proud of myself for trying a new challenge, and prepping and working hard to do something I’ve never done before.
If you’re ready to try something new, but not sure where to start, we got you! Our coaches can help you prep for powerlifting or strongman, even if you’ve never lifted weights before. Give us a year, and we can change your life. We can help you feel excited about lifting, and help you feel stronger than ever before! Book a free no-sweat intro to learn more!
Competition might not be as far from reality as you may think. There are many benefits to competing, even as a newer lifter. We recently coached a newer lifter into her first strongman comp at our All Out Strongfest, and she was so excited and proud of all that she accomplished during prep and on competition day! And you could be next! Whether it’s powerlifting or strongman, we’d love to help you take that first step.
