Circle City Strongest Man

Utter Weakling · Posts: 62 Join date: 2008-11-26

Dr. Jonathan Osterman wrote:

Congrats to Tony!

I got my ass handed to me in my first couple contests. To be honest, I wasn't aware of how competitive people really were with it until I showed up at CSM - a platinum contest. I didn't zero on anything, but I was far from stellar. I like to be humbled from time to time though, just adds fuel to the fire. Maybe that guy will come back some time and put on a better showing in the future.

My point was not to come across as an elitist or a jerk by denigrating anyone for not being good at the game - that happens sometimes. And a lot of people place last because their competitors were very good, or they had an off-day, or coming off an injury. But you can tell if someone is on-the-map strength-wise - if they have some level of strength/athleticism to do the events which are usually advertised ahead of time. E.g. if the average competitor is getting, say, 8 reps on a press or deadlift and you get 2, that's ok. If you don't finish a course for a tire or farmer's but at least get some distance even if most people get time that's ok. And there is no shame in occasionally zeroing an event you are very bad at. All this means you were perhaps honest in your training but not to the level of the competition and need to make more effort to improve - that's what competition is for.

My attitude at the time (which may have been a bit harsh before Tony pointed out the other side of the coin) when I saw this was that when the guy bombed EVERYTHING because he clearly lacked the strength to even move the weights, and I don't mean getting it most of the way and barely missing one rep or something similar, even after the events and weights are known for weeks and he would know if he could or could not do it - I figured he either just didn't care and signed up to say he did a strongman, or he had little regard/respect for what what competitors go through to be competitive a platinum show. After all, if a promoter posts an event, he's assuming people can perform it with some success (perhaps not always true...).

Of course, this is an amateur sport, so nobody pays us for this and everyone places particular importance or lack thereof on their involvement and performance - also there are plenty of meets to go around and they are seldom full, so no big deal. Everyone is well aware that I take it seriously and honor my competitors by fearing them and trying to reach and surpass their previous achievements, and they naturally do the same with others and hopefully one day with me. In this way we all win. It may be about individual achievement, but keeping up with the pack is the best and most efficient way. Not everyone is in it for the same reasons - some want to win, others want to just challenge themselves by seeing if they can lift the stuff at all, etc. - but I cannot see the fulfillment of getting owned by the implements just to 'say' you did a strongman. And if you add, god forbid, 10 or 15 such guys into a meet with, say, a 30-competitor cap, the crowd won't be too impressed, nor would the promoter who could conceivably hand out trophies to guys in particular weight classes ending up with just 1 or 2 points at the end of the day, while sending home many awesome or even record-worthy performances in other classes empty-handed because ten of the best guys in their class happened to show up. Of course that's life in many respects.

Incidentally, when I just started in 2008 it was funny - I actually asked Tony a few months in advance what an average competitor is expected to do on the respective events because I did not wish to have my entry 'deny' a much worthier competitor (if I were well below the average, that is) the right to enter if the meet got full. I've...mellowed out a bit, in some sense.

P.S. Chris, I am ALWAYS humbled by your performance whether I am in the meet or not (other LW's as well). I am lucky so far in that regard.

Surprised

Dennie Craddock · Subject: Re: Circle City Strongest Man Sat May 16, 2009 10:07 am

I give credit to anyone who pays their dues and entry, then also has the stones to compete in front of a crowd of people. I've invited people to my house just to try out the sport and they won't even try it. If anyone is competing seriously, then they should also know certain shows fill up quick. I Jtoo don't want to sound like a jerk, but some people don't have as much time or the equipment to train as some people. I keep in mind god has the power to make you stronger or to make your pride your weakness.