Training Ramblings

My weightlifting meet is 17 days away.

I get 3 attempts in the snatch, and the clean and jerk, to score a total, the sum of my best of each in kilos. Each lift requires getting a barbell from the ground to overhead.

I’ve been training for this since November. I have a coach who writes my program and gives me feedback on my lifts through video review. I’ve enjoyed the training and having the commitment to the meet, it’s been easy to get moving and train on most days with the meet hanging over my head. My technique and understanding of the movements has drastically improved too. Which is was probably a bigger goal than just throwing more weight around (although I really want that 100 kilo snatch).

I’m happy we’re getting closer. I feel ready and also craving a break from chucking heavy barbells around. And a lot of people around me are gearing up for Spring trail runs, and that’s got me thinking ahead to what my next phase of training will look like when this is all said and done.

That’s not to say I’ll be moving on from weightlifting entirely, either. I plan to take a break for running in the summer and then get back to it in the fall.

I’ve had a great year of training and a big part of that is thinking of parts of the year as different sport seasons. I was a better runner when I ran year round, but having taken a break from it has made me appreciate it more, and at least crave it more than I thought I would.

Training for both those sports at the same time presents an interesting challenge. They’re on opposite ends of the athletic spectrum. Weightlifting is all about power and bebing explosive for fractions of a second, while running is about a long sustained effort. Being heavier is an advantage for weightlifting while a disadvantage for running and so on.

Here’s a snapshot of my progress on the lifts.

245 clean and jerk attempt March 2021

245 Clean and Jerk March 2024

Thanks for reading.

Justin Miner

@justinminergain