Why You Should Compete

One of the very best things you can do to accelerate your strength development and progress as an athlete is to compete.  The only mistake you can make is not competing . . . oh and these too:

Avoiding common competition mistakes:

1. Don’t blow your load.

The very first mistake you might make is warming up too soon.  Don’t let your nerves get the best of you.  Take your time.  As a general rule, try warming up with 21-25 reps of the barbell before you’re on deck to do the WOD.

2. Avoid the hype.

If you want to maximize your performance come competition day, you MUST control your emotions.  Inflamed nerves lead to anxiety, second guesses, tightness in the muscles, and in general, poor lifting. Instead, take your time. Just be there.  Smile. Warm-up on time. Listen to music blasting. Laugh. All in all, just have a blast and enjoy the experience.

3. Remember, this is a privilege. Leave your ego at the door.

Competing is an honor, an opportunity, the absolute quickest path to strength.  So, appreciate it. Keep the proper mindset.  Have fun with the other competitors, don’t worry about how they match up to you.  Make the most out of every competitive experience.  This is a chance to grow in more ways than one.

4. Be ready for anything

The pace of a competition can be unpredictable.  You might have a big delay between events.  You might find yourself with no time at all.  In short, anything can happen so practice constant vigilance.

Now, go compete!