The Tiny Storefront Weightlifting Club :
Man, this was dream world, not reality.
I had showered up and was driving home from planet fitness. When I noticed a storefront sign…
I’ve heard that name before, I thought it was in a different town probably 40 minutes from here…
It must have moved closer.
I walk in.
Weirdly there was no one at the desk, no one in the office, no staff, or as small as this place was, no owner stopping or approaching me.
A few adults are paying attention to what looks like a weightlifting competition between a few teenagers, probably aged 14, all around 140lbs, all hitting good snatches and cleans.
One dude misses the jerk.
He’s pissed.
Another dude is now elated.
An adult writes down the result, “looks like we know who’s on the team then for the competition in two weeks”.
Seated in front of me, we’re on a three row indoor gymnasium style wooden bleacher, is this I’ll say 6’3″ 330lb 28yo, big dude.
He’s chomping down on a big bag of wendy’s (it was trademarked wendy’s, even dreams have paid product placements lol) and drinking from an open half gallon of chocolate milk.
Those adults who had been officiating that lightweight weightlifting team qualification are grumbling about lacking a heavyweight.
I guess this is a weightlifting club, I only see platforms, and barbells.
They’re trying to fill out a team to send to a competition.
Real old school, no stands as far as I can see. Just platforms, barbells, and bumper plates.
That fat dude introduces himself to me, shaking my hand, and before I reciprocate with my name, he’s hollering to those who had been officiating “I’ve got your heavyweight right here, look at him, I doubt the competition is going to be anything but a formality”.
I get pushed/dragged by all the adults present to the platform. Those teens who’d been competing had left.
They say I’ll open (I’m in street clothes, wearing beat up sneakers), and the other three are changing up in the locker room.
I figure fuck it, it’s an opportunity to max on olys, and I get the feeling firstly since no one has thought to day pass me yet that I make this team and I won’t have gym dues.
Secondly I ask a few questions, and it’s clarified that this is in fact the case. I like hearing this.
The owner, I still haven’t met him, loves weightlifting, and hates to send a team from his gym to competitions while not filling out every weight class.
He doesn’t care if you’re good or not. If he has so much as one member in any particular weight class they’re part of the team. They’re going. Statement. Not a question.
I’d walked in while all present were curious to see who would win the lightweight spot. It’s the gyms most contested/competitive weight class.
I’m told the heavyweights are all weak fat dudes.
Oddly the guy who’d been on the bleacher eating in front of me isn’t trying his hand.
They’re in the locker room.
I’m thinking fuck it, and in my street clothes with torn up sneakers, you know a pair of running shoes ready to sing their death song not to hit max snatches in, halfway between power and squat form I snatch 205, 1st attempt, I haven’t consistently done olys in 2½ years aside from a little yard lifting, and there’s a mix of groaning and celebration.
2 of 3 drop out at that, one takes 165, 185, fails the 205, and drops out.
Four heavyweights, sans the dude still on the bleachers, and I win on a 205lb snatch, and like that I have a free gym membership, located in my dream world really close to planet fitness and it’s showers, and was now expected to train seriously for something.
All gathered looked at my “retarded caveman heave, (← actual quote) and were saying I’ll get good form and shoot up in numbers fast.
Later I find out they have an eight station nautilas setup (partially disassembled, two or three parts set up solitary for space reasons) and one power rack in another room.
There was a really good seated press and lever arm lat pulldown on that nautilus setup.
The resident bodybuilder (50yo, 5’10”, 220, all veins everywhere, complete as per stereotype in string tanktop) was amped up having me on the weightlifting team, insisting I train with him, insisting he’s gonna have me bodybuild to over 300lbs with abs because because because, and to be even better at weightlifting.
His primary reason being because because because.
Growing people into weight classes is why his presence is tolerated at this weightlifting club, which is all weightlifters.
Maybe the dude who’d been on the bleachers in front of me was the one powerlifting exception
Never did meet the owner.
Cool dream.
Thoughts :
It would be interesting to see what I could do at a weightlifting meet, or strongman competition off of calisthenics mostly mostly at planet fitness.
Heck, a bench only meet would go well off of the smith machine. I am smith benching now in reality. I did today. I’m getting strong here.
And on the meets/competitions note – I’ve always been stronger outside of the weight room.
-J