Page 39 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 125

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #125 June 2023 39

Diary of a Weightlifter -
By Thorin Gault

he Rollercoaster of The final 3 weeks of the program the highs and lows. I see them

TCompetition Preparation will key in on the competition for what they are and do not get
lifts and tapering the number of
I am currently in my fifth week sucked in.

of a thirteen-week preparation repetitions in order to be well Trusting your program or
rested for competition day.
phase for the Canadian Masters coach is essential to handling this
Championship in Midland, Competition preparation can be rollercoaster. I trust my program,
Ontario – July 14-16. a real psychological and emotional so I approach each session as if I
roller coaster. There are days

The first three weeks of the am just going to my job. I show
program were a hypertrophy phase and weeks that go so well that up, see what is on the schedule
focusing on more general strength you cannot imagine NOT setting for the day, and get it done. Some
movements at higher repetitions personal records. There are also days it will be smooth and fun,
with the goal of building muscle. periods of time when you feel some days it will be painful and
terrible to the point of wanting to
I am currently in the middle of a suck. Some days I will perform
7-week strength cycle focusing quit. above expectation, others will be
on multiple variations of the I have now been through this a struggle. All I can do is give my
competition lifts (snatch and clean cycle so many times that I do not best each and every day.
and jerk), and lots of heavy squats. allow myself to get caught up in Kinda sounds like life….

“Livin’ The Dream”

The pandemic taught us a trip to the dog park. And so, to They’ll fi gure it out,” refers to the
many things that we sort of make their dog happy, they put on kids as well as the dogs. And they
subconsciously knew, but never their foul weather gear and head do relax, just a bit, knowing that
gave much thought. People were for the park. While there, they meet there are people around who have
heard to say that “I’m ok, as long other intrepid dog owners, and been through all this and can look
as I have one human contact a have a friendly grumble about the back on it and smile.
day.” And that contact might have weather while the dogs romp and
been a delivery person, a health play. Dogs and owners bid each Visitors to the town, there for a
short while, just enough to clear
care provider, a postal worker, other farewell and get themselves
By Janeen Wagemans out their parents’ home and settle
an employee at the grocery store back home, and somehow both
the estate, get a peaceful break
when they could be open, or, owner and dog feel just that little
ack at the turn of the millen- often, a neighbour out walking bit better about their lives. and some useful local advice on
Bnium a community dog park their dog. People who had Some dog owners are young who to call for junk removal, and
seemed a ridiculous idea. Before previously played a peripheral parents, busy and stressed. Some generally, how to cope with it all.
long, however, and despite some role in our lives became essential are retired people with time on People in dog parks have time
opposition by folks who felt that to our feeling of community. their hands. There are people with to talk. Usually just about dogs,
“we should build more play spac- The pandemic taught us that defi nite opinions on every little but sometimes about the stresses
es for children before we build dog parks aren’t for dogs. Well, thing. But that never interferes with
of relationships or the intricacies
play spaces for dogs,” dog parks they are, but not only for dogs. the peace of the park. What they all
of home maintenance.
popped up in cities and even small Dogs love walks, certainly, but have in common is that they love
rural towns, like mushrooms! dogs love dog parks for different their dogs and are there to enjoy Since the turn of the
Good citizens who scoffed reasons. It’s about meeting other the dogs enjoying the park. millennium, and weathering the
that “dog parks are a sign of a dogs and having a sniff, and Discussions happen, of course. pandemic, we have learned a lot
decadent society,” soon were sometimes a run or a play. And Sometimes quite deep and personal. of things, mostly about ourselves,
seen appearing with regularity at dog owners understand that no The intense young parents get but one thing we learned for sure
the end of their pooch’s leash. matter the season or the weather, suggestions about the dogs and the is that community dog parks are
But why? their dog will be delighted with kids. “Oh relax. Just let them play. anything but ridiculous.