“This event was fun! Great way to learn what you can really do. Everybody there kicked serious butt!” -Jim “Ol’ Handsome” Khoury

 

Just this past Saturday, BSP NOVA had an event called PR For America. The energy in the room was palpable and nearly every member in attendance hit a PR (personal record) and cheered each other on.

 

What Is PR For America?

PR For America is a quasi-powerlifting meet held at BSP NOVA and made accessible to all members whom were able to compete, whether they had previous powerlifting experience or not. The reason for this was that we didn’t run this event like a traditional powerlifting meet…

In a powerlifting meet, lifters compete to get the highest one repetition maximum (1RM) they can in the back squat, bench press, and deadlift, as well as a total of all three lifts’ highest weight lifted on the day. Lifters go one person at a time and get three attempts per lift. Usually, they start with an easy “opener,” the first lift for that movement that they are sure they can complete, then go heavier each attempt if able.

That’s the thing though, very few of our members regularly do those three specific variations of the lifts.

So, while we stuck with those general movements, we did not stick with those specific variations. Our members were allowed to compete with whatever variation they wanted to. For example, most of our members did a safety bar squat or front squat instead of the traditional back squat. This is in part due to us programming back squats for only a few of our members, so they chose what they were comfortable, competent, and safest with.

 

 

We changed up the actual variation of the lifts for a few reasons. First, most members at BSP NOVA don’t specifically train all three movements. So, if we forced them to do lifts they’ve never done before, we’d be doing them a disservice. Let’s take a deadlift from the floor for example. If someone didn’t have the skill, range of motion, or strength to achieve a safe and effective start position, why would we place them in that position and have them chase a PR?

Second, since few members do the back squat, bench press, and deadlift from the floor routinely, they’re not ready to use a ton of intensity. Having prior experience with a movement, and lots of it at that, helps with forming the skill and confidence to move heavy weight. If someone’s never done a back squat, for example, they’d be focused more on the technique, since it’s new, than they would be on going for a true 1-rep max.

Third, our members were only competing with themselves, so no need to be a stickler to the traditional rules of powerlifting.

 

Community and Challenge

Although we hosted PR For America with the intent to give our members a chance to challenge themselves and have fun in the process, they also came together in a wonderful way. The coaches were there to help give guidance, but our members were the real heroes. High fives were exchanged, encouraging words were shouted, and PR’s were shattered.

 

 

The energy in the room was electric. Members cheered others on to attempt weights they’ve never lifted before (and probably wouldn’t have attempted, at least anytime soon, otherwise).

“The amount of support in the gym was insane. The way the BSP fam takes care of each other is unlike any other gym around.” – Jen Alkayhat (AKA Fancy Jen, AKA Cinnamon)

 

Not only was it great seeing everyone join together to support each other, but the best part may have been watching people celebrate with each other after doing something they hadn’t thought possible. Often, we’re capable of more than we think possible, and PR For America proved that. The event was an overwhelming success and we’re pumped to do it again next year!