How did I get here? I never set out to become a powerlifter. In fact, Justin asked me a decade ago if I just wanted to get big and lift a lot of weight. And I said (somewhat petulantly), “No.”I mean, I had come to the gym in 2009 after a life upheaval, 50-pound weight loss, and 4 marathons, in order to become a stronger runner. And I did. I ran my fastest marathon (3:40:12) 6 months after I joined the gym.
Nagging tendon pain dogged my training. A couple of years later each night’s sleep was interrupted with spinal pain. I kept showing up. I kept trying. I kept learning. But pain was ever-present. This started me on the road to rheumatology where I was eventually diagnosed with seronegative spondyloarthropathy. It’s a mouthful, but all it means is that I have autoimmune inflammation in my spine and other places in my body. The perverse blessing of this disorder is that the only time I feel good is when I am moving. The worst part of my day is waking up and attempting to leave my bed. The best part is a few hours later after I have finished the 6am class.
I didn’t want to enter my 50’s sick and overweight. So, I tried every single diet possible (my personal least favorite was the paleo/autoimmune/fodmap free diet). I spent thousands on supplements, bodywork, braces/wraps/contraptions. Slowly, with the help of my doctors, big pharma, the vast information resources of the internet, the Aquila community and my own unwillingness to give up, I moved forward.
All the while I lifted with the classes at the gym.
I like the math and the focus of lifting. It forces me into my body and to pay attention to the way everything moves, even when it hurts. It teaches me how to orient my body. And it makes me stronger. Eventually, Josh and Aimee encouraged me to go to a deadlift meet with them. So, I made my debut as a competitive lifter, and I took 3rd place.
My elder daughter says that my superpower is “We are doing this now.” Something happens in my life that suggests a direction, and I do it. Relentlessly. I do not know where this comes from. I just know that when I am in the grip of it, there is nothing else to do except follow these 3 principles:- Acknowledge weaknesses; lean-in to strengths
- Pursue habits. The goals will find themselves.
- Align #1 and #2 with your essential nature. (Know thyself)
I wanted so much to turn my 3 principles into a South Park/Underpants Gnomes joke, but I failed. So, I’ll add a fourth principle: Laugh. Every. F#@kin’. Day. (shout out to MJ who is my inspiration in this and so many other ways!)
Since that first meet, I have completed 4 more (2 with the invaluable support of Aimee M), lost ten pounds to go down a weight class, and climbed up the rankings on openpowerlifting.com (current stats: Sq. 231#, Bench 143.5#, DL 330# TOTAL 704#). In the midst of this I became the advisor to the newly created Iron Cougars Powerlifting Club at John F. Kennedy High School. Later this year I will compete at the IPL International Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Along the way, the Aquila community has been an invaluable source of support, knowledge, and wholesome, badass vibes. Every time I walk in the door, I am at home. Justin and Travis’ professionalism and enthusiasm, and the community’s warmth and encouragement have given me the ideal place to train for the road ahead.
And that has made all the difference.
To see Jen’s original testimonial from 2010 click the link and scroll down about 2/3 of the way.
https://beaquila.com/what-is-crossfit/testimonials/
https://beaquila.com/what-is-crossfit/testimonials/
