Topic: Should I compete at 56kgs or 62kgs?

[Sean Hutchinson]

I am in the process of preparing the 2007 Senior Nationals for the site and I just edited the 56+62kg classes. I thought the way Aaron Adams made his last clean and jerk at 143 showed he could have done more. If I read his body language correctly, he felt he could have loaded up what was necessary to win overall and made it.

I agree with him.

Yes I definately agree with you on that. I train with aaron out at LSU-S and he was definately better for more. If he could of he probably would have taken whatever he needed to beat derrick even if he was behind almost 10kg from the snatch. I've seen him when he puts his game face on for the clean and jerk and he is a clean and jerk machine when he needs it.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Well, I am almost positive I am going to compete at 62 next time I compete. I still believe I rightfully already own the Jr and Sr American Record CJ at 56 anyway and it will still be there after the next meet I lift at regardless. The competition present in the 62kg class may not and it is superior to the competition offered at 56. Perhaps I should worry more about age at this point and try to get the record while I still can, but I just don't feel old. I feel fast and strong. Now, I have some people to lift with here and it is reinvigorating me and making lifting fun again. And, some trashtalk has occurred against me at 62 and I sense people do not think I can rise to the challenge. I love a challenge. It is not entirely impossible I will lift at Americans though the Nationals is much more important to me obviously. I don't even know how many Americans I have won which indicates its just not an important contest. And with the expense and hassle, its much more likely for me to choose Nationals as the place to go back to battle.

Thanks for all the input and support. I am happy to be eligible though the fight is not over since I believe USADA has acted improperly and needs to be put back in their place. Still, I may comply with OOC testing if I must, while I fight it out.

Cheers

[Shaun Le Conte]

Chris, grats on being eligible at least, even though the battle is not over. Chris, I was one of the people that voted for 62 kg, partly because fitting into the 56 kg class (and lifting so much) boggles my mind. When I saw you in Buffalo at the 2000 American Open it looked like you had a couple inches height on me. In 2001, I tried to make 56 kg, and failed (57.4), people told me I looked skeletal, and all I could manage in the cj was 97-100kg. Good luck on Nationals, you have the guts it takes to win

Do people even expect Aaron Adams to weigh 62 kg next year?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Shaun,

I don't know about Aaron Adams. It seems people underestimate him. I do not. I certainly respect his abilities and character. He is a good man. But, I don't think anyone in sight can defeat me, in either 56 or 62.

How tall are you Shaun? I am right about 5' 3".

[Shaun Le Conte]

I had to measure just now to double check
Looks like 5'1^2/3"

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Shaun,

Thanks for the compliments. I guess we are both short teachers, though I am working hard to get out of teaching. I love coaching and I hate teaching. I have been told by some people they are the same thing, but they sure aren't to me. I never wanted to teach and am I excited about moving out of it. Its a noble profession but just not for me. Do you ever get asked why you aren't in class, etc? I always love it when that happens....

Cheers

[Shaun Le Conte]

Hey Chris, I am not crazy about teaching either, although I am taking some additional qualification courses this fall to expand my range of teaching subjects and grades. My strategy is to get into ESL, librarian or counselling ASAP. ESL because generally the class sizes are much smaller, the students are generally nice and tame, and are serious about learning out of necessity. As for being mistaken, at the Canadian Nationals earlier this year, a well-known coach in B.C. (British Columbia) who is also a teacher asked me what grade I was in when I asked about B.C. schools, lol.

I am starting real dieting this week (I am hungry as I type this) so I hope to be in a more reasonable weight class sometime soon as well. Not 56 kg though :)

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Shaun,

Best wishes with cutting weight. Its tough but worth it and of course exciting to be so close to a meet. What meet are you cutting for?

Have you been asked for a hall pass? I always love that one.....I am hoping to not have to teach much longer. The kids here are really awful. I deal with some crazy stuff. Last week I had a kid smacking two girls around and threatening them, then he threatened me. Thats normal. I've had my life threatened by students and the administration sent them right back to class and told me not to send them back! I just hope I don't have to do it much longer because I have been in situations where I almost had to defend myself. One time I had to throw about ten black students off a Hispanic kid and I was all alone. It was kind of scary. This was a middle school. Fortunately when I threw the biggest kid against the wall (probably around 200lbs), they all scrambled. The Hispanic kid ran off as well and didn't even say thanks.

Cheers