HOW I GOT STARTED IN POWERLIFTING

Back in the day.1999...I was turning 50 years old. I did some soul searching, as one does when they reach a milestone point..looking for some validation in life, two failed marriages, several failed relationships. My daughter was well established in her academics and enroute to becoming a self sufficient adult. I was looking for something that would give me goals, challenges, travel, new associations and possibly some feeling of accomplishment. I was at a beauty supply store and started talking to this salesperson about all the trophies and pictures he had on display behind the counter. I started getting interested. I’d worked out in various gyms in the Concord area for many years. I have always been motivated and enjoyed weight training there was some satisfaction in that.

It turned out, Tony Conkle owned the beauty supply store and introduced me to competitive powerlifting. It was through Tony, I met Dave Van Brocklin, Frank Cable, Bear, Big Tim, Mike Musto, and several other power lifters. Tony looked in a few old copies of Powerlifting USA, and it looked as if I could be competitive. The training program was foreign and challenging to me, but I was getting stronger. Max days and dynamic days. I just followed along with the program and was fairly successful at competitions partially because of my 'advanced’ age and weight class. I began in the 48 K class.

It was through Bear that I got reintroduced to Mike Baeta, who I knew from Jim's Weight Room (now California Health Club) in the 1980's. He remembers me doing decline situps with my infant daughter on my lap. He was a competitive power lifter at that time and I was a gym rat. He retired from power lifting about fifteen years ago. We are now married and he is currently in training for the Police Games in July.

At last years AAPF Nationals 2004...I just got my openers..It was quite a disappointing meet for me. When I found out that there was a Westside style power lifting gym opening in the Concord area. I was ecstatic. My workout partner Theresa and I had been training at Gold's Gym in Walnut Creek, but they sold it. It became one of those 'mall' type gyms. I was tired of dragging my box of chains, bands and squat box with me anyway..and depending on Dave to bring the sled and various other bars.

Then I was diagnosed with uterine cancer...an operation followed one month later to remove all my female 'plumbing' (I wasn't using it anyway). I joined Diablo Barbell four months later. After much sweat, yelling etc. I competed in my first meet almost one year from my surgery date...setting PR's in squat and bench. I was disappointed that I didn't have enough reserve to PR in the deadlift, must work on that. Thanks Dave, Ted, Theresa, Mike and all those at Diablo WESTSIDE ROCKS.

I’m understanding the system more, still learning, still struggling and still getting stronger. Through the power lifting community, I have developed many friendships throughout the U.S. as well as overseas. One dear friend has remained an inspiration to me. Betty Tenorio from the Chicago area, since I saw her pull a 308 deadlift at seventy years of age! I'm still trying to pull a 300 pound deadlift !! As for now. I’m thankful to be alive, training hard and thankful for the support from all those at Diablo and the power lifting community. The support group and the training facility ROCK!. My training partner Theresa, Mike and I are true believers in the Westside method. Theresa and I have made jumps in our PR s and it makes all the hard work worth it..translated to the platform. Thanks Diablo! It's not only the behemoths at the gym that benefit and do well there...oops. I guess I've revealed my age.1999 I was fifty, wow, I'm hella old and getting stronger still.

Chris Brigham/Baeta