How Many Meets Do You Do In A Year?

[Travis Bell]

I was kinda going back over 2009, thinking about training and noticed I had done 4 meets in the past year. This is actually a little bit higher than normal for me. Usually I like to do 2 or 3 meets a year.

Even though I hit a PR at every meet (side one) this year, I'm still not sure if doing that many meets was a good idea or not.

Right now I'm looking at doing the IronHouse and then something next fall, just to give myself enough time to get significantly stronger between meets.

I've been hitting 10-15lbs PRs on my second attempts and then going for broke on my third, and been missing my third attempts by inches. Sometimes you just need to get stronger right?

So how many meets is normal in a year for you guys?

[AdamBAG]

I usually only get 2 in a year. 3 at the most. Otherwise I don't feel like I've got enough time to get stronger before the next one.

[theBarzeen]

between 2 and 5 depending on how I feel...... usually 2 full power big meets, then whatever local or single lift meets I feel like doing based off of how I feel and what meets are going on close to home......

[isaku900]

I did 5 meets this year.

I probably shouldn't have done one of them, but i get pretty antsy between competitions. I'd actually like to be able to do more, but I can't afford it.

[sambone]

Same here 2 minimum and 3 maximum. I think in 2010, I'm going to do 2 and then maybe a bench only or deadlift only just for fun. I find preparing for meets can be extremely taxing on me both physically and mentally. 2 serious meets is about all I can handle. Especially when lifting in equipment.

[Ryano]

I usually do between 6 - 8 bench meets a year. I think I did 7 this year. I'm going to try to cut that back some this coming year.

[C-Sobrino]

For 2010... I am planning on two meets. Puerto Rico Novice Championships and Puerto Rico National Championships. Because Puerto Rico only has one powerlifting federation and they have a set yearly schedule, these are the only competitions which suit my level right now. Here the advanced lifters save up their energies for qualifiers for the national team and then mostly compete in international competitions like the NAPF Champioships or the Caribbean Championships, etc. You'll also see these lifters hit some random meet just for the fun of it if they feel like it.

[JK1]

2 or 3 full meets, maybe 1 bench only.

[Tom Mutaffis]

Interesting topic; I just looked back to check out my numbers for strongman contests over the past 3 1/2 years.

2006 - 5 Contests (started in June)
2007 - 5 Contests
2008 - 6 Contests
2009 - 8 Contests (In 8 months)

I think that 5 might be the magic number for me. This gives me time to prepare for each event and to get enough rest/recovery time. For bigger events (Nationals) I would ideally want 2-3 months to prepare. One of the things that I have noticed is that competing frequently makes it hard to actually gain strength and can also be very tough on your body. Most of the events in 2009 required travel which is also a factor in how demanding the contests are. Along with the (8) sanctioned contests that I competed in I also did one demonstration that was basically a contest as well.

So far in the past 3 1/2 years I have racked up 20+ podium finishes. I have my sights set on a few contests for early in 2010 but am currently taking some time to build hypertrophy and strength while my joints and connective tissue have a break for a bit.

[vdizenzo]

2-3. Now that I am starting to figure out my Ace bench shirt and am comfortable with my training routine, I'll probably try and start hitting a few more. I like to compete. In the past, I used to use some meets as just a heavy training session.

[Lones Green]

Shoulda made this one a poll Trav.

I like doing roughly 2 meets a year.

[Pete22]

I just did my 5th one this year (2 full meets, 2 push/pulls, 1 deadlift only). I like doing these local meets because I feel like it keeps my training focused and is just an overall good time.

[MarcusWild]

I think this varies on bench only vs. full power and how much experience a lifter has. I think bench only guys can compete more often. I remember when Rob Luyando was competing every 2-3 weeks and setting a new bench WR every meet as he went from 220 to 275.

For full power, someone that's more of a beginner can complete every 2 months and pretty easily hit PRs. It seems a lot of top lifters compete 2-3 times a year.

I like 12-16 weeks between meets. I feel like that's enough time for me to get stronger and ready. I've competed less often and then doing a meet feels like the meet is getting in the way of my training. I've done more often, and I get rundown without enough time between meets.

Travis would know if this is true. My perception is that the top Westside guys compete more often now. In the WPO days, it seemed like the top guys only competed once a year at the Arnold Classic. I'm not sure if they really compete more or if it just seems like it because the coverage is better.

[Sean S]

I generally try to do 2 meets (full power) a year provided injuries or other things don't get in the way. In a perfect world I might try to hit 3 meets a year, but it's too expensive at $100 a pop.

[Travis Bell]

Shoulda made this one a poll Trav.

I like doing roughly 2 meets a year.

Lot of times when you post a poll, people will just vote in the poll and then not really comment much. I like hearing everyone's input


Man Ryano, 7 meets this year! That's impressive.

Marcus, you are correct, we do compete more now than in the AC days, although even back then, the only two that really only did the AC were Chuck and Matt. Everyone else would do at least one more meet.

Valid point on the bench only guys. I do think you're correct that we can often get away with more given that it's only one heavy lift instead of 3

[ScottYard]

Back in the day when I was chasing bench numbers I would do 6 meets a years.

Once I went full power in multi ply gear I would do 3 meets a years

Now that Im doing Raw meets I do 2 full meets year.

I wish i could do more but going raw full time wears on me and my training cycles have to be atleast 20 plus weeks just to prepare any more.

[Detard]

I did 2 full power meets this year. I had one a week ago, and I have another one on January 9th. Probably only two in 2010

[NASAKYCHAIRMAN]

Average of 5 meets a year.

[gopostal42]

i did 2 full meets this year, usually a deadlift meet. 1 strongman, 1 olympic lifting, and 2 highland games. so usually 6-8. probably throw in a lot more highland games next year since they're so convenient.

[thegreatone]

4 this year and I'm thinking I'll probably go with 4 again next year.

[Brian Hopper]

I usually do 3 meets a year. One at the beginning, middle and the end of the year. I might do 4 next year but it all depends. I'm wanting to do my 3 geared meets, and maybe do my first raw meet.

I also might do two geared meets, one in Feburary and the other in December. Then do a local strongman event in the middle of the year and maybe do a raw meet.

[robchris]

I good for about (2) per year... 1-full or push-pull & 1-bench only. I work 60+ hours a week so I think I do pretty good considering that!

- Tom, & Ryano you guys are hitting more meets as you get older??? You guys are bada**! Hats off to ya'll!

[Chris Smith]

I prefer to do 3-4 meets per year. Usually a couple in the spring, then back off for a month, and then train for 1 or 2 meets in late summer/early fall. Just depends on the dates of the meet, and location, but that is my preferred rotation. Usually take the late fall/early winter to back off a bit, no shirting up, and working on weaknesses and raw strength--more volume.

[Guido]

I generally do 2-3 meets in a year. If you count intra-squad PL meets I probably average 3-4.

[Ryano]

Like Vin said, I also use a couple of the local meets just as ME bench day. This year, I went to the SLP IL State fair meet to support a couple of my workout partners. Since they were lifting I was going to miss ME bench day. Instead, I paid my entry fee and lifted. Didn't get a PR, but did get best lifter.

Also, I've heard people talk about "off season". What is that? I lift all year long, every week, in gear everytime we have enough spotters.