My first full PL meet and MANY lessons learned...

Well - some days you get the bull and some days you get the horns - I got the horns yesterday and learned a LOT during my first PL meet. I will try to go through the day and the lessons learned as systematically as possible.

First - Up at 4:30 am to leave the house by 5 am and make the two hour drive to Erie to make weigh-ins by 7 am. Which I did and weighed in at 179 pounds (more on this in a moment). Then breakfast and rules meeting at 8:30 am and lifting started at 9:30 or so.

Squats - I was deep into the second flight and because the first flight consisted of 19 competitors (several children) it took much longer than expected and meant I warmed up too soon for my squats (a theme that continued for the rest of the day) - and here is where the fun began. As I watched the judging I let it get in my head and reduced my opener to 455 - (the judging was strict and inconsistent (not a great combo) where the side judges would disagree on depth and left a lot of doubt for people with where to take their squats- but long story made short - I let it get in my head).
So finally my squats 455 - red lights (didn't wait for the rack command), 455 - two whites, 500 - buried in the hole - I tried to take this deep to avoid any reds and just got stuck in the hole. A MAJOR rookie mistake not waiting for the rack command because I nailed my squat deep and easy but lost it on the rack command and decided to retake my opener so wouldn't bomb out.

Bench - Again - because of the very long first flight I was ready too soon. And the judging was strict with very long pauses. In the rules clinic they were talking about how the bar had to touch the chest and be motionless then a press command would be given. Well the bar had to be dead and buried - then a press command was given and there were very long rack commands - I fully understand the press commands and rack commands but these were excessive (and it is isn't just my whining - many of the other competitors agreed). So my benches - 295 - white lights, 325 - buried, passed on my third - no sense repeating the obvious.

DL - Finally my favorite event and the chance to end the day on a high note! Once again the first flight went long and the forth attempts by the kids made it even longer - but my deadlifts - 500 - 3 whites, 560 - 3 whites, passed on my third.

The Good - a 5# PR on the deadlift and a 1310 total in a very strict meet.
The Bad - very long first flight with forth attempts and kids lifting, somewhat inconsistent judging.
The Ugly - not peaking for a meet, making weight the wrong way, rookie mistakes.

Not peaking for a meet - deciding to do this meet just two weeks ago and the weekend following a push/pull meet was not the best way to "peak" for the meet - just happy to walk away with a small pr on the DL and my first total in a PL meet.
Making weight the wrong way - I hover close to my weight class so I perceive it to be easy to cut a little a few days before the meet but restricted fluids too much and came into the meet very flat. Need to get a good - consistent scale and make weight the smart way since I am so close anyway.
Rookie mistakes -Man I felt like a fool not waiting for the rack command!! Since the judging for depth was already in my head - this just made it tougher and wasted an attempt. Lesson learned.

So all in all a great learning experience and my first full meet in the history books with a small PR and my first total. Only 86 pounds to raw elite! (Man I left a lot of pounds off of that total - if I hit my bench (325) and my squat (500) - that adds 75 pounds to my total and means I am only 9 pounds off of elite!)