Ode to my Powerlifting Belt

I do have other training belts that I’ll use but the other day I was looking at that beautiful black and purple belt just sitting there and I began remembering so many of the heavy lifts done with this belt of mine.  (cue "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen) so I gabbed my belt and headed to the gym to train.

Picking it up off the squat rack (I’ve never put my belt on the ground) then wrapping it around the squat rack to get a good pull to perfectly tighten it… a true Powerlifter’s belt has a permanent bend from doing this!!  Then I rub my middle finger across the holes to make sure it’s in the right hole before adjusting it into the perfect position on my waist. It always seems to slips into groove like it was made to just fit perfectly in that spot. 

Maybe I stopped using it because my current lifts don’t come close to what I’ve done before, back then (was it really that long ago?)  

I was regularly hitting 160-180kg push press behind the neck, 100-120… hell 140kg seated press, 250-300kg squats and deadlifts (no wraps or sleeves) 300-350kg tire flips and YES even 100kg power curls (cheat curls) and this shit was done for multiple sets and reps not any “just hit a heavy single” bullshit!!  

Guess that's just the cold hard fact about getting older and still being in love with the Heavy Iron.  I was in my mid to late 40’s the last time I hit these numbers and now as I quickly approach 60 I still have strength goals that require me to be at the strongest that my body can be at whatever age I am.  

And YES after all the years I’ve been training ... I still love the Heavy Iron . 

Thank You Pete Alaniz of Titan Support Systems for my belt!! I got this beauty back in 1995 after I had moved up a few weight classes and out grew my old Bob Morris belt.  

Huge thanks to my Dad who started me on this journey, Terry Todd who I would later become friends with but in 1978 through his book Inside Powerlifting he was the first to inspire my passion for Strength and Power and a very special thanks to Rick Gaugler who didn’t just introduce me to the sport of powerlifting, he ignited a passion and love within me and then coached me to heights that I could never have dreamed of when I first started this journey in 1976.

Play Hard...Train Harder...NO EXCUSES