Author Archives: Christopher Lestan

What All-Around Lifting Is About

By Christopher Lestan

As I fly home from my very first Worlds I can’t help but think of what I just experienced from the competition. To start off, the event was wonderfully organized. The banquet was great, and the lifting was so much fun. However, there is more to express. The emotions are hard to describe. I feel happiness, confidence, joy, appreciation, and gratitude. Its as if I just saw the greatest movie of all time and left the theater with such a bag of emotions that I just need to put them down on a piece of paper. Tell the world what I am feeling.

If there is one thing I am completely convinced with its that I finally realized what the USAWA, IAWA, and just All-Around lifting is about.

My mentor Frank who introduced me to this sport!

My mentor Frank who introduced me to this sport!

When I first joined the USAWA I was probably like most in the federation when they first join, for I had a background in a sport or strength discipline. I was a powerlifter who only competed to win, and that’s it. I didn’t care about the people who I competed with because I didn’t know them, and they felt the same way about me. Powerlifting at the end of the day is an individual sport where competitors go in with one goal in mind and that is to win. Very similarly when I entered the USAWA that was my mindset too. I wanted to come in and win in my first meet. When my first All-Around meet I placed 2nd in the overall lifters score. However, I didn’t feel defeated. I felt something I never have felt before at a Powerlifting meet….. happiness. I didn’t get happiness from the personal bests that I got in the lifts, or the medal that I got after. It was the people. I basically lifted, competed, and socialized. The last word is where I knew this federation was different. I socialized… I laughed… I talked about lifting, life, family, goals with people I have just met.

That is where we segway into the next part of this blog. This weekend’s Championship! I have never experienced such openness at a lifting competition. When I walked into the venue for the first time on Friday I was greeted with such friendly faces. It was amazing. On Saturday what I experienced at my first USAWA meet was soon the same here. I was socializing with fellow lifters about life, their passions, how they got into All-Around lifting, making jokes, and laughing. During all this conversation I still managed to hit personal bests in most of my lifts. Then after I would be cheering on my fellow lifters to make their lifts and break world records! It’s insane. You will not find this in Powerlifting, for when I made it to the national level meets fellow lifters would become less and less friendly. They would see you as your enemy. They wouldn’t talk to you, or even look at you. To me this is strange.

Stevie Shanks! First time meeting him and what an great guy. Always supporting other lifters!

Stevie Shanks! First time meeting him and what a great guy. Always supporting other lifters!

As lifters, we all came from a very similar place of why we wanted to compete. TO IMPROVE OURSELVES. To gain confidence and in the process make relationships that will last forever. Am I still a competitive person. Yes, I will not deny that. However, I will never let that get in the way of never making a relationship with someone who has similar goals as me. I never felt the need to be aggressive with lifters, or be rude to them to gain the upper hand.

Lastly, All-Around lifting is about challenging yourself to do things you never thought possible. These lifts are very unorthodox, yet there is a beauty and humbleness about them. I am absolutely terrible at anything in which hook grip would allow more weight to be lifted. Therefore, I respect any lifter who can take the pain of the hook grip. It’s the ability to understand your weaknesses that make this sport amazing. Thus, the courage to enter a competition in which you have a very small idea of what you are able to lift is huge!

This weekend will be in my memories for the rest of my life. I will remember the laughs, jokes, the new friends I made, and the personal bests in lifts, and the courage to make risks in lifts I have very little experience. This is what makes All-Around lifting special. This is what makes this sport so great!

 

Texbooks Can’t Teach Everything

By Christopher Lestan

When we grow up and attend school we often are told to use the books that are distributed to us have all the answers. From elementary all the way to college this is true, for some classes only have information from the book.

This couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to any form of Strength and Conditioning.

I currently study at Umass Amherst as a Kinesiology major with a path of Strength and Conditioning. Most of my days are spent at the library trying to memorize every muscle, tendon, and bone in the body. Nights are long, and all-nighters tend to be very common. This is due to the fact that UMass puts kinesiology in the same category as Nursing, Medicine, Physical, and Occupational Therapy. Thus, the classes I take are close to the medical level to some degree. The major is difficult, but there is one thing I have noticed working in the Strength and Conditioning Field for three years. Textbooks don’t answer everything.

I took my first internship at Athletic Republic, a gym centered around sports performance with athletes ranging from high school to pro. When we had meetings on what to do with the athletes, our schedules, and hours they recommended that we learn the basic compound movements. This sounded strange since I thought to be in this field you had to have some sort of passion, and the capability to perform the basic compound movements. I soon realized I was the only intern who knew how to clean, snatch, bench, squat, and deadlift properly. As well as be able to teach movements to other athletes. I WAS SHOCKED. However, due to my ability to teach and perform the movements, I was hired after the internship.

Fast forward then to last semester at Umass I took a course in Strength and Conditioning which specialized in being certified a CSCS (the highest strength certification anyone can get). The only way to be picked to take this course was if you showed the desire to work with athletes in the future, and had a passion for strength. So naturally, I thought I would be with people very similar to me. I soon learned I was very very wrong. Other people who were in the same major as me couldn’t clean, snatch, deadlift, bench, or do basic push-ups correctly. I continued with the course and got an A- and moved on.

Fast forward to this summer, for I am working as a trainer at Athletic Republic. Part of my job is to help the new interns understand the system we run. Unfortunately, like my internship, and class before…. none of them knew how to do the basic movements properly except for one. This leads to my conclusion that textbooks don’t teach everything.

In today’s world, someone can flash their certifications, bachelor’s degree, a massive amount of Instagram followers, and their crazy physique and people will automatically assume that they are experts in the field. Now there are people like this that know how to program properly and use a ton of percentages to get out a quick strength cycle. However, I find the ones that have experience in competing, gaining strength, and technique that are the best coaches.

Take me for instance. I am no means a brain genius and a medical expert, yet I am 99% sure that I would beat most other kids in my major in teaching, coaching, and reputation due to my experience. The same can be said for other strength athletes out there. My neighbor Frank Ciavattone is my current coach/mentor and has increased my lifting abilities so much. I have a much more refined technique in Olympic lifting, all-around lifting, and powerlifting due to his advice and coaching. Frank doesn’t’ have all these certifications that will let other people know he’s a trainer. What he does have is trophies, experience, and knowledge that can’t be beaten.

The best coaches know how to demonstrate the lifts, and use their own experience to help others. They understand the stress strength athletes put on their bodies and the amount of energy it takes to put hundreds of pounds on their backs. They understand how much we need to recover from workouts and the amount of sleep we need. Those coaches, know exactly what an athlete is going through because they have been there.

The same can be said to anyone in the Strength World. If you are improving on your lifts, seeing results, and breaking Personal Bests than you probably will do well in the strength and conditioning world even though you haven’t used a textbook to get you to the place you are in now.

This can be said to everyone in the USAWA. We all learned how to lift from someone who was kind enough to give us some wisdom on how to perform these lifts. We didn’t just read a book and assume that it is the best way to perform the lift. We practiced, practiced, and practiced until we found our form. After a certain point, we don’t use books to help us execute lifts.

As I said before ….. Textbooks can’t teach everything….

NE Powerlift Meet

By Christopher Lestan

MEET RESULTS –

NEW ENGLAND POWERLIFT MEET

Two new lifters in the USAWA! Zach on the left and Ryan on the right .

Two new lifters in the USAWA! Zach on the left and Ryan on the right .

What a fun and fantastic meet! We had 10 lifters competing, and 15-20 spectators ranging from family to close friends. Kim Lydon was nice enough to use her own gym which provided enough space for the lifting. The first lift was the 12″ Base Squat. Frank Ciavattone’s nieces Olivia and Natalie performed amazingly for their first comp each coming away with 71-pound squats. Zach Marharo executed a perfect 365-pound squat.

Chris Lestan Preparing to Squat 507 Pounds!

Chris Lestan Preparing to Squat 507 Pounds!

The second lift was the Bench Feet in the Air. Everyone did wonderfully with amazing feats of strength including Ryan’s 285 Bench! The highlight of the bench was Sarah Gibbons, for she failed her first attempt, and the second attempt, but got the last attempt with a personal best of 85 pounds! Lastly, the 12″ Base Deadlift was the grande finale! Everyone either made a personal best or National Record. Kim Lydon made her final attempt deadlift with a 257-pound pull which is a national record for her weight class! Newcomer Heather made a personal best of 235-pound deadlift on her last attempt! Sarah as well put up 205 deadlift which was a personal best as well! Mike pushed through and performed a 300-pound deadlift with flawless technique!

Then the big boys came in with Zach deadlifting 455 for a personal best followed by Ryan Bingham pulling 465! After we had a great cookout and award ceremony! During the awards, I gave my Overall Best Mens Lifter Award that I won to Zach. 7 weeks ago Zach had surgery to remove his appendix with three scars on his stomach where the doctors operated. He was told he couldn’t lift for 4 weeks! But he pushed through and within 3 weeks he was able to break some personal best! Also, he came in second in the Mens Division! To me that says a lot about his character and who he is as a person so naturally, I felt he won the award.  It was a great meet that included great lifts, great food, and great friends!

The starting crowd at the Meet. about 5 more people showed up to support the lifters!

The starting crowd at the Meet. about 5 more people showed up to support the lifters!

MEET RESULTS:

NE Powerlift Meet
August 31st, 2019
Canton, Massachusetts

Meet Director: Christopher Lestan

Host: Kim Lydon

Meet Announcer/Scorekeeper: Frank Ciavattone

Officials(1 official system used): Frank Ciavattone

Lifts: Squat 12″ Base, Deadlift 12″ Base, Bench Press Feet in Air

All lifts are recorded in pounds

Female Division:

Name Age Weight Class Division
Kim Lydon 28 143 65 kilo Open
Heather Bartholomew 41 262 120 kilo Masters 40-44
Sarah Gibbons 21 160 75 kilo Open
Natalie Collins 12 107 50 kilo Junior (10-13)
Olivia Collins 10 113 55 kilo Junior (10-13)

Mens Division:

Name Age Weight Class Division
Christopher Lestan 23 279 125+kg Open
Zachariah Marhamo 21 228 105kg Open
Ryan Bingham 18 325 125+kg Junior(18-19)
Mike McLaughlin 51 206 95kg Masters(50-54)
Eric Lestan 14 161 75kg Junior (14-15)

Female Final Standings

Name Squat 12″Base Bench FIA Deadlift 12″Base Lynch Points
Kim Lydon 170 105 257 583.78
Natalie Collins 71 55 140 473.10
Sarah Gibbons 155 85 205 454.21
Olivia Collins 71 45 140 447.05
Heather Bartholomew 185 125 235 430.93

Mens Final Standings

Name Squat 12″Base Bench FIA Deadlift 12″ Base Lynch Points
Christopher Lestan 507 365 600 1068.49
Zach Marhamo 365 275 455 911.25
Ryan Bingham 315 285 465 767.20
Eric Lestan 195 135 275 738.48
Mike McLaughlin 225 195 315 723.75

Overall Best Mens lifter: Christopher Lestan
Overall Best Female Lifter: Kim Lydon
Overall Best Male Junior: Ryan Bingham
Overall Best Female Junior: Natalie Collins
Overall Best Mens Masters: Mike Mclaughlin
Overall Best Females Masters: Heather Bartholomew

National Records:
Sarah Gibbons: Deadlift 205 for the 75kg class
Kim Lydon: Deadlift 257 65kg class
Christopher Lestan: 507 Squat for 125+kg class
Natalie and Olivia Collins: Deadlift 140 for 50kg and 55kg class

Overcoming Adversity

By Christopher Lestan

In every competitive lifter’s career, they must overcome some type of adversity. It may involve personal troubles, financial issues, or some type of nagging injury. Sometimes the troubles we face may even break us, or even mentally cripple us. However, the strongest always find a way to fight through these troubles that loom over them. In some instances, we can become even better. It’s in these situations you really find out what type of lifter, athlete, and person you really are.

This is my story.

In high school, I had just become one of the best lacrosse goalies Westwood High had ever had. I even lead my team to the quarter-finals of the state championships which had never happened in Westwood history, and only had loses against state champions. Going into college I felt invincible. I joined the rugby team there and my incoming class helped Roanoke Rugby become a top-three contender in division two club rugby even being voted All-Star in the conference. Overall, my ego was probably the highest it ever was. That is when it all fell apart.

In the final game of the season, I was tackled at the knee on my right leg while running for a loose ball. Immediately there were four or five loud “Cracks”! I fell in pain and agony. Most people ask me if I felt pain and in all honesty, I couldn’t feel my right leg. Within two hours I was in the ER with a giant cast over my leg. I was in so much shock, pain, and stress that I don’t remember much of the ER. Fast forward two days later I had an MRI done on my right leg and finally had the answer to what was wrong with my leg and it was truly awful. I ruptured my patella tendon, torn my ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL, and Lateral Meniscus. In one hit to the knee I had 6 damaged tendons. Luckily I was seen by the Virginia Tech Surgeon who happened to know my coach at the time, but he even said this was probably the worst contact knee injury he had ever seen. Due to the extreme nature of the injury, I had surgery within twelve hours of the MRI.

Fast Forward for almost two weeks and I am talking to my surgeon close to my home in Massachusetts. It is at this moment I received possibly the worst news. The surgeon looked at my in the eyes and stated, “you will probably never be able to play sports, or lift competitively ever again”. I broke down and cried. Sports my whole life have been my avenue to social life. I made my best friends through hard-fought practices when we had to do sprints in the rain, snow, or ninety-degree weather. Sports is where I gained my confidence in lifting during the offseason. The barbell is where I found my greatest strengths. Now I was being told I would never play sports or lift ever again.

Minutes after my MRI!

Minutes after my MRI!

This is where I started my journey to overcome adversity. I wanted to prove I can recover and play rugby again. Prove that I can be stronger after the injury than before my injury. The next eight months were nothing but eat, sleep, and rehab. It was my only focus. Its all I cared about. I become obsessed. By the start of the spring rugby season of my sophomore year, I was cleared to play rugby again. The injury happened in April and by January I had been cleared by my surgeon. The turn-around was so impressive that even my coach who had been involved in rugby for twenty years couldn’t believe I was playing again.

Within two years after the injury, I achieved my first 500-pound squat in a USA Powerlifting meet. Fast-Forward to April 2019 and I hit Personal Records in a National Powerlifting Meet. Fast Forward in May, where I competed in USAWA 2019 Heavy Lifts Championships. Fast Forward to this June I just competed at the USA Nationals.

This is why lifting is important to me personally, and to any other athlete who has been to some type of adversity. The barbell makes you stronger. The barbell doesn’t mock or make fun of your current situation. It is there to make you better. To fight back. The barbell is what has kept me believing that will be back and be stronger!

Ever since that experience, I have had an edge whenever I compete. I am, according to my surgeon, not suppose to be able to Olympic Lift, Powerlift, and run faster than I did before my injury. Yet I do. Whenever I step on the platform I remind myself of how much rehab, pain, and mental struggle I had to get back to the platform.

The moral of this story is that lifters and athletes who go through struggles similar to mine find a way to fight back to the top. It’s what makes us true warriors of Iron. We live and breath this lifestyle of fighting against all obstacles and defeating it whether it be the barbell or troubled life. These moments are what defines us. We will do whatever is possible to be back on that platform, for it is our passion and our pride. It whats makes us competitors. These moments are also the moments we remember the most and take the most pride with.

In the end, adversity makes us stronger!

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