Last Saturday I had the pleasure of handling my good friend, co-worker, Business Manager and training partner, Jane Stabile at the RPS Gate City Gauntlet in Nashua New Hampshire.
Jane is also known as the World’s Strongest Granny. When she came to TPS about 10 years ago she had virtually no experience but did have a burning desire to compete. Since that day, she has been here training, working and competing as hard as the young guys 1/3 her age.
She has done about a zillion meets all over the world and has set a ton of American and World records in the APF, WABDL and RPS. So what’s the big deal about a local meet?
Jane has lifted very well for many years but the Elite total has been just one lift away for a long time.
We had a plan going into this meet where she only needed her 3rd squat, 2nd bench, and 1st deadlift to get the 955 elite total. Should be easy-peasy right?
We opened the squat at an easy 320. Smokeshow.
2nd attempt, 345, again a smoker.
3rd attempt, 370. Bang. Smokeshow.
On to the bench.
She uses a Metal Jack shirt and if I have learned nothing from Vincent, I did learn to learn to touch a light weight. In training we spent a lot of time working on making sure she could easily touch. As a matter of fact, we did 5 singles at 60% on her last bench session, all good lifts to a touch.
Mr. Murphy and his famous law appeared in the warm up room.
We had a last warmup of 165 planned and things went haywire. She was mis-grooving and had an awful time. I was getting a little nervous because I think I wanted her to hit the 955 total more than she did!
I quietly and gracefully limped my way over and lowered her opener from 180 to 170 to make sure she got the lift in.
Once on the platform, she flipped a switch mentally and nailed it.
The next attempt was also lower as the jump would have been too big for the planned 2nd, we went with 185. That’s a little more than the 7% jump I would normally make but she has done 180 for triples in the final weeks of this block so I knew she was capable.
Bar is loaded at 185, she walks out to the bench.
Bang.
3 whites.
540 subtotal.
We are ok.
On to her bread and butter, the Deadlift.
Jane uses a Metal Jack Sumo suit and we have been working on getting the straps jacked down tight and getting to the bar quickly and perfectly.
The planned opener was an easy 365, which she can usually hit for 4-5 reps, and has hit from a deficit as well.
I raised it to 375 as we now needed a much bigger deadlift than anticipated.
Her PR was 405 set in April. She needed 415 for the Elite total.
I knew she was capable of this as she hit 405 for FAST doubles at an RPE 8 in training this block.
We went with 375 for a blazing opener, moved to 400 for her 2nd. Again, blazing.
The bar was loaded to 415 for her 3rd.
The crowd was going bananas as they were behind her all day. Who doesn’t love an old lady with blue hair lifting tons of weight?
I wish I remember what I said to her before the lift. I was so jacked up, I can’t remember. Hopefully it helped.
She got out to the platform, set, and pulled.
She did not get a full grip on the right hand and I was getting nervous as it went up.
In the blink of an eye, she locked it out, got the down signal and owned the 955 Elite total.
I ran out, snatched her up for a huge hug and I think I may have had a tear in my eye I was so happy for her.
Jane is 62 years old and lifts in the 148’s. This is incredible. She was in the 181’s when we brought here to the 1st meet so many year ago. She has gotten lighter, and Strong(her).
Words cannot express how proud I am of my training partner and friend Jane.
She should be an inspiration to all of us, male or female.
She is Strong(her).
I love you Jane.
TPS Moving News
OK, here’s the skinny.
TPS is closed this Sunday at the Everett location permanently.
Wow, I can’t believe I just wrote that.
It’s finally here.
We are leaving Everett and I am pretty sad about that.
We will begin the moving process this Sunday and we need HELP!
Our plan is to get everything moved and set up in about 10-12 days and we hope to open before December 10th at the new location.
We are waiting for an Occupancy Permit from the City of Malden and once we get it, we’ll be open.
I apologize to my customers for being closed for so long, but it takes a long time to move all of this stuff and then get it reassembled.
We will do our best to be done as fast as humanly possible. We will reopen sooner if we can.
The new location is 150 Charles Street, Malden, Mass. And it is looking really good in there.
It will look even better with $80,000 dollars’ worth of EliteFTS equipment.
Help us move it.
Ask me a question-Be sure and Type to Murph in the header
Find me on Google-search for Total Performance Sports Everett, Mass. The Best Gym in Boston, Facebook too.
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#bostonsstrongest
Vincere vel mori
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