First in the news:
USOC lifted the bar for Muslim woman by Philip Hersh at the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/globetrotting/chi-usoc-lifted-the-bar-for-muslim-woman-20120412,0,5770306.column He also wrote 2 other articles last year. here and here

The IWF also has a copy here: http://www.iwf.net/2012/04/16/usoc-lifted-the-bar-for-muslim-woman/

Asian WL Championships Preparations

My schedule has been pretty hectic till I got to sit on the plane (and finally started typing towards this blog post). I generally train 6 days a week. When my shoulder got better, I started adding 2 days of 2 workout sessions for a total of 8 visits to the gym. I have been really focusing on snatch and the split jerk (my weaknesses) trying to be more consistent in technique. Doing a lot of volume work helps to maintain consistency which will lead to being able to get higher weights, as the higher you go and the closer the weight is to body weight, the more precise and fast you need to be in these lifts.

Day by day, I managed my time and had on going to do lists to prepare for Korea and I think this time (and hope) it will be more calm and an easier experience.

Stephanie Russell Aylworth, made another singlet for me, and I got embroidery this time in instead of a patch like last time. She is an expert designer and felt that she could make something better than last time what I wore to Worlds 2011 in November, but I thought that was one great too. For this one (which I like the best), the material is a little thicker nylon/lycra, so it hangs better, and takes the stitching more easily. She also had some time for some artistic touches to it, along with double stitching, and an invisible zipper on the back..

I brought my good old DSLR Canon 60D again, along with a camcorder, so I hope to have both pictures and video this time of me lifting.

The t-shirts and jackets came in Thursday. I took my pieces, and tried to seal up in envelopes those who purchased outside of Atlanta. They should go out Friday and since it is priority mail, get to you by Monday. Thanks again to those who purchased and supported me in my efforts. If there is interest, I could do another possible order when I get back from Korea.

Flight/ jet lag & fasting
I passed asleep out for most of the time. I ate the first meal but decided to try fasting to get over jet lag quickly. More info here but the general idea is that you fast 12-16 hours before the first normal meal time at your final destination. In my situation, my flight was 12:30 after midnight, the duration of the flight is 14 hours, and it lands 430am Saturday Korea time. I ate the first meal they served and then fasted only drinking water. I will wait to eat breakfast when I get to the hotel as that would be a normal breakfast time as I get through customs, get a SIM card, and then the transportation time from the Seoul airport to Pyeongtaek (40min to 1 hour) where the competition is being held. My goal is to stay awake until a normal sleep time.

(page and links to the entire album are here)

Korea air is pretty awesome. The economy class seats are a pretty good size, they have the TV screen on each seat, along with a USB port and power outlet. They give you slippers, toothbrush and paste. The stewardesses are very nice, and fortunately I got to sit next to a nice lady. We were in the middle row and one of the seats were not used, so we got to have extra space in addition to the one seat. This also helped me with my sleep (in addition to an eye mask and ear plugs). I also brought my own pillow. I was pretty sleepy so I only took one Melatonin pill instead of 2. I normally do not take melatonin so I thought in this case, it would be sufficient.

The stewardesses saved the second meal for me. I felt bad, as I couldn’t take any of it with me due to customs, except the muffin, but I can’t eat that on a clean/strict diet.

The airport and getting to the venue

When I got off the plane, immigration, baggage claim, and customs. I saw a man with a sign over his head for the Asian Champs. He looked at me a few times and pointed to the sign, I nodded and said yes I am here for that. I realized later from talking to him, that 1) he did not think I looked like a competitive weightlifter 2) did not think I was of Pakistani origin. I asked him if he had seen other female weightlifters, and he said no. I said well when you do, you will realize they are not what you think they look like.

I waited around the bus and bus driver until he got the other passengers arriving from Vietnam. I had some food from a convenience store at the airport. That was a big mistake as I started getting a weird headache as I walked onto the bus. That plus the bus ride of about an hour and a half made me feel really gross. When we got to the hotel, I was not able to function, so it took a while for them to have me pay and register at the hotel. Everyone was very nice and friendly and one lady gave me an orange to help me over come the naseau. I was not able to vomit it out, so it ended up taking a few hours until I felt OK again.

After some rest and some food, I went to the training hall to work out. The shuttle service did not start yet, so I got a ride with 2 volunteers driving over there from the hotel. I worked up to lighter singles on each of the lifts, enough to get blood circulation, stay awake, practice the movements. Sunday I went a little bit heavier and Front squated to a heavy single. Monday, Travis gets in that morning, and we will discuss my possible openers, and then do the lifts perhaps up to planned openers or slight higher. Tuesday then will be my competition day. I met some of the coaches for the Emirates team while I was at the training hall, they were nice and encouraging. I checked out the competition hall, there were South Korean competitors lifting, so I took a few pictures. A teenage korean girl asked if I was competing for Pakistan. She gave me a high five, said she did not know much english but followed up with a thumbs up. The organizing committee helped me get a taxi to get back to the hotel and gave me Korean green tea while I waited.

I had some dinner, but mostly, the vacuum sealed packets of salmon, macadamia and almonds I brought with me. I am eating “clean” plus there were unfortunately very few options in the dining room for me (broth, lettuce and kimchi). I went to sleep at an early hour and got a lot of hours in. I think fasting did help me get over the jetlag quickly.

Day 2 Sunday, April 22:

After eating, I got on thier nifty shuttle that started this day. I went at the wrong time scheduled for Pakistan (in the training hall) but it was OK, they said. I am the only competitor for Pakistan, so having a platform was not an issue. I ended up riding with all (or most) of the Chinese team.

Video of some of their training:

This is my last day training myself before competing. Travis could not fly out as early as I did and some flights were sold out, but he comes in Monday morning. I have taught myself, how to feel and realize what I did or do incorrectly, and when something is correct, remember how that feels. But it is very important to have a coach watch your lifts. But for times when you have to train alone, this skill is helpful.

Competition:
I compete noon Korean time this Tuesday which is Eastern Standard time 2 AM. If you happen to be awake, please watch if you have a chance (pending I get a link to a webcast). Otherwise, I will try to write another blog post update and get some of the pics and video up.

I most likely will not put up another post until after I compete. But I will continue to document and photograph each day I am here.