Sarah Currie Gets Ripped - End of Summer Training Update - September 2013
Hey, it's Sarah Currie. Did you miss me? I have certainly missed you guys and I appreciate all the inquiries as to when my next update would be sent out. I sincerely apologize for the radio silence but a lot has happened since June.
My life has not had this much drama in it since the 7th grade. I will spare many of the details, but I will share with you that my training partner/coach fired me because of personal reasons. In June he told me to train on my own, and that he would resume training me in September, after taking what he described as a needed break from me. Keep in mind I was, and still am, trying to prepare for an October show. I was devastated, angry, hurt, pissed, annoyed, and even sad when he broke the news to me. You name the emotion - I felt it. At first it didn't even seem real; rather I thought I was being punked or that he was simply trying to motivate me in some mean, twisted way.
But as it turned out, he was as serious as a heart attack and really dropped me. This was unthinkable; equivalent to me training a triathlete for a particular race, and then leaving he or she during final preparations simply because I felt like it. Those of you who know me know that I could never be that selfish. So I did what any rational and sane athlete would do. I started working out even harder on my own while I looked for a new coach. Excuse my language, but "F*ck him," is what I thought.
I need to back up a little though. Way back when I decided to train for a physique or figure competition, I had already signed up for the NYC triathlon relay, which happens every July or August. In 2012 my team took 2nd place and in 2013 we won it! But this year I did not know what to expect. My original plan had me begin training for the physique competition in September 2013, preparing for a May or June 2014 show. In that situation, I'd be leaner, stronger and lighter for the triathlon relay in August. After the race I'd resume normal civilian life, eating and drinking whatever I pleased, without the fear or stress of a race or the stage on the horizon.
Then my injury occurred, and my plans were dealt a major setback. I certainly wasn't stage ready by May or June and I was hardly training for a triathlon relay, as I was eating low carbs and lifting heavy weights. Endurance cycling requires at least some carbs in your diet and more than 45 minutes of cardio training per day. In the past I'd ride 2-3x's per week, including a long ride on the weekend. None of this was happening. I was solely focused on the competition.
As you've probably guessed by now, training for a bike race and training for a physique competition are two wildly different beasts. But rather than choosing one or the other, I decided to tackle both. During the week I would get in one short ride even though I'd still destroy my legs on Tuesdays with dead lifts and on Saturdays with squats. Sundays I'd complete 30-mile bike rides, most of the time anyways. Then I'd reward myself with a beer, or two. While combining race and physique training, I achieved my lowest weight and my lowest body fat percentage to date.
Remarkably, we took 2nd place! Lost 1st place by 35 seconds! A greatccomplishment for my team considering we all trained minimally this year. We were very happy with our performance; and being lighter and stronger from leaning out all winter and spring really did pay off for me. Now that summer is winding down, I am prepared to hit the gym really hard this fall. It has been difficult working out and staying focused all summer while in the Hamptons, with such delicious food and drinks around me at all times.
But as you can see by the photos, I have a lot of work to do from now until October. My legs are not nearly as developed, as I need them to be. I joke that the backs of my legs look like a queen sheet on a full-size mattress. Yeah, I have some serious leg and glute training to do, but at least those stubborn fat pockets (triangles) finally shrunk. My stomach may not have much fat on it, but there is no visible abs to speak of. And my calves, sheesh; all I can say is that I have some serious calf raises to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with my physique, but it's not perfect, there is more potential for me. I have a new coach, and he is intense.
Secretly, I am dreading all the hard work ahead; he already has me on a ridiculous routine. But now is my time to shine. And I wont quit on him like my previous coach quit on me. Finally the news you are all waiting for is that I have not stopped drinking! I got my weight down to 140lbs. and my body fat to 16% without giving up booze. Summer in the Hamptons just wouldn't be summer without Wolffer rose! My goal of 12% is on the horizon, so maybe I'll just stick to vodka since it has zero carbs.
Losing my trainer and my injury has made an October show unobtainable for me, so I am going to keep training until I am truly stage ready. Stay tuned - I am getting closer!
