The Prep: Technique Before Numbers
Chloe and Coach Chris built her comp prep on a simple idea — get the movement right before you load it up. Every session started with the same set-up. Same pulls. Same positioning. Every. Single. Time.
“It took a few goes to get the positioning right, but now I feel like I’ve got my technique down,” Chloe said. “Every session was making sure my technique was set up the way it should be — and that it’s the exact same every single time.”
If you’ve ever wondered why we drill the same little details over and over (like in our recent post on why we pause in the jerk), this is exactly why. Technique is the multiplier. Once it’s automatic, the kilos take care of themselves.
“I Just Made That Little Bit of Extra Time for Myself”
One of the biggest reasons people don’t commit to comp prep is the assumption it’ll blow out their schedule. Chloe — busy mum, small business owner — had every reason to think the same.
“Surprisingly, no. Because it was something I really wanted to do, it was easy enough to add into my normal schedule. I just made that little bit of extra time for myself.”
Comp prep at Sixty7Six is built around real lives, not perfect ones. If you can train consistently, you can prep for a comp. We promise.
Comp Day: Nerves, Strangers, and the Under 13s Moment
The lead-up was the hardest part. Chloe said the butterflies started halfway to the venue. By the time she walked in, she was nervous as hell.
Then something shifted. She arrived early and watched the kids lift first.
“I think watching them do it, I just thought to myself, ‘Well, if they can do it, I can do it.’ They were doing so well in front of strangers. I was like, ‘I can do it too.’”
Calvin, the host gym owner, came straight up to her and introduced himself. A few chats with members and other lifters and the nerves were gone before she ever picked up the bar.
This is something we talk about a lot — see our post on how recovery shapes your life more than your reaction — the nervous system settles fastest when you feel safe. Chloe didn’t conquer her nerves. She just got around people who made her feel at home.
Warming Up Like a Weightlifter
One of the smartest parts of Chloe’s comp day was the warm-up strategy. She and Chris worked up to her opening weight together, then dropped into a rhythm — a single lift roughly every five minutes.
Enough movement to stay warm. Enough rest to actually be strong on the platform. In weightlifting, rest is not a break from the work. Rest is part of the work.
If you want to dig deeper into why deliberate, simple-looking training plans hit hardest, this is a good companion read: Why Simple Workouts Hit Hard (And How to Approach Them Properly).
Three PBs and a Plane Ticket to October
Chloe hit PBs across the day. But the moment that tells you everything happened just after her first attempt.
“As soon as it was done, I was saying to Chris, ‘I’m doing the next one. I cannot wait.’”
That’s the part that doesn’t get talked about enough. Comps aren’t just about the lifts. They’re about discovering you actually love this thing you were terrified of an hour ago.
“It was so much fun. Slightly different to a normal CrossFit comp, but in a good way. It gets you really out of your comfort zone — but in a good way. I’d 100% shout to anyone to do it.”
The October Comp: Coach Chris Is Building a Team
Chloe will be back on the platform in October. And she won’t be going alone.
Coach Chris is putting together a team of Sixty7Six athletes for the next Olympic lifting comp. Prep sessions are running on Sundays at our gym in Walliston. No previous comp experience needed. We’ll start where you are.
Here’s who this is for:
• Members who’ve done some Oly work in class and want to take it further.
• Athletes from other disciplines (CrossFit, powerlifting, general strength) who are curious about competing.
• First-timers who don’t mind being a little nervous in exchange for being a lot proud.
How to Get Involved
Drop into the gym and grab Chris on the floor, send us a DM on Instagram or Facebook, or get in touch via our contact page.
Not a member yet? Have a look at our membership options or book a free intro class — no pressure, no sales pitch, just your time.
If Chloe’s story has been the little nudge you needed: this is your sign.
See you on the platform.
Related reading from the Sixty7Six blog
• Why We Pause in the Jerk (And Why It Matters)
• Mindset — Your life is shaped more by your recovery than your reaction
• Why Simple Workouts Hit Hard (And How to Approach Them Properly)
• Browse all Olympic Lifting articles or Mindset articles.