So People bragging about gym PRs are getting a lot of heat these days from folks who say Competition PRs are the only PRs that matter. I want to dive into this and see if we can't at least start a conversation on the topic. I think it really boils down to a question of perspective, purpose, and trolling. Let's start with trolling so we can get the haterade all drank up. Many pre-pubescent teenagers or 20 somethings who still have the mental state of one will hate on your gym PR simply because you are way stronger than them and jealous. They will scream or at least type in all caps that competition PRs are what matters and gym records are meaningless. Oh well, they hate us because they ain't us. Brush your shoulder off. No need to worry about these people. they are too busy whining to put in the years needed to become proficient at anything. Moving on.
Actual strength competitors will say that competition PRs are all that matter too. Some great competitors say this and it's tough to want to disagree with people like Blaine Sumner and Chad Wesley Smith, but being the tool I am, I'll give it a go. Here's how I see it. I have trained and thought both ways at various times throughout the years. It's all about the person training. Are you just lifting for fun and have no plans of competing? Although I feel you are missing the whole point of training if you don't compete, all you have are gym PRs. In this instance why shouldn't you celebrate them? If you are a competitor I can see there's some merit to saving your PRs for the platform. It reduces your chance of injury and since you haven't pushed a max in training for 12 weeks you are pretty much guaranteed some new personal bests at your meet. From a powerlifting point of view I think this has a lot of legs to stand on from the injury point of view. In weightlifting it may not apply as much as the weights you are cleaning and snatching are not maximal from a CNS standpoint. Also If you are going for a National or World record I think the injury justification is pretty important as you are handling weights that have a higher chance of injury. So that's maybe 100 competitors that can use this rationale?
Injury rate aside though I bet someone PRing in the gym mid cycle will still hit a better total at their meet 6 weeks out than they did at the previous meet. Maybe it will be a bit lower than the gym PR but who's to say whether or not the guys holding back would have PR'd bigger mid cycle than they did on the platform? Maybe Blaine would have hit a 1200lb squat during his training and still hit the 1100 at the Arnold. Who knows but it's possible especially if you aren't a world level lifter. So pretty much everyone.
Another aspect we need to check into is the motivation of PRing in the gym. If you are a serious competitor you are competing 4 or less times a year. That means your IG followers only get to see you smashing monster weights a few times a year unless you just keep reposting your competitions. No one want's to watch sets of 10 and if you are trying to build your online training clientele, like it or not, this is something you may need to consider. I'm not saying you should max out every day by any means but this could definitely be factor.
Hey let's not forget maxing out is fun and you can do it safely more than 4 times a year especially if you are a rookie. Finally some people need the feel of a grindy rep every now and then to build confidence under a maximal load.
In the end we are all big kids. It's up to you. Do what makes you happy. Lifting is a hobby not a life or death situation. Even if you are a competitor. Let me say that again.....LIFTING IS A HOBBY. Repeat after me "Lifting is a hobby." Very good. I'm proud of you.
Train hard but don't be dumb.
Talk soon,
Dan Mason
Strongman competitor in the 242lb and 275lb classes and a pro Powerlifter in the RPS 275lb class. Dan is also an Elite lifter in the USPA/IPA. He holds instructor level ranks in Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Dan has been training people for strength and martial arts since 2004. For other fun stuff check his Instagram @RoninStr
