As I sit here typing this, it’s hard to believe the last 20+ weeks have just flown by like only a few days.

I put a lot of focus on the small things this time around: spiritual, mental and then, of course, the taxing physical aspect. Diet, supplementation, and recovery were a big focus, and my wife Ria was as always a tremendous help.

Thank you, Adam, for keeping the gym for our use for over 15 years, now that I’ve been there. I know it’s a pain at times far beyond our comprehension.

Inzer Advance Designs, as alway has been a massive help! Thank you!

I feel that I’ve done the best I could have over the last 6months or so. I have an excellent team behind me, and I’m excited to compete after about a 20mo layoff. Thank you to all of you who are coming down to support.

Regardless of how Sunday turns out, I want to take the time to thank Wayne Pullum for all of his hard work putting this thing together.

I believe Wayne’s intentions are for the equipped lifter to have a great place to perform – this is it IMO.

Best equipment, best venue, best awards (belts), etc.

When I asked Wayne why the hell he was going all in on this Wayne’s words were “I think the lifters deserve this and I want to deliver it.”

But do we? I’ve seen Wayne get abused multiple times at the big meets by top lifters screaming at him at the top of their lungs at WPC Worlds because they felt their lifter got the short end of the stick.

I don’t know if we DESERVE this, but I can tell you, I believe the lifters, especially the ones who have been around the circuit for the last 10-15 years and even some of the newer ones do greatly appreciate this.

Regardless of how the calls go – my way or not, and how the meet goes overall (I may be highly upset come Sunday, who knows) but the fact remains that I feel Wayne has gone above and beyond for the lifters and this, I’m grateful.

I’ve lifted in less than par meets many times without adequate warm-up equipment for everyone, no platform or crappy platform, etc. I’ve competed at meets where it seemed like the only thing on the agenda was turnover and making money and not the experience for the lifter. There have been plenty of very good meets, don’t get me wrong, but they are few and far between.

I think making money is the last thing on Wayne’s mind. This, as a business person could be considered foolish. I don’t think Wayne cares.

Regardless of how this meet goes for me, I have to tell you that I’m thrilled to lift in a meet that I genuinely feel that our (the athlete’s) best interests are in mind, regardless of how it all plays out.

I have a tall order in the Middleweight class. One missed lift could not only mean getting smashed in the division by a freak 198er but getting buried in my weight class with a stacked class of hungry 242 lifters. It’s going to be an exciting day.

And if this is my last meet competing, I’m happy that I’ve been able to be competitive for this long.

If so, I’m happy that I’m healthy and can finish it in my home state of FL, once again on the big WPO stage once again, like I was blessed to be able to in 06 & 07.

Thank you, Wayne, for all of the efforts. No matter how Sunday goes, I think I can speak for a few other lifters and tell you that your effort to even attempt this has not gone unnoticed.

See you all Sunday.