P.E. Teacher Caseara Martinez has a passion for powerlifting. We decided to ask her about what it’s been like in her powerlifting journey.
How long have you been powerlifting?
I’ve been powerlifting for almost two years. It’ll be two years in March.
How were you first introduced to powerlifting?
I had signed up to do a spartan race. I was just at a 24 hour fitness training and I found myself getting bored. So one of my friends who I cheered with in college said “Hey my friend owns a powerlifting gym. Do you want to go check it out?” And I was like, sure, why not? Lets see what it’s about. And we went and he gave us a free session on how to do a squat. I really liked his coaching and I was like “Wow this is really good. I’m learning so much.” And I decided to sign up that day, and I had no idea what powerlifting was, I just really liked the coaching and the atmosphere of the gym. So I signed up and loved it ever since.
Why do you powerlift?
I still lift because I have a lot of fun with it. I surprise myself everyday. Like, I don’t know how strong I am and I’ll be like “Oh, well last week I pulled 280 [pounds] and I was coming in this week like lets see if I can pull 295, I’ve never done that before, let’s give it a try.” And it worked and I’m like “Wow! That was a lot easier than I thought. I wonder what it’s going to be like next week.” It’s always surprising me and I have a fun time with it. Also, my gym is very small and so there is a small, tight community where it’s kind of like another family. It’s like being part of a team, and so I have a lot of fun and I’ve met a lot of cool people at my gym.
What lifts do you train?
In powerlifting it’s squat, bench, and deadlift. I compete in all three. When you go to compete, you can choose just one lift, or you can choose two lifts, it’s totally up to you. When I compete I compete in all three lifts.
Have you ever been injured while powerlifting?
I have not been injured. I know a lot of athletes who have been powerlifting for an extended amount of time, they tend to get injured. Sometimes it’s because they don’t warm up correctly or they’re ignoring tight muscles. Like maybe their pectorals or their trapezius are really tight and they’re like “Oh, it’s ok. I’m just going to go work out.” And they end up tearing a muscle. I know that’s really common. It happens more with elite powerlifters, or really new lifters who are not sure what they’re doing. That’s why I invested in a coach, because I didn’t want to get injured.
Have you gained anything from powerlifting?
I’ve gained so much more confidence. I used to be a cheerleader. I cheered in high school and I cheered in college. That was something that I’ve done. Going into powerlifting was something that was totally out of my realm. I’ve never did weights very much, so it took me outside my comfort zone. Then I found out that I could surprise myself every week. It’s like “Woah. I’m so much stronger than I thought I could ever be.” So my confidence has gone up so much. I’m more willing to try something new and take risks. I’ve been trying new foods and like “Oh, this can’t be that bad.” I’ve also met some really cool people. I have a gentleman who is in like his 60s that is one of my coaches. He’s got grandkids and he is going back to college to pursue a career. One of my coaches is really young and is still in college. Being able to just be exposed around so many different people is awesome.
What achievements do you have in powerlifting?
I’ve competed twice. I competed this past summer in July at the San Jose TheFit Expo. I took second place, so that was pretty cool. I’m going to compete in April and try to break two California records in the squat and bench press.
What are your personal records in powerlifting?
My squat is 270 pounds. My bench is 176, and my deadlift is 292.
What was your greatest challenge in powerlifting?
My greatest challenge is not comparing myself to others. There are some people who powerlift as a profession. They are in the same category and weight class as me but they’re lifting so much more weight than me. And then I’m like “Oh my gosh, I want to be strong like them too. I want to be competitive and I want to beat them.” But to know that they have been lifting for 10 plus years and all they do is train, and they don’t have jobs. It’s okay that I’m not at a professional level. I’ve been really competitive with that aspect because I like to do well.
What advice do you have for anyone wanting to powerlift?
In general with lifting, a lot of women get intimidated by lifting heavy. They feel that if they lift heavy weights they’re just going to automatically look like Arnold Schwarzenegger or a bodybuilder. That’s not true. Lifting heavy weights doesn’t make you massive. It takes a long time to get that way. You need to testosterone and take supplements to get super big. Don’t be scared to lift heavy, but also to be smart about it. To make sure you’re using the right form and it’s worth it to invest in a coach or a teacher who can teach you the proper form and technique.
