Josh McEllrath
Gold Member
National Champion
PNW Armwreckers
Posts: 508
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Post by Josh McEllrath on Sept 10, 2012 11:59:39 GMT -5
Anyone ever get burnt out in armwrestling? Not so much the physical aspect, but the mental side. I used to really look forward to upcoming tournaments but now it seems that we aren't having as many tournaments in the Pacific Northwest any more. I don't mind traveling, but justifying multiple trips out of state to the wife is getting me into some heat...especially for the ones she can't make. I want to stay competitive, but it is hard. I have too many kids, and it is tough finding someone to watch them when we do head out of state.
Anybody ever run into this, what did you do? Somebody want to come watch my kids?
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Post by Jody Williams on Sept 10, 2012 12:08:43 GMT -5
I feel you man. I got three kids myself & I find myself picking & choosing which (out of state) tournament to go to. It seems our team needs to practice with you guys in Washington or other parts of Oregon just to stay competitive until the next reachable tournament.
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Post by Glenn Brooks on Sept 10, 2012 12:20:14 GMT -5
Yep, from 1988 to 1999 I only went to like 5. Then got fired back up in 1999. ( got married and started having kids)
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Post by David Owens on Sept 10, 2012 12:53:26 GMT -5
Promote locally and build up the number of pullers in your state and you won't have to travel so often and yes sometimes walking away is as close as the delete my account button.
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Post by Brian Storie on Sept 10, 2012 13:41:13 GMT -5
Josh, Scott and I are doing are best to keep this sport moving forward in this state but it hard when venues dont want to spend any money to have us host a tournament but we are looking into other places around the state to try and work something out without having to fork money out of are own pockets but just be patient and we will get it rolling wr are both new at this promoting stuff but we will get it done. Scott can sell ketchup popcicles to people in white gloves so no worries
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Post by Tim Lewis on Sept 10, 2012 18:22:25 GMT -5
While the lack of events may be problem in the northwest, too many events can also be a problem.
Nothing is worse than going to a tournament and having the same 5 or 6 guys in your class every single time with no variety.
But yet the biggest gripe for me is how hard it is to keep a local team together training consistently. Either the distance is too great for people to practice every week, or there is just not enough interest or time in people's schedules to make a commitment to train at the same time every week.
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Josh McEllrath
Gold Member
National Champion
PNW Armwreckers
Posts: 508
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Post by Josh McEllrath on Sept 10, 2012 19:51:08 GMT -5
While the lack of events may be problem in the northwest, too many events can also be a problem. Nothing is worse than going to a tournament and having the same 5 or 6 guys in your class every single time with no variety. But yet the biggest gripe for me is how hard it is to keep a local team together training consistently. Either the distance is too great for people to practice every week, or there is just not enough interest or time in people's schedules to make a commitment to train at the same time every week. I'm already there Tim. I can't tell you how many times I've pulled my training partners after a 4 hour drive. |
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Post by Chris Davis on Sept 10, 2012 20:48:09 GMT -5
about the pulling teamates thing... ive pulled one of my teamates 4 times in 3 different tournaments. its kind of funny actually, last tournament we joked about it knowing it would happen. and what do ya know... about the burned out thing? no burn out for me mentally(physically, im pretty injury prone), but im also 26 and dont have any kids or a wife yet. priorities are different for everybody and some people just enjoy it more then others i think. im not saying you dont love the sport, not even close to saying that. i can see how the lack of tournaments and traveling to pull your buddies and having a hard time finding training partners can be a serious motivation killer though. just keep on pulling though, in my short time in the sport i think i can name just as many pro arm wrestlers that dont arm wrestle anymore as i can people who do arm wrestle professionally. thats purely from watching any old arm wrestling match i can find on youtube/armtv though. it sucks to see that... anyways, keep on pullin!
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Post by Aaron Blevins on Sept 10, 2012 21:17:24 GMT -5
… I want to stay competitive, but it is hard. I have too many kids..? Lol... me too. Last year and a half, armwrestling has taken a back seat to everything. Life happens and armwrestling will always be here. Priorities ... my first few years armwrestling was all I could think of. And as competitive as I am, I still want it. Burned out or not, it is what it is. |
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Post by Eddie Hines on Sept 11, 2012 0:41:50 GMT -5
I can understand some of the burned out, frustrations, and life in general and such. I have had alot of those myself over the years. Even in hosting tournaments of my own locally to get an interest in the sport here, I have much difficulty finding committed people to practice with regularly. I even offer to practice anywhere, anytime, to fit their schedule. Everyone loves to armwrestle or watch, but committing even to practice is hard let alone travel to a tourney. So I myself, needing the practice just as much as they do, do my best still on my own. I work with bands on my table, (you can simulate a table if you don't have one), try and get my practice with the few competitors at my tourneys, who are darn near twice my size. Little painful at times. I just do what I can, with who I can, when I can.
As far as travel, Yeah money's tight so I definately have to pick and choose. But that's just what I do. Lucky for me here in the Texas panhandle, I can make some tourneys as a day trip. Albuquerque, OKC, Dallas. Well Dallas I get there the night before. If I can't afford the motel room, I've slept in my car. But away travel is definately limited. You just go where you can, when you can.
As far as kids, I have always encouraged people to take the whole family. Many tourneys are offering kids and junior divisions. Even if not, especially for a day trip tourney, take them with you. Trust me, they will probably totally dig it. Especially if they can play too. As far as travel with the kids, I know that can be about money, especially if you have a lot of kids. But if you can swing it do it. Maybe you only go to one big travel event a year and make it a family vacation.
But no matter what your malady is, if you want to pull, you will. You might not pull as much or as often as you like, but you will pull. And if you're only pulling your training buddies, that's cool too. If you are all growing in your practice and training with each other, then the matches should still be good, solid pulls against each other. Plus someone gets a prize for a good 'practice' match. lol
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Post by Rob Vigeant Jr. on Sept 11, 2012 0:55:27 GMT -5
… I want to stay competitive, but it is hard. I have too many kids..? Lol... me too. Last year and a half, armwrestling has taken a back seat to everything. Life happens and armwrestling will always be here. Priorities ... my first few years armwrestling was all I could think of. And as competitive as I am, I still want it. Burned out or not, it is what it is. X2 here ... Kids suck.... For my armwrestling adventures that is ... Besides being a bar fighting, coke snorting, sleeper chasing, money flushing alcoholic criminal . Kids ... They just might make the top ten for my reasons why i stepped down. The reality is Peter pan... We all grow up.... Or we should. If we don't then shame on us.... If we do ... Then. It takes a few year to make up lost time. This board had a bigger influence on leaving for a few than any amount of rug rats could...truth be told |
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Josh McEllrath
Gold Member
National Champion
PNW Armwreckers
Posts: 508
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Post by Josh McEllrath on Sept 11, 2012 1:44:13 GMT -5
The more I read this board the more I realize that Rob's last sentence above is the truth. If it isn't how do we get into the Olympics it's some other Bs. I'm a member of a number of different boards for various things and I've learned a few things that ring true on any board you're on. 1) nobody can spell for crap. Not a huge deal but I pride myself for choosing the right words and not looking like a total ass grammatically. Partial ass I can live with... 2) get rid of the search feature, nobody ever uses it. 3) someone is always a tough guy, usually someone who couldn't really fight if they had to. 4) others are always on the board all day because it is the most important thing in their life. Odd to me, but to each his own. 5) people take their avatars way too seriously. 6) witty signatures set the tone for people's "personality" on the board. It really isn't who you are, but who you'd like to be. Nobody ever lives by Lombardi, Patton or political quotes. You have to be kidding me! 7). At some point somebody will drink a bunch and post dumb crap on the board...I'll admit I'm guilty of that one.
I need some time off.
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Post by Jody Williams on Sept 11, 2012 9:45:30 GMT -5
The more I read this board the more I realize that Rob's last sentence above is the truth. If it isn't how do we get into the Olympics it's some other Bs. I'm a member of a number of different boards for various things and I've learned a few things that ring true on any board you're on. 1) nobody can spell for crap. Not a huge deal but I pride myself for choosing the right words and not looking like a total ass grammatically. Partial ass I can live with... 2) get rid of the search feature, nobody ever uses it. 3) someone is always a tough guy, usually someone who couldn't really fight if they had to. 4) others are always on the board all day because it is the most important thing in their life. Odd to me, but to each his own. 5) people take their avatars way too seriously. 6) witty signatures set the tone for people's "personality" on the board. It really isn't who you are, but who you'd like to be. Nobody ever lives by Lombardi, Patton or political quotes. You have to be kidding me! 7). At some point somebody will drink a bunch and post dumb crap on the board...I'll admit I'm guilty of that one. I need some time off. LOL! |
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Post by TK on Sept 11, 2012 11:19:44 GMT -5
Anyone ever get burnt out in armwrestling? Not so much the physical aspect, but the mental side. I used to really look forward to upcoming tournaments but now it seems that we aren't having as many tournaments in the Pacific Northwest any more. I don't mind traveling, but justifying multiple trips out of state to the wife is getting me into some heat...especially for the ones she can't make. I want to stay competitive, but it is hard. I have too many kids, and it is tough finding someone to watch them when we do head out of state. Anybody ever run into this, what did you do? Somebody want to come watch my kids? Well first off, you'll never be anyone without traveling....lol at least this is what I've heard. But yes I'd rather spend $ on my kids rather than on ME. as for Burnout? ...heck yeah...everytime I threaten quitting, there is always a friend around to pick me up... and It makes me more passionate about bringing GREAT pullers to my State, and bringing new people into the sport....I haven't had the burnout feeling so much since I've started the NFA program, it's full of great people and fired up people..... but budgeting out $ for MY hobby over taking my kids somewhere? it's not even an option for me.....one day I'll be good enough at this sport to Travel. I used to be sooo fired up for practices, now with this injury thats carried over from a year ago has kinda beaten me down. enjoy your kids first! TK |
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Post by James Worke on Sept 11, 2012 12:17:20 GMT -5
My teammates keep me motivated when the well runs low on motivation. Ive gotten my 14yr old son pulling some, so that helps, also let the wife google the area around the tournament to find sites to see or something to do. Gets her excited about going more, thus i get in a few more tournies. I go the day before, site see and early weigh in, then sat tourn, if theres lots to do we may hang around sunday as well.
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