Alicia Weber on Working Toward World Records
by Alicia Weber
I
grew up in a family of healthcare professionals in Pittsburgh, PA,
where discipline and health were important. I have always been a
serious athlete in training. I was lifting by age four with my father's
help. I began running half-mile timings at a half-mile cinder track at
6 years of age with my first clocking at 3 minutes 30 seconds. My
father got me a punching bag and pull up bar and I trained daily. I was
referred to as "Ace" and everyone in the neighborhood would play 'Chase
Ace' games and try to see how long it would take to catch me.
Early on,
other kids wanted to get around me to be challenged. Boys sought me out
for football, basketball, and boxing matches. I played a game called
'Exercise Elimination' with girls that involved gymnastics. When I was
13 years old weight training in Washington D.C. at 95 lbs, I benched
pressed 220 lbs on a Universal Machine in December of 1993. Also at age
13, I set All-Time Physical Fitness test records in 1993-1994, which
were off the charts for a female in the Presidential Physical Fitness
Test and I competed with the boys. I did 27 consecutive pull-ups (chin
goes over the bar with a pronated-grip and then arms fully extend
before going back up). I ran 600 yards in a record time of 1 minute and
35 seconds. I completed a chin-over-bar, bar hang isometric hold for 1
minute and 58.84 seconds.
I also received the highest points ever for a
physical fitness test. This was a major turning point for me in
preparation for international competitions. I entered my first
international competition in 1994 at the Pittsburgh 10K Great Race that
had 6,000 runners. I finished first in my age group. I competed in that
same competition in 1997 and was the 19th woman to cross the line and
the 10th American. I did my 10k in 36:41 and earned a full Cross
Country and Track and Field scholarship to Duquesne University by the
result from that race alone.
I was always known for my high energy and always doing the impossible.
I was nicknamed "The Machine." I was inspired by the Great Finnish
Olympic Runner, Paavo Nurmi, known for his rigorous training and back
to back Olympic Track victories with less than an hour for race
recovery between races. I would have a full day of track events and win
most, if not all of them. I would start with the 3k, followed by the
1500m, then 400m, and finally end the day with the 800m, and go to
Nationals. In 1996, I became a National Champion in the 3K at the
Junior Olympic National Championships in Houston, Texas, and I took the
silver medal in the 1996 National Junior Olympic Cross Country
Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1997, I was the only high
school runner to qualify, compete, and medal in the Junior National 10k
track event, where I earned my first All-American. I was also the only
female athlete to do a 'distance double' where I took 10th in the 5,000
meters and less than 12 hours later took 5th in the 10,000m. I ran in
106 degrees F in 1998 where I became 3rd in the Nation for 10,000
meters and was the only high school athlete to become an All-American
in that event again at Junior Nationals in Edwardsville, Illinois. I
received scholarships all over the US and coaches marveled over my
ability to do gymnastics and strength events with high level strength
as well as be a highly competitive runner in sprints and distance
events (but primarily distance running).
By 1998, my senior year in
high school, I was the only US track/cross country athlete to qualify
and compete in sprints and distance events (e.g. 400m, 800m, 1500m,
3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, and cross country) on the national level. I
earned 7 National Championship medals between 1996 - 1998 for running.
I self-coached myself to these victories! I was also setting records
and winning as a world-class triathlete. I represented the US in
Perth, Australia, for the 2000 ITU World Triathlon Championships at age
twenty.
I spent 1 1/2 years at Duquense University and then transferred to the
University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. I ran for JJ Clark at
the University of Florida and received my B.S. degree there in 2002 in
Telecommunication and Film Studies. I was recognized for my
well-written screenplay that incorporated Paavo Nurmi and I became a
published author/illustrator. I received many recognitions on the track
as well. I was letterwinner in track and cross country, recipient of
the Coaches Award, named to the top-10 list for 6k cross country, and
won the 5k indoor track SEC Quad race, among other achievements. I was
also the team entertainer and motivational speaker. JJ Clark has been
the US Olympic women's track team coach for the 2000, 2004, and 2008
Olympics. His wife is 5-time Olympian Jearl Miles-Clark and both his
sisters (Joetta Clark-Diggs and Hazel Clark-Riley) are multiple
Olympians in the 800 meter track event. I will always treasure my time
training with the Clarks and running under JJ's tutelage. JJ Clark was
very aware of my strength and my desire to set strength records
someday. He and others would watch me do 50 consecutive chin-ups and 30
consecutive pull-ups in the UF Athletes Gym.
After my experience at UF, I entered the working world and I
still continued my athletic pursuits. In May of 2004, I met the
criteria to become a professional triathlete. I trained and competed on
the ITU triathlon circuit and US non-draft circuit for 3 years. As much
as I enjoy triathlon, I like to take advantage of every opportunity
there is to do the grueling fitness competitions that combine strength,
speed, and endurance. I would probably say that fitness competitions
are my favorite competitions and there are few of them. I won the 2001
Ultimate Athlete of Florida competition when I won 7 of 10 events
including 100 yd. open water swim, suicide run, 1 1/2 mile run,
archery, obstacle course, shot put, and rock climbing. The competition
included former gladiators, bodybuilders, and military participants. I
went on to compete in the Nova 2004 North American Fitness
Championship. With a competitive field of 30 women and 1 man, I won
overall most fitness points and became the North American Fitness
Champion! I set the National Record for most fitness points for the
competition which consisted of 7 one-minute exercises completed within
13 minutes. I also set 4 Individual event National Records in pushups,
sit ups, and two types of jump roping all just under 200rpm. I tied the
dip record of 23 reps in a minute.
This was yet another major turning
point in my athletic career. I felt I needed to start focusing on world
records; however, I was juggling those aspirations with my triathlon
career that was also taking off.
It wasn't until January of 2007, when I decided to get serious
about a plan and take action to set strength records. Mainly advice
from another All-American Triathlete and P.E. Coach, Nicole McCarthy,
led me to have strength world record setting as a major goal for me in
2007 and 2008. I finished out some last competitions in '07 and became
the Sunshine State Games winner of the 500m recreational kayak
flatwater sprint in a 6o+ lbs. fishing kayak and I took 2nd overall in
the 200m flatwater sprint race. As of late 2008, I have competed in
approximately 166 competitions with at least 58 victories and 140
top-10 finishes.
In preparation for world records, I train at the National
Training Center in Clermont, Florida. Exercise Specialist, Hemant
Hariprashad would watch me a lot and follow up with me on my training
and competition results. I really focused on muscular endurance like I
never did before. By the summer of 2007, 65 consecutive dips were my
failure point. Fall of 2007, I would get to 70 dips on occasion. It
wasn't till December 19, 2007, that I got to as many as 80 consecutive
dips before failure and tried a world record attempt. After the review
of my first world record, the conclusion was that only 74 reps were
done correctly. I kept working.
In the meantime, I was also working on muscular endurance in
timed pull up and chin up events. World Record training and testing is
very strict. There is no momentum and swinging allowed to help with the
exercise. I also have to be aware of full-extension of the arms in each
rep (where the elbows lock out) and the return of the rep would be a 90
degree angle for a dip exercise or a chin visibly seen over the chin up
bar for a chin up and pull up. If reps are too fast, they aren't
counted. It takes me 4 minutes usually to do sub 80 consecutive dips.
In fact, doing the consecutive dips past 70 reps is very taxing on my
triceps. I need to taper and literally not do any dips for at least 1-2
weeks to be fresh and get above 70 reps correctly in a test session. On
February 21, 2008, I completed 75 consecutive reps of correct dips in
Clermont, Florida. I had World-Class Coach, Carl Rose, review my
exercise style. He coaches national and international athletes.
I continued into pull up and chin up timed training. In fact, I
spent July - September of 2008 getting critiques from a variety of
fitness professionals and working strictly on the 1-minute and 3-minute
timed events. Adam Gardner is a fitness/nutrition professional and
sport photographer. He reviewed my pull up and chin up form. My World
Record results in pull ups and chin ups are what I do on pretty much
any given day. I do not need to taper for these events like I do in the
dip exercise events. I am wild about exercise, setting goals, and
getting results and this mind-set carries over into my career. Just
like kids would seek me out for a challenge when I was just starting
out, now people tell me they want to get around me because they know
they will lose weight - I am a fitness trainer and more!
Outside of my quests for athleticism, I worked toward a bachelors
degree in Biology and I am currently in a Doctorate program. I have
been a Fitness/Nutrition/Solutions Consultant for 10 + years with many
certifications. I attribute my world record success not only to my
physical training, but to my good nutrition. I have been selected as
the Premiere Fitness Professional in Central Florida and I answer
Fitness Questions on www.Clermontrocks.com I work with over a thousand
clients of all ages, lifestyles, and ability levels in Aquatic Therapy,
Fitness Training, Nutrition, and Business Consultation in Central
Florida. I also work worldwide with my online Fitness and Business
Services and teach 'A Winningway to Health, Wealth, and Wellness!' My
business web site is http://www.Awinningway.ws.
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