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 www.Awinningway.ws.
Alicia's blog can be found at www.aliciaweber.com.
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