[Jeff Higgins]

You guys have heard me mention my lifelong friend and good buddy Pastor Dave. We call him that because, well, he is a pastor. His father married my wife and I, who I actually "stole" from Pastor Dave when he wasn't looking (the three of us are still best friends). Pastor Dave is the guy I used to hunt Alaska with, when he lived there. But I digress...

Pastor Dave and I have held a "birthday challenge" since we were young men. It was easy when we were young, but it got a lot harder as we aged. I last met the challenge at 53, Pastor Dave beat me and made it to 55.

The challenge was to total 1200 pounds in the three competitive lifts in powerlifting competition. Squat, deadlift, and bench. Pastor Dave buried me in the bench, we were equal in deadlifting, and I crushed him in the squat. Granted, not much of a total for guys of our size, but a worthy goal for a couple of guys lifting to stay in shape with no competitive aspirations. And no drugs.

I will, of course, never get there again. My number one goal, my guiding aspiration is... to just not hurt myself. I'm repping out at 15-20 reps in all movements, not trying to show off or be a hero. Whole different mindset than the "go heavy or go home" mantra of my youth.

And I'm having fun.