MITCH EDELSTEIN: 25 Consistent Years of Powerlifting -- Drug Free
Throughout the vast history of powerlifting, names of lifters come and go. Sometimes, with humble beginnings, they very gradually work their way to the top. Others seemingly burst upon the iron scene out of nowhere, reach the pinnacle of the power heap, wreak havoc, dominate – and just as quickly disappear.
Despite a deep passion for the sport, many lifters are taken away from the platform due to any number of causes – ranging from a demanding boss at work, to a brand-new young addition to the family, to a life-changing accident or injury. Or even simply burning-out or the temptation to spend time in the great outdoors instead.
How does one explain the enduring motivation and rare consistency of a Minnesotan powerlifter who has been squatting, benching and deadlifting for over 25 years?
45-year-old Mitch Edelstein, who has been drug free his entire life, was quoted in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Sports Section on June 20, 2007: “It’s a mind thing. It’s hard to get motivated every day.”
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Yet, somehow he manages to, especially on his training days. It’s proven handy for the 20 Minnesota state championships – 11 of which he has won – and the 21 national-level meets in which he’s competed along the way. His many years of persistence paid off when, at the age of 44, he achieved personal best – and Master state record – lifts in the 220 lb. class with a 430 bench, 670 deadlift and 1692 total. That same year, he went from a bombout at Master’s Nationals to a perfect meet performance at the 2006 Men’s Open Nationals in Miami – resulting in a 2nd place finish that defeated competitors in their 20’s and 30’s.
The moral of this story could very well be “slow and steady wins the race,” since all other lifters who had been at the starting line alongside him have dropped out of the contest.
Since the iron game is truly “a mind thing,” let’s delve into this multi-time champion’s mind and find out what is behind his many years of dedication to – and perseverance in – this sport. Pay attention, because he has never been one to speak much about himself, much less brag about his accomplishments -- numerous as they are. You might just learn something from the guy whom even the Energizer Bunny can't outlast. |
PetitePowerlifter.com caught up with Mitch at the Dunn Brothers coffee house in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. on March 15, 2008 to bring you this exclusive, never-before-seen powerlifting interview.
You’ve been powerlifting for over 25 years. How did it all begin?
I started at the original “The Gym” in Golden Valley, in 1981. Wayne and Terry Bloom and Barry Darsow started me and my brother out in powerlifting. They put me on my first training programs and pointed us to competitions. In high school, I always wanted to lift heavy but didn’t have time to do it. I saw them lifting all this heavy weight and it was so intense in there -- probably one of the most intense gyms around because they had Animal and Hawk in there, Doug Moore, Pete Moen, Jim Yungner and Scott Norton, and a bunch of pro-wrestlers just starting out. Wayne and Terry would tell us what to do, and we’d listen so they’d never be pissed off at us. Everyone was training for something, and it was scary to say anything to those guys. It motivated me to see what I could do. The North Star powerlifting competition was my first meet, in Duluth, Minnesota -- Oct. 1982. I weighed 160. I lifted 425-225-475=1025, no bench shirt. The next meet was the Red River Open in Fargo, North Dakota in Jan. ’83, and my total increased by over 100 lbs. and I weighed around 165.
What federations do you compete in?
USA Powerlifting (USAPL) and the World Association of Bench Pressers and Deadlifters (WABDL). I’ve also lifted in the American Powerlifting Federation (APF), National Association of Strength Athletes (NASA), and Minnesota Powerlifting Association (MPA).
If you could name five of your favorite powerlifting achievements so far, what would they be?
1. Deadlifting 700 for the first time in Fargo, 1996 – Star of the North
2. Getting that same deadlift in the Minnesota State meet in 1997
3. 2006 Men's Nationals in Miami – my best total in the 220’s at 44 years old, placing 2nd place in the Open
4. Squatting 640 in the 220’s in the 1992 State meet (before my current job started w/ NWA)
5. Being able to lift at Men’s Nationals 2000 just one month after a serious squatting accident in the gym. I severely strained both Achilles tendons after not having a proper spot while I trained. The bar was caught in my shirt and I was sitting on the floor. I barely squatted 315 the next week after that accident.
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What is your weekly training routine?
Saturdays - Heavy Bench
Mondays - Squats
Tuesdays - Light Bench
Thursdays - Deadlift
I got my training routine from Wayne and Terry Bloom; I’ve been using the same after 25 years, with modifications. How much can you change? - It’s the bar and the weights. I’ve kept it basic. I’ve changed some things, but you have to know your limits or when to stop. It’s consistency, too –- even though you don’t feel like training, it’s got to be done. I train even when I’m sick; I just back off a little, unless I have a fever. You can usually work through colds. I have been keeping a record of all my training days for the last 8-10 years.
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What type of gear do you use?
Single ply always. Inzer squat suit, Inzer Rage X bench shirt, Metal IPF deadlift suit, Inzer knee wraps. I’ve used a Titan Fury as well.
What's your advice for other lifters trying to get the most out of their gear?
Lift raw till about six or seven weeks out from the meet, and then put on the gear. I tend to train in the same gear that I compete in. I try to stay under 225 all the time so I don’t cut a lot of weight.
And how do you control the bodyweight that you want to maintain?
I try not to gorge myself, even when I’m still hungry during a meal. With my [active] job, I couldn’t gain weight even when I wanted to. I try to do cardio two or three times a week; taking long walks (45 minutes to one hour) and riding the recumbent bike and the stationary bike.
What's your advice or some tips for proper technique and successful lifting?
Focusing and staying tight. You’ve got to eat right too – make sure you eat enough protein and not so much junk food; from my experience, for example, eating frozen pizzas the day before a heavy lift doesn’t work. You should drink a lot of water (which I don’t always do). |
What supplements do you use?
It’s important to get enough vitamins. I use Champion Protein Powder, TwinLab Multi Mineral and Daily One caps (been taking those for 20 years), Glutamine and MSM from SciFit twice a day, Kre-Alkalyn and NOW Products B-12. I try to eat protein every meal, which doesn’t always happen, but I try. I get a protein drink after every workout, like Muscle Milk or a drink made from Champion protein powder.
You have been drug-free your entire life. Why is that, and how did you stay drug free?
My degree is in Sports and Exercise Science, and that taught me the ramifications of steroids. I knew that from way back when I was in college, and I just knew I wanted to gain all my strength naturally instead of depending on something damaging to the body. I got nothing against people who use; it’s their own personal preference. As for recreational drugs, I just never felt I wanted or needed to. I’ve never been one to be sucked into peer pressure, even when I was younger.
Who are some of the great people you've met in powerlifting over the years?
I’ve got an appreciation for anyone at any level who competes in powerlifting, because they know how much time and effort it takes. Probably one of the greatest and most likeable persons I’ve ever met that is at the top of his game is Brad Gillingham. I remember when he first started back in 1989. He went a long way in a short period of time, probably mainly because of his hard work and genetics – his brother Karl is a World strongman competitor and his other brother Wade was a strongman and powerlifter, and his dad Gale was a pro-football player. I’ve seen Tony Harris lift a number of times; he has unbelievable strength and is also a very nice person. They call Nick Tylutki a super-freak for good reason. Most of the people I meet at state or nationals are very cordial to me and helpful and encouraging.
How about the most unusual / craziest person?
Mike Sorenson. He’s been a friend of mine for like 20 years. It’s hard to describe him; you just don’t know where he’s coming from half the time. For example, at the WABDL Midwest meet in 2006, he was nowhere to be found. So after the 2nd attempts, he showed up. He did one warm up with 315; put two deadlift suits on, and on his 3rd attempt – which was actually his first attempt – me and Cheryl were literally laughing our a$$es off. He was able to reach the bar – but he had too many suits on. He was done. It’s really hard to be serious or keep a straight face when you’re dealing with Mike. Especially when he’s doing a Jerry Jones or Mike Freeman imitation.
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What has powerlifting has taught you?
It teaches you discipline. I think the reason you train is to get better and achieve certain goals, and sometimes it’s rough – you get sick, you get injuries, or something else happens. But if you’ve got a meet in mind, then you’ve got to set goals. When you’re training for a meet, you go into the gym for a purpose.
In 25 years, you have never taken time away from powerlifting and have stayed consistent with it - which is amazing. Why is that?
No, not more than a couple weeks, probably. Mainly because I have been drug-free. I still have goals I want to achieve. Even when I was young, I wanted to lift, and I couldn’t. There’s something burning inside me that makes me want to continue –- [but] not every day, and not enough that I’d want to get jacked [on drugs]. I’ve got a few goals that are within my reach, including some records. I’m just theorizing that if I took some time off, I don’t know how much time it would take to get back to the strength level that I have now.
I’d also have to go back to my mom and dad and my childhood -- you try to do your best at something, even when things don’t turn out the way you want. They taught me to do that, in school and sports, and in almost anything in life. They’ve been supportive of me in this sport, but sometimes they’ve been worried about how long I can keep lifting.
Mitch was the 220 lb. Open class Runner-Up at the 2006 USAPL Men's Nationals in Miami, Fla. Pictured above, left to right, are Minnesota powerlifters Sid Reid, Tony Reid, Mitch Edelstein and Cheryl Anderson.
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So far in your powerlifting career, what has been a memorable moment?
You want to know about a bad moment? Wayne Bloom wrapped my knees in 1983 or '84 and it was so tight…I mean, the guy deadlifted 800 lbs. back then. I missed my first two squats, so he said, “Come over here, let me wrap your knees…” and I couldn’t feel my legs by the time I got to the bar. I ended up bombing; first time I ever bombed out of a meet. Something I’ll never forget. I’ve always wrapped my own knees since. My brother bombed in the same meet.
What is your favorite personality characteristic about yourself?
That I’m easy-going, hard-working and consistent. I do things I’m supposed to do even when I don’t feel like it.
What are your biggest pet peeves?
Inconsistent judging. Me and Cheryl [Anderson] were at the Austria World’s where she competed [in 2007], and if I hadn’t seen what happened to Doc Holloway with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. [Referring to an IPF Jury decision, following complaints by two coaches from other countries, to overturn two whites already awarded to Holloway by the judges, denying him the successful lift and a Bronze medal for the USA.]
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Speaking of that, what were your other impressions from personally experiencing and taking part in the 2007 IPF World Championships?
Going to the IPF World’s [in 2007] was a new experience at another level. I’ve been to many nationals but this was my first IPF World competition that I’ve ever been to. The lifting was unbelievably impressive. You’d see people [lifters] in their street clothes, sitting in the crowd…and then they go up and lift a few days later and it was mind-boggling [expletive]-strong -- how much weight they were moving. Everyone I met was personable.
How does your job on the ramp at MSP airport affect your lifting?
I do physically-demanding work full-time, and three days a week, I go to my job right after I train. I usually have to work really fast and steady, sometimes for a long period of time. I think that hurts my squat, but it helps my DL because it keeps my back strong.
What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of powerlifting?
Watching all sports, keeping up with business news, all types of movies, listening to 80’s rock, my cat Sherman, taking walks and spending time with my girlfriend Cheryl and with my parents, Harvey and Lois Edelstein.
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Mitch coached USA Open Team Member Cheryl Anderson at the 2007 IPF World Championships in Soelden, Austria. They are pictured above with Men's Open Team members Tony Harris and Ervin Gainer.
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Who are some of the people supporting you in your powerlifting career?
I’d like to thank my main training partner, Cheryl “Miss Intensity” Anderson; my brother Barry, who started with me at THE GYM in Golden Valley, MN; my many training partners and helpers at The Press in Little Canada, MN: Rick Kolbeck, Peter Wong, Craig Moeckly, Angela Simons, Kevin Kartak, Brian Durham, Ryan Roth, Mike Siluk, Jo Rivet. And at THE GYM in Plymouth, MN: John Dorsher, Don Rigg, Terry Bloom, Dave Fleck, Bob Miller, Jon Angel, Mike Mitchell, Mike Hulse, Kenny Langenberger. I also want to thank Tom Hines and Craig Johnson of Nutrition Geeks for their sponsorship.
Thanks so much, Mitch, for taking the time to finally share your powerlifting story and accomplishments. Your journey in this sport is very inspiring and motivating; and it’s been an honor to speak with you.
