Two friends compete in bench press contest | SeacoastOnline.com
@seacoastonline.com
NORTH HAMPTON — It was advertised as an Epic Battle for Office Domination.
The two men, co-workers at a Hampton company, started pumping iron five days week. They upped their protein consumption, logged hours hoisting metal discs at the gym, and taunted each other on social networking Web site Facebook.com with clips from the movie, "Rocky."
Then last Friday evening at Vision Fitness Gym in North Hampton, Jeff Pattow of North Hampton and Ted Slayton of Dover met in a classic test of masculine strength — a bench press contest. As they took turns raising a barbell packed with heavier and heavier weights, they were also raising money for charity.
About 50 family, friends and co-workers turned out to watch the contest, and pledged a flat rate or an amount per pound lifted. Donations just over $2,000 will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which aims to bring hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Pattow and Slayton work together as private security guards for local commercial property investors, most recently at 1 Liberty Lane in Hampton. They are ages 42 and 44, respectively. A few months ago, they were talking together about how they wanted to get in better physical condition.
"We were saying, 'We've got to do something; summer's coming,'" said Pattow.
They started brainstorming ideas to get motivated and decided on a bench press contest. Word got out around the office, and soon people were signing up to come cheer them on and sponsor them for charity.
Craig Annis, owner of Vision Fitness where Pattow works out, offered to bring equipment to their office, which was Thermo-Fisher at the time. But the guys decided to take the contest to the gym.
Marianne Cyr, owner of Creative Touch Designs in Salisbury, Mass., donated a couple dozen T-shirts, which were sold at the event. The Cupcake Connection donated food for the party at Pattow's house afterwards. Brothers Colin and Robert Kelly, 19 and 16 respectively, of Hampton, who had their own shoeshine business at Thermo, worked at the pledge table.
After a quick warm-up with Pattow's friend, Jarrod Patten, as spotter, a first-aid kit nearby, and music like AC/DC, Van Halen and the Dropkick Murphys cranked up on some speakers, the contest began.
The men started at 245 pounds, striving for one perfect rep and no bounce in the touch-and-go event. After each successful lift, the small crowd cheered enthusiastically.
At 315 pounds, the strain was showing. Both men took longer to prepare, walking around, changing the music, taking deep breaths.
Stalin Cortorreal, who had been working out in the gym, stopped to watch the contest.
"This is hard. That's really heavy," said the muscular 29-year-old. "I got 275 today and that's my highest."
Pattow was inches away but failed on a couple of attempts at 315. Slayton found reserves of strength and made it all the way to 340 pounds. Pattow congratulated him and declared him the official bench press champion.
"I'm feelin' good," said Slayton.
"It's a success because we worked together, got strong and did something good," said Pattow.
"We chose Make-A-Wish because we're both big fans of Disney and they send lots of kids there," said Pattow. "We go there with our families a lot."
Pattow's wife, Patty, and 20-month-old son, Zach, were there in support. Slayton's cheering section included his wife, Lisa, and sons, Willie and Patrick.
"It's fun how they turned this into such a positive thing," said Lisa Slayton.
Any training advice from the bench press champ?
Heavy weights, low reps," said Ted Slayton. "And don't miss time in the gym."
Shared via AddThis
0 comments:
Post a Comment