Giving new meaning to girl power
Giving new meaning to girl power
Tori Grey spent the past weekend in Las Vegas - but not to gamble, see the shows or attend a convention.
She was getting far outside her comfort zone in a most powerful way. Five years ago Tori, a self-described benchwarmer in sports, discovered CrossFit in Coeur d'Alene. She also discovered barbells and hasn't looked back. She found that lifting weights increased her strength and inspired her to compete in some local powerlifting meets.
Lo and behold, this summer Tori qualified to compete in the International Powerlifting League World Championships in Las Vegas.
At 53, Tori competed in the 50-54 master female 132-148-pound weight class. She committed 10 weeks of two-hour, four times per week training to prepare. The hard work paid off.
In competition there are three lifts, each competitor having three attempts at each lift. Tori said she had "good-better-best" goals for her three attempts. She hit two "betters" and one "best." She back-squatted 226 pounds, bench-pressed 127 pounds and dead-lifted 303 pounds. Her dead lift set an American and World record for her age and weight class in the IPL.
By day for quite a few years, Tori has worked in the world of accounting at Magnuson McHugh and still seems a bit amazed that in her 50s she found the spark of her inner athlete. She's taking pride in discovering she's brave enough to walk onto the competition stage in front of the crowds. An incredible accomplishment all the way around, but as Tori noted, it's not just the lifting, but doing it while wearing a singlet. :)
I like how Tori rolls. You go girl!
The transformation of the former Hot Rod Cafe is moving right along. On Saturday the iconic car which has been seen by many thousands passing on I-90 since 1998 was lifted by crane off the restaurant's rooftop. With word on the street that the Longhorn Barbecue family is the new owner, maybe there will be a giant spinning steer on the roof - which would be full-circle to the old days in Post Falls when Hilde Kellogg's BBQ Ranch Western Wear store was known far and wide for its giant cowboy and farm animals on the roof.
I rarely order anything online, preferring to do business locally, but earlier this month I made a purchase on Amazon, requesting standard delivery. I was surprised to see a USPS truck in the driveway on a Sunday morning. Friends tell me Amazon and the post office have a special arrangement to deliver packages on Sundays. Who knew?
Saturday highlights:
* The Post Falls Senior Center Fashion Event, at the center, opens at 3 p.m. and the show starts at 4 p.m. Includes a silent auction to benefit the Meals on Wheels program.
* The 24th annual CHS Holiday Gift and Food Faire at Coeur d'Alene High School runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's a great place to pick up Christmas gifts made by crafty people.
* A dinner and auction to benefit the Post Falls High senior drug-free graduation party will be Saturday from 6-9 p.m. at the school. Only $5 per person includes an enchilada dinner and beverage.
Happy birthday today to Faith Mitchell, Marshall Mend, Dana Ryan, Greg Gervais, Robert Lantz, Antigone Twidt, Brenda Murphy and Amanda Behringer.
Tomorrow, Cheyenne Tate, Desiree Janke, Timarie Lindquist, Tonya Yost, Margaret Ogram, Matt Backs and Jeannette Laster are putting on their party hats. Jane Hansen, Jill Satterly, Tim Curry and Robert Chatters have birthdays on Friday.
Blowing out the candles on their cakes on Saturday are Cheryl Siroshton, Mark Fisher, Teresa Peugh, Jan Pollard, Joan Antonich, Charlie Miller, Christina Ethridge and Mary Scalise.
On Sunday, Peter Smith, Colleen Allison, Jim Morris, Sue Spinazza-Halliday, Chris Fillios, Cathleen Lenon, Karen Pichotta, Kilie Ellison, Dan Ripley and Stan Purcell will celebrate.
Monday, Nov. 17, birthdays belong to Susan Weathers, Al Hassell, Hazel Dennis, Sally Richards, Kareen Link, Maddie Kate Hansen, Neil Oliver and Laura Simon. Making another trip around the sun on Nov. 18 are Gina Mote, Michelle Rielly and Bob Johnson.
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.