Congratulations to Mark Reinig on becoming 2007 NAS Lightweigh Master's National Champion!  We asked a few questions of Mark about his quest to be national champion.  Here is what he had to say:

 1)       What do you do for a living?

I work on fixing computer problems and putting in networks for companies.  My main area is around Omaha NE.  I have worked at this small company for over 12 years. I don’t look like a computer geek!

 

2)       Tell us about your family.

I have been married to my wife Jenny for 25 years. We have a daughter, Valyn age 15 and a son Logan, age 13. They are all very supportive of my strongman competing.

 

3)       You have had quite a season after a couple year layoff.  Why did you take time off, how long were you off, and what made you decide to come back?

I took three years off to help coach peewee football for my son.  My family comes 1st for me so I put my goals on the back burner. The last contest I did at that time was the 2003 Heartland Strongman Challenge.  I placed 2nd in the Lightweight open division. My goal at that time was just to do a contest well.

Football coaching was over and I thought is would be nice to enter in a contest that my friend DJ Satterfield was putting on. Then I decided to do a warm-up contest to that. So I entered into the MO. Strongest Man:The Gus Lohman Memorial IV.

 

1)       When did you start lifting weights?  What about strongman training and competing?

I started lifting on and off in high school but on a regular schedule after I got out of college.  Strongman training started about 2002 but never had much for event training at that time.

 

2)       What sports have you done besides strongman?  What were your accomplishments in those?

Played LB and DE in high school for Harlan, Iowa. I should have played in college but parties were more important to me at that time. We all go though that I guess.

 I have done many bench press contests. The best was when my weight was 215 and I benched 435 in a contest. Double my weight was one of my goals.  I also did some arm wrestling.  I got 2nd in the last contest I did.

 

3)       What are your accomplishments in strongman?

 2003 Heartland Challenge                      2nd LW Open Div.

 2007 MO Strongest Man: The Gus Memorial                 1st Masters Div.

 2007 Nebraska Strongest Man                                     1st Masters Div.

 2007 Master Nationals                                               1st Masters LW Div.

 

1)       What was your training like going into Nationals?  What did you think your chances were like?

I trained with weights on Mondays and Wednesday.  On Fridays I did event training.

Overall I felt like I was as strong as I had been all year. Everything was going ok with training except I had trouble with loading the 310lb stone. I am not the tallest person and that stone I had only loaded once back in May.  I thought if I could get a good size lead before the last event.  I would not have to worry about the stones.  I gave myself about a 20 % chance of loading the 310.

 

2)       Tell us about your day at nationals?

What can I say, it was one of the best times I had in my life! The fellow contestants were like friends that you had not seen for awhile. Great people to talk to and we all had respect for each other.  As for the competition it was very close all day. Four different people had 1st.  Scott was 1st in two events and placed 4th  overall.  It went down to the last event and I had a half point lead on the 2nd place person and he had a 1 point on the 3rd. Yes it was the stones, as I watch both Mike and Dean get just 4 stones, it meant I could win if I got 5 stones. After lifting the 310lb stone to the ledge and held it there for a very long time I found the energy to push it over the top and became a National Champion.

 

3)       What was it like to have the 1st place award given to you by last years national champion, and you’re training partner DJ Satterfiled?  This was also satisfying because I had never thought I had a chance at nationals but DJ kept pushing me to go.  DJ had got me into the sport so I’m sure he took great pride in my winning it. I know I was glad he was there to see me win.  

       

1)       To what or whom do you owe your success?

Lots of people helped on the way.  DJ, Jesse, Mac, Zack, Mike, Cory, Jason, Glenn make up some of the best training partners you could have.  I also think 25 years of weight training was helpful!

        

2)       Is there anything else you would like to say to the folks of KCSTRONGMAN?

I do believe that there is some luck involved to becoming a Champion. Luck is when an opportunity presents itself and you have the preparation to take advantage of it.

Thanks for all your support on my Quest to be the 2007 Masters LW National Champion.

 

Thank you Mark, and once again on behalf of KCSTRONGMAN, CONGRATS!!!