Back when I was in college, an extremely successful person once told me, “All the big-time people in the world have killer daily schedules. They’re constantly busy as hell.” I remembered that saying, committed it to memory, and I still live by it.
 
Catalyst Athletics weightlifter Laura Alexander is an example of that sentiment. Laura is the Head Athletic Trainer for the San Jose State football program. For those of you who don’t know, that’s an insanely busy way to live. I worked as a strength and conditioning coach for a D1 college football program back in the 90s, and I was also a national-level weightlifter at the same time. The daily energy level and time management skills required for that kind of life are beyond what many people could sustain, which is why I always give a smile of respect to people like Laura who are not only surviving that life, but crushing it.
 
After less than a year of full-time Olympic lifting, Laura has already hit a 94 kg snatch and 118 kg clean and jerk in the 76 kg class at the 2019 AO Series 2 competition. Needless to say, we’re talking about serious potential with this one. Coached by Greg Everett, she’s working tirelessly towards the big goals that are obviously part of the future for her. Catalyst Athletics is pleased to give you a look at her life.
 
Tell us about your background. Where are you from, where do you currently live, what’s your occupation, family life, what kind of sports background do you have outside of lifting, etc.
 
I currently live in the Bay Area with my fiancé, but I grew up in Seattle, WA until I moved to southern California for college at Chapman University, where I studied Athletic Training and played on the softball team. After graduating, I had a passion for working for a Division I football program, so I ended up at San Jose State University where I pursued my Master’s Degree in Kinesiology/Athletic Training. I was a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer working for the football team for two years, after which I got hired as Assistant Football Athletic Trainer. I was an assistant for four years, and then I was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer. This is my third year as the Head AT for football and I love it! And for those people who don’t know what we do as Athletic Trainers, we manage all the medical care of the student athletes for our sport. Anything from an ingrown toenail to the flu to the ACL rehab that gets them back on the field; every day is different, the work is hard, but I love how it keeps me on my toes and truly enjoy helping people.
 
I was an athletic kid growing up, played all kinds of sports but specialized in golf and softball when I was in high school, then softball in college.
 
Describe your weightlifting history. When/how did you start? Who have your coaches been? What are your proudest accomplishments?
 
After college and grad school, I found CrossFit, which I competed in for about four years and really grew to love every aspect of fitness (except running), especially the part that meant I could lift weights. After the 2018 season of CrossFit, I took a step back from competing, wanting to focus on work. Truly, the hours I needed for training weren’t feasible (or healthy) with a very busy work schedule during football season. Once fall of 2018 hit, I was ready to train again and wanted to pursue Olympic weightlifting to see where it could take me. It was an aspect of CrossFit I loved but had never really DOVE into. I trained under a very good friend of mine, Paige Sousa, who programmed and coached me in Olympic weightlifting and that pretty much hooked me! I started working with Greg/Catalyst Athletics in December that year, and I’ve really been head-down-eyes-forward since then. I’m relatively new in the sport, but competing on two national stages and improving my performance in so many ways from the first to the second probably tops it. I’ve grown so much as a lifter physically and mentally from those experiences. I’m just excited to keep growing. Sometimes, I’m simply proud that there are days where I make time to train under not optimal circumstances, like after a 10-hour workday or on little to no sleep, and sometimes those are my best training sessions. To me, that’s an accomplishment and makes you win the day!
 
Please give a basic description of your training method. Just tell us as much as you can about your program, weekly/yearly planning, etc.
 
My program varies quite a bit based on what our goal is for the cycle. Initially, we were doing a lot of on-the-minute work building up to heavy singles, but lately we’ve been doing a lot more technique work with complexes, which has been SO challenging but fun. Those complexes really tend to expose weaknesses, but they also really allow you to feel your improvement each week with the different aspects of the lift. We also do a lot of front squat cycles. Because they are good for your health (and your cleans).
 
Describe some of the obstacles you face, or maybe some things that frustrate you in your weightlifting life. What kinds of changes would you like to see, either personally or with the sport in general?
 
Right now, work is probably my biggest obstacle. But it also makes me appreciate the times I get to train. My training time is my “ME TIME” I tell my athletes and anyone who asks why I do it, that it’s the thing I do for myself every day. I fantasize about making it a career, being able to train more, recover more, sleep more, and how much better I could be if I did those things, but when it comes down to it, it really is a fantasy. I cherish the time I get to spend training. If it became my whole life, I wonder if I would still feel like that. So, maybe the obstacle that I call work and the need to make money, and support myself and our future is really just a blessing in disguise, something that makes me appreciate this time I get to dedicate to bettering myself each day.
 
What are your plans and goals for your weightlifting career? How do you see your future in the sport?
 
We want to take it international! Being so new to the sport competitively, I rely on Greg’s assessment of me and my potential a lot. I am naïve when it comes to rankings/numbers etc. so I pretty much let him focus on the specifics of what we need to do and just follow his lead. He keeps me in the loop, basically just tells me the kind of numbers we need and are looking for eventually, but really I try to focus more on the things I can control, the daily goals and achieving what I need out of each training session. But yes, deep down inside I’m picturing myself on international stages!
 
Who are some of your major influences, people you look up to, etc.? Who are the people you want to thank for your success?
 
We have some AMAZING women in USA Weightlifting, and they are obviously hugely inspiring to watch, but I honestly feel most inspired by the women on my Catalyst Athletics team. Each of us comes from a different background, and we’ve all taken such different paths to get us to this point, but getting the chance to meet them, train with them, spend time with them and know their story…it’s been like having family in every different part of the country (and Canada), yet we come together once or twice a year to all train with our coaches and spend time together. It gives me a cause each day. I love that we get to represent each other by way of this sport that we’re all so passionate about.
 
I definitely have people to thank and at the risk of sounding like a blabbermouth on stage at the Grammys, I’ll do that now. My fiancé is endlessly supportive in all ways, whether it’s helping at home, helping me through hard training sessions, watching endless videos of lifts…he’s the absolute best. And two of my best friends, one of whom guides my heart and mind on a daily basis, all while coaching me through the ebb and flow of nutrition, and the other who was my first ever weightlifting coach, got me into and through my very first meet, got me hooked on the sport, and continues to support me in all that I do. AND…cue the music...obviously my coach Greg, who has invested so much in me in such a short amount of time, and we’re only getting started. There is no better feeling than knowing that the person guiding you is just as passionate about achieving your goals as you are. I am reminded daily about how lucky I am to be a part of this Catalyst family.
 
The family is happy to have you, Laura. Keep up the good work with the eyes-down-head-forward mentality, and we’ll have fun watching you lift even bigger weights in your upcoming meets!