Dale Mclaren

My name is Dale McLaren, I am 39 years old, I was born in Detroit, MI. I am a high schoolspecial education teacher, but am also certified physical education and health. I have been in education for 16 years and cannot see myself doing anything else. I have many hobbies, however, my main two are powerlifting and hiking. If I had to give up either one, I have no idea which I would choose. I travel the state and country to hike and to compete at national level meets. Staying active and finding ways to enjoy every minute I get out of this life are the two things that fuel me to do better and help me wake up happy every single day.

Do you compete equipped (squat suit, bench press shirt & deadlift suit) or unequipped (no suits) or both and what weight class(s) and divisions(s) do you compete in?

I started competing as a raw lifter when I was 17 and continued for 17 years until Mark

Freeman, Josh Rohr, and Ron Fuller convinced me to put gear on. Currently I compete in the 205/93 kilo division, but have run the gamut from 181-242 over the years. Currently I am in the open division, but about to enter the masters. Pretty excited!

What was your last competition and how did you do?

The last time I competed was in May at Men’s Nationals in San Antonio, Texas and placed

3rd.

When was your first competition?

My first meet was in 1993 and I was 17. It was a bench/deadlift meet and I won the 181 teen class with a 265 bench and state record deadlift of 470.

How did you improve from your first competition to your most recent?

Since I am competing raw again in 2.5 weeks, I can actually answer pretty close. In 22 years I have added about 250 lbs to my squat, 130 pounds to my bench, and 200 pounds on my deadlift. Now that I’ve thought about it, that doesn’t sound like much. I have some work to do!!

What is your next competition?

Raw Nationals in 2.5 weeks

What do you plan on doing differently for that meet if anything?

This is my first raw meet since 2012 Raw Nationals. I placed 7th or 8th, not really sure. I

was very disappointed with myself and how I prepared for the meet. The focus on 2015 raw nats was sudden and began in July, but has been intense ever since. Honestly, I feel James Townsend has trained me to a level I always knew I had in me, but was not reaching. The focus for this meet is intense and the goal is to PR everything, set a record, and win. That will be something different for me at the national level for sure.

Where are you located in Georgia and where do you train at?

I’ve moved around a bit, but currently I reside in Norcross, GA and train at Goldin Athletic

Training Association or GATA in Johns Creek. This facility is setup to train at the highest level possible and the trainers train their clients to exceed all limits.

What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?

Hiking/camping is my other love. Hiking all 50 states is a goal and I’m currently at 39. My current plan for powerlifting has gotten in the way of hitting some of the national parks on the West Coast that I had planned, but Georgia and it’s neighbors have plenty to keep me occupied till I’m finished.

Who is your role model and why?

The cliche’ answer is my mom and dad, but without a doubt, they are. They have always

put us first. Whatever our dreams were, they made us work for them, but also made it possible to go after them. On top of their full time jobs, they picked up odd jobs, night shifts, and sacrificed constantly for us. I knew then how how much they worked and was grateful, but as an adult, I am in awe of my parents. Through this, I put my whole self into whatever I do as they are the ones that made it possible and taught me what hard work is. I want to make them proud and work as hard as they taught me to.

What is something that most people don’t know about you?

I am pretty much an open book. I do not hide much from anyone, so if you ask I will tell you and sometimes even if you don't ask, I will tell you anyway. Lot’s of things are coming to mind, but due to some moral turpitude clause I signed in my contract, I will keep those cats in the bag. Speaking of cats, at last count over the years I have had around 14 cats, 5 dogs, 3 birds, 2 guinea pigs, 2 rabbits and lots of salt and freshwater fish. Not all at the same time of course.

Is there anything about powerlifting you would like to change or wish was

different?

Having watched the many changes and arguments over the years, I really think the

abundance of federations is a problem. Yes everyone wants to have it their way and lift how they want to, but kids want to have it their way too. When kids don’t like a rule they whine about it then eventually figure out it was for the best. The multitude of feds creating their own rules and records and “national champions or world champions” is silly. How many national champs are there at any weight class at a given time? At most I can see how 2 feds would work; a tested fed and an untested fed. If you want the drugs, use them freely in the untested fed and I see no problem with that. If you are clean, stay in the tested fed, but if honesty prevailed, we would not need to test now would we?

What is your occupation? Does it interfere with competing or visa versa?