Chastity Durham

1. Please introduce yourself. Who are you? How old are you? Where are you from? What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)? Please give the readers an idea of what it’s like to be you. My name is Chastity Durham, I am 35 years old, and my hobbies include working out, working, and spending time with my family.

2. Where are you located in Georgia and where do you train at? I live in Rocky Face, Georgia. I train at the RUSH located in Dalton, Georgia.

3. What is something that most people don’t know about you? I have two kids, a daughter, and a son. My son is 16 soon to be 17, and my daughter is 15. I got married at 17, and despite the odds, we will be celebrating our 18^th anniversary this July. I can leg pressed 965 pounds. I am shooting to press over 1000 in the near future.

4. What is your occupation? I work at Shaw Ind. in Dalton, GA. I am a Freight Clerk in Transportation Services. I basically handle Truckloads that are sent out by Shaw and any other freight issues.

5. Do you find that your occupation interferes with competing or visa versa? It doesn’t interfere, but I do have to use a few vacation days to compete.

6. How many years have you been competing? November will be one-year.

7. How did you get into powerlifting? My husband and I have been kicking around the idea of me competing for years. We were going to watch a local bench press for cash competition, and after talking to Josh Rohr, I decided to give it a try for experience and just fell in love with it.

8. What are your biggest squat, bench press, deadlift and total numbers? Unofficially I’ve benched 185, squatted 275, and dead lifted 245 for a total of 705. Officially, I have benched 181.9, squatted 264.6, and dead lifted 226 for a total of 672.4. All these lifts were Raw Lifts.

9. What titles, records and achievements did you accumulate in your powerlifting career? The Bench Press Competition – 1^st place in my weight class 2^nd place over all. The Georgia State Champion Ships – 2^nd place in my weight class. I have the state records in 198+ wt class.

10. Can you describe your training philosophy and/or a typical training session? I like to lift as heavy as possible. I usually do 8 sets of 3 as heavy as I can go on all three lifts. I train each muscle group at least once during the week. I will on occasion throw in an extra speed training session on the bench.

11. Do you compete equipped (squat suit, bench press shirt & deadlift suit) or unequipped (no suits) or both? I have only competed unequipped.

12. What weight class(s) and divisions(s) do you compete in? 198+

13. What is your favorite lift, squat or bench press or deadlift or all three? Bench Press

14. Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against? Lissa Braverman

15. Who do you think is the greatest lifter of all time? Kara Bohigian.

16. When was your last competition & how did it go? GA State Championships. I was extremely nervous, but everyone made me feel so welcome, and they were so helpful. I got 2^nd in my weight class.

17. Do you have any upcoming competitions? If so, when and where? AL State BP & PL Championships – Gulf Shores, AL – Feb. 25^th

18. How do you prepare for an upcoming competition? The week before the competition, we go to the gym and see what my 3 lifts need to be. Then I try to take the week off to rest.

19. Describe your nutritional intake for an upcoming competition? High Protein intake and watch my carbs.

20. Is there anything you will do differently to you prepare for your next competition that is different from your last one? I am going to try to cut weight before the next GA State Championships.

21. How many meets do you compete in each year? So far, I’ve only had 2 meets. This year I am aiming for 3.

22. Who is your greatest competitor/rival? I have not competed enough to have one yet.

23. What is your greatest memory from competing? I would have to say locking out the 181 lbs bench at GA State.

24. What advice & tips would you give to a powerlifter that is just beginning? If you are just beginning, what advice have you received from other lifters or coaches? Just do it. Everyone in USAPL is so nice, if you don’t have a clue like I did, they will walk you through the competitions.

25. How has powerlifting changed your life? I’ve met some of the best people competing.

26. Do you stay in touch with lifters you compete against? Yes, thru Facebook.

27. Why did you decide to compete? My husband and I had talked about it for years, but when a competition came to Dalton, I thought why not.

28. What is your #1 or most prestigious meet you ever competed at in your career? The GA State Bench Press & Powerlifting Championships

29. Do you compete in any other strength sports such as Olympic lifting, strongman, highland games, etc? No

30. What is your favorite memory from any powerlifting competition or event?

31. Anyone you would like thank for helping you along the way in your Powerlifting career? Definitely my husband, David. He has been there pushing me and showing me so much support. Even when I don’t think I can go on, he pushes me just a little further. I would also like to thank David and Taylor for going with me to the gym during the week, even though they didn’t want to. Also a big thanks to Lissa and Josh for being so nice and helping walk me through the competitions.

32. Anything else you would like to add? I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me in USAPL.

Thank you for your time and best of luck in your upcoming powerlifting endeavors!

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