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Power Profiles
by Maura Shuttleworth
LANCE KARABEL: POWER WITH A SMILE
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Age: 34
Weight Class: Super Heavyweight
Best Lifts: SQ - 905, BP - 655, DL - 765
When Lance Karabel and his crew roll into a meet, they're hard to miss. Lance stands about 5'10 and weighs in at around 330 pounds. He's usually trailed by a pack of about nine powerlifters out of Chicago. You might have a picture in your mind of a bunch of tough, mean-looking powerlifters showing up and scaring all the spectators away. But these guys let their lifting speak for itself. Off the platform, they're just a bunch of guys having a good time. As they're hanging out at the meet, Lance is constantly flashing his mega-watt smile. And his crew is always laughing, playing practical jokes, telling funny stories, and in general making sure everyone has a good time. But once the lifting starts, Lance turns into a bulldog. I caught up with Lance and his crew at the Hudson Natural Open in Hudson, Wisconsin back in October. There, Lance squatted a BIG 905 pounds! I was lucky enough to be in the front row for this lift. Lance made it look easy! He also benched 630 pounds, deadlifted 765, and totaled 2300! Lance has a long list of powerlifting accomplishments including winning the Men's Super Heavyweight class at the 2004 USAPL Bench Press Nationals with a bench of 655 pounds, placing third at the USAPL Men's Nationals in the SHW class in 2005, and placing sixth at the 2004 IPF Bench Press Worlds.
Lance is super strong, but he's a lot more than just a big, strong guy. In addition to being a national-caliber lifter, Lance owns Lance's Gym in Chicago, works a full-time "real" job, and contributes to his community by working with under-privileged kids. Lance also has two sons, Justin and Aidan, who are his pride and joy. One more thing - Lance finds time to do a little sketching on the side. A powerlifter with artistic tendencies - wow!
Lance and your author sporting House of Pain gear at the Hudson Natural Open
Lance is also one of the most loyal friends you will find and an all-around good guy. I first met Lance at the 2004 Viking Open in Chicago. I showed up without anyone to help me. Don't ask me how that happened. I knew two people in the whole room when I showed up - one who was helping to run the meet and one who was lifting in my flight. Lance had some lifters he works with lifting in my flight. I asked Lance if he could help me up for my squats after I wrapped my knees and if he could help me put my straps up. Lance took me under his wing for the whole meet! It turned out to be my best meet up to that point. Lance and I have been friends ever since. So enough intro….. Here's more on the man in his own words.
Q: How did you start powerlifting?
Lance: I lifted in my first powerlifting meet when I was 19. A friend of mine decided to put my strength to the test. It was just a bench press competition. I weighed in at about 285 and benched over 400. I took first place. I've been hooked ever since!
Q: What other sports have you done?
Lance: None. I only liked to work out. I felt if I played any other sport and I got hurt, I wouldn't be able to work out. Working out was my life at that time.
Q: How did you decide to open your own gym?
Lance: I had been in and out of gyms since I was 15. I loved it. I eventually wanted a place of my own.
Q: How did you get your start with the gym?
Lance: I have to say that I had a little luck on my side. I bought the equipment from an existing gym that I was working out at, signed a new lease with the landlord, and opened up under a new name. I have been in business over three years now and I hope to be expanding to a bigger location in the near future.
Q: Tell me about your gym.
Lance: We cater to everyone at the gym, but it is more of hard-core atmosphere. It's a gym, not a fitness center. Some new members are slightly intimidated by it at first, but after a short while they get used to it. I have roughly about 150 members and all of them are great people!
Q: How big of a powerlifting crew do you have training at your gym?
Lance: There are about 5 of us that compete and there are about 4 more who help out. We roll about 9 strong at times, which is about perfect. I train 4 out of the 9. Other people have expressed interest but not really stepped up to the plate. I've had a few powerlifters stop in from time to time, but that is really about it.
Q: What powerlifting titles or accomplishments are you most proud of?
Lance: Competing at the 2004 IPF Bench Press Worlds.
Q: I've heard rumors that even though you are a SHW, you do cardio. Is that true?
Lance: I do cardio at least 4 times a week. I switch it up a bit. One day the bike, one day the treadmill. It depends on what mood I am in. I do at least 30 minutes - no more, no less. I also have a heavy bag at the gym. I'll work out on it every so often. Since I began doing cardio, I have felt more energetic in my workouts.
Q: What is your diet like?
Lance: I make sure I take in enough protein and carbs to sustain me. I keep a cooler bag with me that I stock every day with whatever I need. I am constantly on the go and I need my nutrition right at my side. I have included more fish and chicken in my diet and cut down on red meat. I do have a taste for Bison Burger though! [Editorial note: Lance and crew popped in on a local restaurant in Hudson, sampled the bison burgers, and entertained the locals after the Hudson meet!]
Q: What do you enjoy most about powerlifting?
Lance: Meeting people. I have met a lot of great people in this sport that I consider friends.
Q: Tell me about your "real" job. How many hours do you work there? What do you do?
Lance: I work as a maintenance engineer for the Archdiocese of Chicago and have been doing so for the last six years. I am mostly in the school where the grades go from pre-school to 8th grade. To the kids, I'm known as "Mr. Lance". My day starts at 6:00 a.m. and goes until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It's not uncommon for me to be called in on the weekend due to an emergency. My job varies from monitoring HVAC systems to snow removal to changing a light bulb.
Q: How many hours do you spend working at your gym?
Lance: Roughly about six hours a day. The time goes by very quick.
Q: Do you sleep?
Lance: No comment.
Q: Seriously, how do you find time to do it all?
Lance: I try to manage my time the best way I can. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but I try to focus on one thing at a time. Everything will get done sooner or later.
Q: Tell me more about your community involvement.
Lance: Recently I have been working with one of my members who is a counselor and works for a youth guidance organization. He had me do some demonstrations and talk to his kids about powerlifting. It's not uncommon for me to load up my truck with a bar and 600 pounds of plates and go do some deadlift demonstrations. Afterwards I always invite the students to come up and try it for themselves (without the weight of course). I also have had some Cub Scouts come in to the gym to try to earn a fitness badge. I work with them and explain to them the benefits of working out and eating healthy.
Q: What is something most people would never guess about you?
Lance: I listen to rap music from time to time. [Editorial note: I happen to know that Lance listens to country music too. Or wait, maybe that was just me subjecting him to Gretchen Wilson while driving from Killeen to Dallas. Quite the eclectic mix!]
Q: Tell me about your family.
Lance: For starters, there is my wife, Irene, who I have been married to now for the last 7 years. I have two sons, Justin, who is five, and Aidan, who will be two in a few months. We have a dog named Kia. She is an English Mastiff. At her last vet check-up, she weighed 135 pounds. When she is on her hind legs, she is as tall as me! My son, Aidan, loves being in the gym and has already tried picking up bars. He also enjoys keeping his daddy up late (back to the sleep question). I love being a father. It is my greatest accomplishment thus far.
Q: What goals do you have for yourself in powerlifting?
Lance: Just to be the best that I can and to keep improving on my lifts.
Q: What advice would you give to a new lifter starting out?
Lance: Take your time and always practice good form. Ask plenty of questions.
"Life is a lot like powerlifting. You set a goal that is more than you can lift at the moment and work to be able to eventually achieve that goal. When you've accomplished your goal, you're a stronger man." ~ Lance Karabel speaking to under-privileged kids in Chicago.
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