What is the VSC?
My partner Oli and I first signed up as members of Valkyrie Gym in the Autumn of 2021; coincidentally weeks before the TSC. (Tactical Strength Challenge… the inspiration for the VSC but, in hindsight, a pretty harsh contrast to the values we hold here).
We went as spectators; ate toasted sandwiches and sat with our backs against the wall as this incredible thing unfolded before us… People we’d only known for weeks really going for it. I’d never seen anything like it - in the gyms I’d been to, if people were trying this hard for something it was either self-indulgent or to impress someone who just walked into the room. Those kinds of efforts feel so.. uhhgg… compared to someone who has really focused on a goal for a couple of months and now gets the chance to see what they can make of it. One shot, one opportunity, mom’s spaghetti.
Not to impress the hotties or blow away their coach.
For themselves.
This was pure vulnerability.
Ugly lifting faces, frantic nervous people being calmed by other frantic nervous people, all just with the intention of trying something that felt massive for them, and often objectively was massive. Tears of joy, tears of frustration. Highs and lows and accomplishment either way. Beers.
That’s the VSC.
We’ve taken all the good bits of a classic gym challenge (buy-in commitment, 1-on-1 attention from a coach, longer training periods and specific goals) and we took out all the gross stuff.
No toxic gym shit like:
before and after pictures
weigh ins
gender binaries
generic advice and programming
comparison and competition amongst peers
weight classes
shame strategies
The VSC, in a nutshell, is an opportunity for gym-goers to hook into their very own program for 6 weeks, have a go at some max lift efforts to a crowd of cheering peers, and celebrate each others efforts and successes.
It puts the power in your hot little hands. Your program is your own, you’ll bring it to the gym and follow it rather than the blackboard. Coaches will be around to help you tweak your form, understand your workout and advise you to make great decisions as usual - but the autonomy is all yours!
Your program will start off totally manageable, and it will progress as you gain confidence with the movements and, untimely, get stronger in those patterns. Some sessions will be challenging. But every session will be do-able; your coach will never set you up to fail.
It’s kinda a sneak preview into how the Death Squad live. Focused training, direct comms with your coach, commitment to weekly sessions, goals more specific than ‘just show up’, and regular testing and benchmarking; but without the long-term commitment. Love that for you!
After having participated in and subsequently organised the VSC’s since then; I’ve really gotta say, the odds are it’s a great idea to consider having a go at it. I’ve seen athlete succeed who only signed up 2 weeks before hand (it’s true!). I’ve watched past members flock back and re-sign their memberships just to get back in time to do the VSC again.
It’s really good, pure, honest fun.
That’s the VSC from my perspective. I credit that first time spectating the event as the turning point that lead to my career here. Hannah credits their first VSC as the event that inspired to them to start competitive powerlifting.
It’s kind of a big deal.
I hope you can get around it and have your own story to tell.
