Reflection - the past weekend

Travelling to Colchester on the eve of my first competition in 22 years, I kept trying to visualise myself on stage and then all the doubting questions came flooding in, "am I lean enough" "will I get my water manipulation correct" and so on, luckily Sean who was my driver, bag carrier, confidant and sponsor all rolled in one, made a quick stop at to Neale Cranwell's gym Krunch for Neale to give me the once over.

Neale was instrumental in prepping me for this show, he's a great guy and a very experienced competitor, of course all I had to do leading up to this important weekend for the last 3 months was 6am Cardio, work, lifting my heart out in the gym, followed by more cardio, followed by posing practice and eating all the right foods to maintain muscle and lose body fat!

It was thumbs up from Neale who hinted I may be good enough to win the whole show! Feeling elated Sean and I continued our journey to Colchester and arrived at the Hotel for steak, potato and eggs as my last meal and a glass of white wine to act as a natural diuretic because I had stopped taking water by 6pm that night to tighten up even more. 

I couldn't sleep all night thinking about the show the next morning, I felt really tired but the mood changed when I checked my condition in the bathroom mirror, I was bang on the money and all nerves had fled back over the Severn Bridge to Cardiff. I felt confident about everything as I casually checked in with officials, handed over the music to the DJ and then just relaxed until about an hour before my class was due on stage. 

The setting was indeed Herculean, stage lighting, back drop all perfect and some amazing trophies too. 

I wasn't really taken seriously or noticed by anyone until I began to change from track suit to trunks, then I felt the presence of many fixed eyes and murmurings, I then knew I had brought my best to Colchester's Scott Hercs Olympia and my confidence grew by the minute. I didn't pump up like so many were, frantically lifting dumbbells and pulling stretch bands from one corner to the next, I just flexed and flexed, that's what I had painfully practiced night after night for the past 3 moths and inturn my body began to respond and my body got tighter and tighter. 

Sean applied the tan and then we "over 50's" were ushered to to the stage entrance! I could hear the crowd, see the lights and the atmosphere was building but I felt no nerves at all after all these years, I was home again!

As we stepped on stage the crowd went wild as we presented our selves as best we could and then I noticed all seven judges looking at me which could mean I was good or really bad! Comparisons made we asked to leave the stage and come back one at a time to perform to music, I knew my music and routine were unique, I just hoped the crowd and the judges would agree.

Move after move flowed, the noise of the crowd increased and flashes of photography pinging every where. When I had finished many were on there feet applauding and I even saw a couple of judges sneaking the odd photo or two. I had a chance!

There was another good Italian who had brought over a large contingent with him but they were cheering me, it must have deflated the poor man. 3rd was called and the Englisman graciously accepted his award. And in Second place, the Italian competitor was called, I knew I had won, it was amazing! 

As I was leaving the stage to thunderous applause, Scott Hercs turned to me and told me my physique and routine were incredible, I was taken a back.

Joyously I put my track suit on and from there on in I was mobbed by well wishes and new fans,I was on top of the world, I was the over 50's champion. 

Then I realised I had the small matter of the overall to contend with. the over all means all men's class winners going head to head on stage for the Title of Mr Hercules Olympia.

A couple of hours later we all lined up back stage ready to go to war! I happened to be first in the line up of around Seven other champions and as we took the entrance to the stage the crowd went berserk. I even noticed the Italian team cheering for me, 3 of us were to called to compare physiques, I new the other guys were bigger than me but I also knew I was able to present myself better than them.

We were asked to line back up and then the winner was announced, they called my name, from there on in it was all a blurr, photos, hugs and kisses of adoration and much much more. It took ages for Sean and I to leave the venue because we were stopped on every corner by well wishers. 

I can't actually remember much after that and the journey home back to Cardiff was one of the happiest and easiest ones I have ever made. Special thanks to my Sponsor Sean Brown who tirelessly worked to make my weekend a comfortable one.

And so as champion of my first comp I head toward my goal to be over 50's Mr Wales on May 10th and qualify for the British champions.

Thank you to all of you you that have lifted me with your comments and encouragement, you really have made a difference and remember "Train With Purpose".

What a Year

2013 certainly brought it's challenges, not only in training but in life in General, what it did do though was it re-ignited the competition flame in me that had been neatly tucked away and out of site for almost 22 years.
Once my mind was made up, the gains came quickly, however competition body building has changed some what since I last graced the stage in 1992! Those changes also applied to my 53 year old body too, recovery time became longer, joint and tendon pains were a clear indicator that I had to train smarter as well as harder. My digestive system had changed considerably too, I couldn't assimilate certain nutrients like I used to so my nutrient intake had to change drastically too, not only to gain muscle but to loose fat too, but hey that's why it's taken the whole of 2013 to get it right.

These modern day trainers and gurus haven't a clue when it comes to the older man, they're great with all the latest nutrient timing and macro mix but they haven't factored in ageing, although some have done a great job with the younger generation.
Any way it's all systems go for 2014, May 10th to be exact, my aim is to win and win emphatically, sounds cocky I know but I believe I'm bringing a package to the stage that hasn't been seen in an over  50's before, not just my physique but I aim to captivate judges and audience with a routine that'll justify the cost of their ticket, something special is all I can say right now.
Finally without the unconditional love and support of my wife Julie I would not be on stage in May, a special thanks must go to my training partners Sean Brown and Sean Mathews who have pushed and encouraged me all the way, thank you guys.
Speak to you all soon and remember, TRAIN WITH PURPOSE!

The way it is

Competition training if done properly is completely different to your normal run of the mill workout, for many reasons really, mine has just one focus, to be the best I can be on the day. More than that really, I want to be the best, that's it! The last thing I want on the day is a judge approaching me and saying "your competitor was better than you because". That's what makes it all different, nothing can be left to chance, every body part suddenly becomes a priority which means every workout is a priority. "Oh my legs are good so I don't need to hit them as hard cause they grow easy" heard that one before? I have and then it's panic stations 3 weeks out, too late! Similarly some guys work outstanding body parts even harder given their physiques an unbalanced look because they believe that their good parts will disguise their weak ones.
Winning comes from creating a muscular, ripped, balanced physique and then having the ability to present the months of training and dieting to 7 beleaguered judges waiting with baited breath to unburden their responsibilities for just a little respite. Judges go through hell "you wuz robbed" is a sound that all to commonly rings repeatedly through their ear canals eventually crushing all sense of reality, Brainwashed is the word I was looking for.
look give the judges and the partisan crowd a break and be a stand out winner from the moment you step on on stage. That's the way it is. TRAIN WITH PURPOSE!

And so it begins

There had to be some mistake, my alarm clock sounded almost cocky as it yanked me out of blissful sleep into an enigmatic reality but alas it was true, the 5.30am get up call was more painful than any set of leg presses I've recently done. My limp body slowly twitched and stretched, each sinew and tendon pleading for clemency then the image that's haunted me ever since I made the decision to compete again, smashed its way to the forefront of my mind, I had to win and I had to get up and get walking.
 Black coffee with coconut oil and I was ready and fuelled for for my first competition cardio workout, the cold air soon filled my lungs like elixir and soon my mind was filled with tensing my gluteus with each stride imaging the look I hope to have on May 10th.
45 mins later and it was all over, it felt good, next step food and supplements.
My nutrition was bang on throughout the day and the evening workout with the 2 Seans was as tough as ever but completely satisfying, home for food and day one was coming to its successful conclusion, strange really, got to do it all again tomorrow.
You've really got to want it to succeed, I mean it has to be more than just a desire with some planning and preparation, it has to be a burning need to win, nothing else counts, I don't understand people who say they're in it for the experience! Are you nuts? Go on holiday, that's an experience! Competitive bodybuilding has to be about the winning that's all there is to it! TRAIN WITH PURPOSE.
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