This quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald probably sums up best last weekend's contest.
Even though I did not place well in my third and final competition of the year, the OCB Mid Atlantic's Battle for the Belt, I entered the contest in personal best form and was in the past shape since I started this quest 25 long weeks ago.
Even though I did not place well in my third and final competition of the year, the OCB Mid Atlantic's Battle for the Belt, I entered the contest in personal best form and was in the past shape since I started this quest 25 long weeks ago.
Compared to previous shows, I came in leaner and exhibited nice shades and striation in my legs. I successfully transformed my body and got myself in a much better shape than I would have ever imagined..
I proved that I do possess the necessary discipline, work ethic and confidence to compete in the sport of bodybuilding and will definitely continue with it.
So while I lost this battle (no pun intended), I consider myself the winner of the war. However, before getting into analyzing the "war", let's recap this battle first.
So while I lost this battle (no pun intended), I consider myself the winner of the war. However, before getting into analyzing the "war", let's recap this battle first.
The "Battle for the Belt" was held at the performing arts center of the Burlington Township High School and, unlike my my first two competitions, which were both sponsored by the NPC, the National Physique Committee, organized by the OCB, the Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders.
The OCB is an all-natural Bodybuilding and Figure federation that only holds drug tested events.
So in order to compete at this event I had to take and pass (DUH!!!) a drug test after registering.
The "drug test" was in this case a short polygraph test with a handful of questions, administered by a law enforcement officer at the venue. Overall winners were further required to take a urine test immediately following the competition. However since I did not even make the top 5 in my class I can't tell you more about this procedure and have to limit my "drug testing experience" to the infamous lie detector.
Once I was cleared, I "staked my claim" in the backstage area and set up the area where I would spend most of the next 12!!! hours. Besides my cooler with food and my bad with towels, extra clothes, warm-up equipment (dumbbells and bands) and supplies I also brought my own mirror just in case.
Once I was settled in, the waiting began. I spent my time watching movies on my IPad and, of course, eating. Lucky me I ran into my friend and former pro bodybuilder Jack "Rhino" London who had a female client competing in the event and bugged him a bit until it was time for the competitor meeting.
Since it was my first time competing in an OCB sponsored event, I paid extra attention at the briefing to catch any rule variations or different requirements.
The biggest difference were the number of mandatory poses (OCB requires Side Chest and Side Triceps to be displayed from both sides and can ask for other poses such as Hamstrings Curl, Double Calf Raise, Side Serratus and/or Single Quadriceps), as well as that the classes would be divided by height and not by weight.
Being 6'8" I obviously ended up in the Tall class, which by OCB definition includes all competitors over 5'11", regardless of weight. So at 6'8"/250lbs. I was competing against 5'11" guys with 180lbs. or even leaner. Maybe I should file a petition to create a new class for big AND tall competitors next year.
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| The Venue |
So in order to compete at this event I had to take and pass (DUH!!!) a drug test after registering.
The "drug test" was in this case a short polygraph test with a handful of questions, administered by a law enforcement officer at the venue. Overall winners were further required to take a urine test immediately following the competition. However since I did not even make the top 5 in my class I can't tell you more about this procedure and have to limit my "drug testing experience" to the infamous lie detector.
Once I was cleared, I "staked my claim" in the backstage area and set up the area where I would spend most of the next 12!!! hours. Besides my cooler with food and my bad with towels, extra clothes, warm-up equipment (dumbbells and bands) and supplies I also brought my own mirror just in case.
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| "Setting up shop" backstage |
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| Jack "Rhino" London |
The biggest difference were the number of mandatory poses (OCB requires Side Chest and Side Triceps to be displayed from both sides and can ask for other poses such as Hamstrings Curl, Double Calf Raise, Side Serratus and/or Single Quadriceps), as well as that the classes would be divided by height and not by weight.
Being 6'8" I obviously ended up in the Tall class, which by OCB definition includes all competitors over 5'11", regardless of weight. So at 6'8"/250lbs. I was competing against 5'11" guys with 180lbs. or even leaner. Maybe I should file a petition to create a new class for big AND tall competitors next year.
Pre-judging started right on time at 12:30 but took, due to the large number of competitors, almost three hours. In my dehydrated eyes it took ages until the tall group was finally called on stage.
However once in the spotlight I was in my element and gave my very best. The judges kept us on stage for quite some time and despite cramps, exhaustion and pain I kept on smiling.
Every time I am surprised anew how exhausting a "little bit of flexing and posing" actually is. Once we were done, my body felt like I just had completed a three hour football game and I just wanted to lay down. So that's what I basically did until it was time again to prepare for the night show. I found a spot in the carpeted foyer of the theater, laid down and half delusional ate my plain potatoes and cold steak.
Then the waiting game began again until it was time for my individual posing routine at the evening show.
At 8 p.m., 12 hours after I checked-in, I was finally walking off stage and eagerly waiting for the results.
However once in the spotlight I was in my element and gave my very best. The judges kept us on stage for quite some time and despite cramps, exhaustion and pain I kept on smiling.
Then the waiting game began again until it was time for my individual posing routine at the evening show.
At 8 p.m., 12 hours after I checked-in, I was finally walking off stage and eagerly waiting for the results.
Men's Open Group 3
1 Phil Cohen #55 (*) (BP) (P)
2 Phillip Roundtree #66
3 Jared Ferguson #56
4 Latwayne Galloway #40
5 Matthew Robertson #61
6 Marco Kristen #53
7 Perry Antrilli #47
8 Kelvin Moore #64
Congratulations to my fellow Trainingcenter buddy Phil for winning the overall and earning his IFPA pro card. Hard work and dedication finally paid off for him.
Unfortunately I did not make the top 5 and left Burlington, NJ empty handed. So besides hunger, thirst and exhaustion a feeling of disappointment overshadowed my ride home and didn't disappear until the next day when I realized how much I actually achieved in the past 25 weeks and that the transformation of my physique was the only true award (even though getting another one of those cool looking trophies would have been pretty awesome as well ;-) ).
Unfortunately I did not make the top 5 and left Burlington, NJ empty handed. So besides hunger, thirst and exhaustion a feeling of disappointment overshadowed my ride home and didn't disappear until the next day when I realized how much I actually achieved in the past 25 weeks and that the transformation of my physique was the only true award (even though getting another one of those cool looking trophies would have been pretty awesome as well ;-) ).
Well this concludes the 2012 "season". The past 6 months have been quite a journey and I am very thankful for my friends who supported me during this time. I have learned a lot and am excited to apply my newly acquired knowledge during the upcoming "off season" and hopefully return next year as a more serious competitor. To put it in the words of one of my childhood heroes.
"I'll be baaaak"
Arnold Schwarzenegger/The Terminator
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