NPC Pittsburgh Bodybuilding Championships, May 5th 2012

Had a great trip to the NPC Pittsburgh Bodybuilding Championships this past weekend. I competed in this show for years before winning the overall in the women's bodybuilding class in 2008. Since then, I have encouraged many competitors in my gym to compete in this show as it is one of the largest shows within a few hours driving distance. It also hosts the top Olympia competitors as guest posers each year which makes it a great experience and opportunity to meet and talk to the best in the sport.

This year, my friend Cyndi Detwiler was competing in the  Physique Division. Ever since last year when she decided to compete in the show again this year, I had planned to attend & lend support. Long before it had crossed my mind to compete in Women's Physique this year at the Team Universe, Cyndi had decided to compete in the Physique class verses Bodybuilding class at the NPC Pittsburgh. It was the perfect opportunity for me to watch my first Physique show!

This trip would be a bit different from past trips because I would be in contest preparation for the Team Universe which will be held July 6th-7th. This meant I would need to pack all my meals, make sure I had a great workout between prejudging and the evening show, and keep everything on schedule. There was quite a bit of packing to do Saturday morning including a cooler filled with nearly 14 meals and supplements to last the two day trip. Clothes were the least of my worries, but I am finding out that the longer I am in this sport, the more of a lifestyle it becomes and the more "normal" it seems to travel fully prepared and be able to carry out everything as scheduled.

Saturday at noon, my friend Kathy & I hit the road on our girls trip! Cyndi was headed down separately with her family.

I am competing in Skip LaCour's Mass Machine Bulking & Cutting Challenge. Mass Machines have a signature pose called MASS MACHINEING. In the photo to the right, me & Kathy surround Cyndi MASS MACHINEING in front of the venue, the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh, PA.

Another friend from the gym, Ben Broy, was also competing in the show for the first time. He was traveling alone so I filled in as camera girl and tanning support.

After Ben & Cyndi had finished the morning prejudging, the show continued with fitness & figure but I couldn't keep focus because I was dying to hit the gym & get my workout in to make sure everything stayed on track! It takes a bit of discipline to hit the gym between prejudging and the evening show when everyone else is relaxing & enjoying the break. However, if there is one thing Skip LaCour has taught us in the Mass Machine Bulking & Cutting Challenge, it is the importance and benefits of carrying out your daily disciplines in reaching your goals. I have always been a very disciplined person & I know it pays off.

Last year, although I wasn't in competition season, I wanted to make sure to get my workout in between the morning & evening shows. No one else wanted to work out, so I went alone. I arrived at the gym about 3:30 and was informed that they close at 4:00. However, I was later told that an employee would be staying late at the gym, so & I could continue with my workout. I found out why the gym was staying open late when then Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler came walking in with his trainer Haney Rambod, followed by IFBB pro Kevin Levrone, and Seth Feroce. They were shooting a video and I had the opportunity to be working out and later watch when I had finished my workout. I had no camera, only my cell phone. I had
never taken a photo with my phone, but quickly learned how. I managed to get these two photos saved to my phone:

Later I was told by someone at the gym that they had watched a video on the Muscular Development website (Jay Cutler & Seth Feroce Blast Back with the Pro Creator) and I was in the background. I looked the video up & sure enough, there I was doing hanging leg raises in the background while  the IFBB pros did bar rows.

This year, I headed to the gym alone again. Its a neat gym, very nostalgic, and as I trained I felt very blessed to be in that gym, training, in a place where I know so many champions have trained and do train. As I trained, I noticed a gentleman who seemed to be giving a tour of the gym to some folks, showing them some of the classic photos on the wall, etc. I went about my ab training. As I began my arm workout and finished my first set of tricep pushdowns, the gentleman walked over, grabbed my wrist, and as I took off my headphones said in a serious tone, "don't break anything".  I wasn't training extra hard, just training like I always do with intensity. It was nice to know that just training like the person I am gets noticed, and I thanked him jokingly for the concern.

No pros in sight when I entered, but later as I walked into another room I noticed a camera man filming IFBB pros Evan Centopani and Seth Feroce. One of the Mass Machines in the Challenge spotted me in this video at Muscular Development of their training session that day & sent it my way. You see me in the background (can't miss me in red) starting about 5 minutes in & continuing through to the end. The photo below was taken later that evening when they guest posed at the show.

After I finished my workout and headed for my post-workout shake, I checked my phone and found the photo to the right in my inbox. Seems my friend, Kathy, who decided not to work out and stayed at the hotel was outside when she noticed IFBB pro Kai Greene sitting alone on a bench outside the motel. She didn't have her camera, but knew this was the perfect opportunity to get a photo and tease me as she knows Kai is one of my favorite IFBB pros. She asked Kai if it bothered him when people came up to him interrupting his quiet time alone. He said not really. She told him she had a friend that was a big fan & all she had was her cell phone and no one else was around to take the photo. He suggested they take a photo of themselves and with a couple of tries, viola!

Later, as Kai guest posed at the show, we caught up with him again where we took the photo to the left. He showed so much energy and seemed to be enjoying every moment of his guest posing appearance, and the crowd LOVED him!

If you have never seen Kai guest pose, you should, here's a few of his outstanding moves!

Wearing His Signature Mask

 
 Other awesome guest posers at the show included reigning Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath, IFBB pros Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren, Evan Centopani, Seth Feroce, and Steve Kuclo.

From Left to Right, Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren, Seth Feroce, Kai Greene, Evan Centopani, Steve Kuclo pull some up & coming stars to the stage

Reigning Mr Olympia Phil Heath

 Another highlight was getting to meet the ProCreator, creator of the FST-7 training program, Haney Rambod.

Cyndi placed fourth in her first competition as a Physique Competitor and I was very proud of her. Ben placed fifth in the Masters Over 35 Division in his first competition ever. Just setting foot on stage for the first time is a success in itself!

There ends another great weekend. Only 9 more weeks until it will be show time for me.