Show day!

Where to start…

The Night After The Show 3:40 AM

I have been up since 1 AM. My mind has been racing with images of the faces of everyone after the show. And here I sit at 3 :40 AM in the morning after the Northern States Natural Classic. The entire night felt a little off. I can’t explain it but it was a little weird.

Running Format

The show was was running format which I love. What that means is, instead of the usual pre-juding show, a long afternoon break and then the finals show where awards are given, a running format show does pre-judging and awards for a division all in one shot! This is totally fab for several reasons:

Your non bodybuilding friends don’t have to sit through hours and hours of a show watching poeple they don’t know.
You only have to show up for your division and also do not have to be at the show the entire day! Score! Bikini girls didn’t have to be to the venue until 3 pm for an estimated stage time of 4 pm and done by 7 pm. It was SO nice!

More shows need to switch to this format. Especially for bikini girls. Bikini girls are usually last to hit the stage. Okay, they are always last at regional and local shows. And, we all have to be at the athletes meeting in the morning ready to go. This means, we all get up about 4 or 5 am, get our tan on, get ready, head to the the venue by 9 am, sit in the athletes meeting and then bikini girls wait around until well after lunch to get on stage. And then, it starts all over for the evening. We have to be back to the venue by 5 pm for an athletes meeting, show starts and then bikini girls sit around until ater 8pm to hit the stage. Most of the time the show doesn’t end until 10 or 11 pm at night. That is a LONG ASS day!!

Getting Ready

As stated above, I didn’t have to be to the venue until 3 PM. I got up like usual, got my tan on and took my time getting ready, hung out with my kids, packed up my stuff and headed out around lunch time. I wanted to watch some friends at the show.

Results

photo by Liquid Spectrum

I placed 4th in both of my classes having not improved from the previous show or previous years for that matter. Note that this is a very subjective sport and this show was a different federation and judging panel. But it’s not the placings that I care about so much as the lack of everyone wanting to celebrate the fact that I was done with prep so lets eat! Nope, nobody. Everyone there, everyone in the hallway looked at my like “sorry you didn’t do better.” People had no words whatsoever. There was no “Let’s celebrate! You worked so hard” or ” You looked great, nice job.”

Yeah, I was disappointed and doing my best to hide it. I needed someone to help lift my spirits and everyone just made it worse….It was so so weird. I drove home by myself. Hubby went to get the kids. My mom and step dad went home as my Mom is still recovering from surgery. My clients, acquaintances and friends did their own things with their fams.

Shit… really, the build up after Mayhem with judges telling me I am a stones throw away from a Pro card made this night a huge let down.

I am over it now but the problem comes with that fact that you work so hard day in and day out, hire the best diet and strength people to shape your body and still, 3 years later I am placing 3 and 4^th, 3 and 4^th.. sure I got 2^nd at Mayhem but that is because I had a lot of extra points for showmanship and lost first because of too much muscle. Downer.

My diet coach keeps saying anything top 5 bikini is great as bikini is so competitive and a total crap shoot when it comes to judging which is somewhat true but let’s analyze my bod….

Photo’s by Liquid Spectrum

by Liquid Spectrum

I have a short torso which makes me very square. When I am able to twist my hip forward to pose such as I did at Mayhem or in an NPC show, it helps give me a tiny waist but at this NANBF show, they made us square up our hips to the judges. That is a terrible thing to do for a person with my body type! That completely takes away any chance I have at giving myself the best “X” factor that I can.

I also feel my triceps, quads and obliques are bit too muscular making me looking blockier. This is the blockiest, I feel, that I have ever looked. I definitely need to bring up my glutes and shoulder caps to help with the symmetry.

Most girls I see that have an advantage in the bikini division have long torso’s as it gives them more room to have a tiny waist under the rib cage and a nicer proportion. Genetics can definitely play a big role, especially when you hit higher level contests.

Feed Back

I didn’t even want to ask for feedback because I am afraid it was going to be all fucking vague like- “good job. keep going.” …. Please spare me.

But I did ask for feedback and this is what I’ve got. Keep in mind I lost my 1st place spot in my prior competition for being too muscular:

Judge 1:

Beautiful stage presence. More shoulder caps will improve your symmetry. Leaner core will help as well.

Judge 2:

You looked fantastic. It was a very competitive show and class. I think I had you 3rd in the open. I recommend continue to train to create more shape..which you have done…just build more. By building your back, shoulders and lower body, it will create that x frame. Your conditioning was excellent. I believe that it was a really tough class and you should be super proud of the package you brought! I am happy to do a phone call if you want to talk. You’re such a class act and a stunner on stage!

placings by the judges…..a solid 4th place….

Novice

5-nice legs, good stage presence

4-nice look, get a bit leaner

3-nice symmetry, great posing

Open

4-add shoulder and back to offset waist

4-nice look, get a bit leaner

Monday I had received a message from a Mayhem judge with his delayed but timley feedback:

He said: “Well, I thought you looked amazing! To be honest, I actually had you in 1st place. So, I truly thought that you were all that and a bag of chips! 🙂 You have a beautiful athletic bikini physique. I love your muscle and I thought your conditioning (leanness) was great! You have a nice balance of muscularity, while maintaining a very feminine bikini shape and presentation.

Your posing and your T-walk were fantastic! Congratulations on winning Female Best Poser!

I really don’t have any critiques because I thought you did an awesome job and was worthy of top placing. I know 2nd is not 1st, but that is proof that you were in the running. I would continue doing what you are doing because it is working. 🙂 I wish you continued success. I hope to see you again on stage in the near future!”

Mind Fuck

All the money, all the time, all the low calorie diet induced short temperedness, all this work can take a toll to be judged by a subjective panel and hope for the best. It can be really tough. If you are completely insecure, I would advise against this sport. You need some pretty thick skin to ride this roller coaster!

If I look back over the last 3 years of training and competing, what have I gained… friendships, an awesome body, great knowledge and connections. If my sole goal was a pro card, this would not have been worth it. Having gone through all that to realize that my body type may never be pro card worthy. But the process is what drives me. The connections, the challenges, building your body over time; it’s addicting. The show is just a goal and a nice way to show it off.

So, you better stay grounded because this whole process is a total mind fuck!

I will compete again. I will take my analysis and continue to build and shape my awesome self! You better watch out for next season!

My Clients

My clients did VERY well that day!! I was SO excited for them!! UGH!

top left: Trista placing 4th in both classes having done some seriously hard work to improve between shows. totally impressed with her determination.

top right: Trista, Angela and myself. Angela placed 2nd in novice (boom!) and 4th in open. Again, total dedication to her program.

bottom left: Natalie- a complete inspiration living with serious rheumatoid arthritis. She killed her program despite her aches and pains and took 1st in novice and 2nd in open!

bottom right: Trista and Angela with their posing coach Tara Thatcher or Perfectly Prepared.