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Post by Rich on May 9, 2007 7:39:08 GMT -5
It's your call Frank. Me, I wouldn't want to be staying so close to contest shape for 5 months straight. But then, I am not you.
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Post by GerryT on May 9, 2007 9:11:21 GMT -5
Should try to focus on one show, Frank or two relatively close like
the June show and Masters in July. Or the May and June shows.
No qualification criteria for NPC Masters Nats, except that you have a current NPC card and have competed in an NPC event before.
Your call, of course.
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Post by Sal Paradise on May 9, 2007 11:23:43 GMT -5
OK - Frank - you know I don't B.S. and I'm not going to start now.
The two big shows you mention really are BIG SHOWS!!
My training partner is considering doing the Masters in Pittsburgh but has A LOT of work to do to get ready for that. He wouldn’t even think about stepping on stage in that show with the package he presented at the Canton and he won the overall.
Of course it depends on your goal when entering the show.
If you're going in them to win - then I would reconsider doing the other shows and try to peak for one with maybe one warmup show.
If it's simply to enter to see how you measure up then you need to make that call.
The Canton is always a fun show to do. The contest this year was a bit light in terms of competitors but you'll have that from time to time.
Did you happen to see the show? Or at least check out the class winners? There is a pic posted in the 2007 Canton thread.
You can see the quality of the class winners. I can post the pictures of the Masters class if you want but the overall winner could have easily been in the masters class - he is 53.
Just a few things to consider when jumping to the larger shows
1 - Do I really have a chance to be competitive?
2 - Do I care? Or would I rather just step on the stage with the big guys.
I have seen WAY TOO MANY competitors get into a local novice show like the local Mr. Canton and not place very well and then step into a bigger show like a national qualifier.
WHY?!?!?!!
If a person enters a smaller, local novice show and does not AT LEAST win their weight class they have no business stepping on stage at a national qualifying event.
That may sound harsh but let’s be honest, what kind of placing is a person going to get in a bigger show if they can’t even win the weight class in a smaller show.
Of course it does generate money to keep the show promoter bringing the show back year after year so I guess we could look at that very important factor.
Now I’m not saying that people shouldn’t compete for the love of competing. But there is a huge difference between entering a 2007 Mr. Podunk novice show and a national qualifier or in the case of the 2 bigger shows you mentioned - Pro-Qualifiers.
It’s all a personal choice but when I see something like I did at this past Mr. Canton and the condition of the athletes was so poor in general I have to ask why.
Is it to simply put on a pair of posing trunks and jump on stage?
This is absolutely no bull-sh!t but I dropped out of doing the Canton 2 weeks before the show and I was in better condition than 90% of the guys who stepped on stage - I was still 2 weeks out!
You might ask why not do the show then – because I would not have been at my best. Period.
Would I have come home with a trophy? Sure. Would I have won my weight class? No. Does that matter? No.
I would not have been at my best and that is my determining factor.
But I can tell you this – I wouldn’t have delusions about getting into a national qualifying show if I couldn’t at least take my class in the novice show. Most likely I wouldn't consider a larger show if I didn't win the overall in a novice show.
The bottom line is it’s your call and you have to decide what you want to get out of it.
Like a friend of mine told me when he stepped on stage for the Nationals a few years back.
”They looked at me and said Thank you for coming – can you get me a diet coke?”
“That’s all I have to say about that” ---- FG
Sal
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Post by GerryT on May 9, 2007 12:00:45 GMT -5
Frank, you can get all the advice in the world (and Jeremy and the others gave solid advice). But you still have to weigh it against what you feel you want to do and then do it.
Only you can live your life, bro. So go for it, whatever you want. Sure you take something out of each step for future decisions.
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Post by Sal Paradise on May 9, 2007 13:02:02 GMT -5
It's all good Frank -
Make a plan, stick to it and give it hell!
Sal
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