2008 Arnold Blog

Only one or two paragraphs, how can I sum up what I’ll be doing at the Arnold Sports Festival in that small number of words? I’ll try…

For me this event is three days to meet, see and learn from the top professionals in the fitness business. I am planning this as a working (or better yet workout) vacation.  I went last year, but was only at the expo for a couple of hours on Saturday, it was a total crush and I don’t think I saw nearly as much as I had planned. The following morning was busy for me too, I had my event to compete in, but I did manage to squeeze in watching some gymnastics, power lifting and fencing. What a combination that was! But as a newbie I didn’t realize you have to plan out your trip. This is a science, the Arnold Sports Festival, so I have the schedule and I am working on the perfect plan so I can hit all the events that I wanted to last year but didn’t.

I’ve met (through BodySpace) a great deal of people on Bodybuilding.com so first and foremost is attending the events that support them, so if you’ve let me know you are going to be there competing I’ll be there cheering wildly! Then there is the learning - the amateur and professional prejudging is where I will learn the most (imho), things that can help me in my quest for fitness and the other sporting events is where I will see motivation, the young people competing in events like gymnastics and power lifting is great too (how do I go about adding springboard diving to next year’s calendar? - then I could really make it a family trip). And all of this is wrapped up around the carnival like atmosphere of the EXPO where I will have my new racing shoes, so get your pens ready I need all the encouragement I can get and I want to cover my shoes with all the strength as speed that is available there (by way of autographs), and lots of photo ops, and did I mention that I’d really like a moment or two or even a picture with Governor Schwarzenegger (I may live in GA, but I’m a CA girl at through and through).

My event is on Sunday morning, the 5K Pump & Run; it combines my two favorite things – lifting and running (yes they can coexist in this world). Last year it was really cold (17 deg and snow) so let’s hope its a little warmer and no comments from the locals about runners wearing shorts being more serious than those of us running from out of town (I am 1 of 3 from GA this year, I’d say I was serious).  Since the “pump” part of the event is early in the morning I am sorry to say I won’t be at the Classic Finals or partying Saturday night, maybe next year. So have fun for me, I’ll save my celebration for after the race and the fitness fashion show which I will participate in too.  (TIP:  by day three all the salads are gone in the food court, can someone ask them to plan this, salads go better with my tuna).

Predictions? I don’t have any.  I am still educating myself in this sport. Can I say I want everyone to win? Or that I am the big winner when I get to see your hard work evidenced the day of the competition?  Men, women, fitness, figure, bodybuilding, amateur and professional alike, it’s the training in the gym that makes you winners.  I feel very fortunate to share this love of the sport of fitness, continuing to work towards goals.  Attending the Arnold Sports Festival is the icing on the cake (well some might eat cake or cookies or candy as a cheat meal) and is one way we can share experiences, goals, dreams and ideas.

Ok, so I couldn’t do it in two paragraphs, I could probably write more, I am 25 days away from my workout vacation, training hard, running to maintain my speed (hoping to break 20:00 this year) and if I can’t see everything this year, there is always next year!