NPC Max Muscle, Part II
The 2018 NPC Max Muscle Virginia Classic this past weekend was such an incredible experience that I'm devoting at least three posts to the whole experience. My last post was simply about the excitement I felt. This post will be about the actual event. The next post will be about everything that went into preparing and what I learned along the way.
The Day Before
Friday felt chaotic. Despite having a packing list from So You Want to Compete, I couldn't shake the feeling I was forgetting something important (I didn't). I took my two packed bags and handful of other random things and went through my normal work day. My original plan was to head to Woodbridge to meet my mom at the host hotel. Luckily, I was able to get out of work a little early and meet my fiancé at home. This took some stress off of me because if you've ever driven I-95 you know the anger it can induce. It was also nice to spend some extra time with him and get some last minute encouragement.
I got to the hotel about two hours before the competition check-in time. My mom hadn't had lunch so we went to Nando's. I'd just eaten plain baked chicken at work and I must say, it was hard to walk in there and not want to place an order for myself - the smell was intoxicating! We killed a little more time and then headed over to Gar-Field High School for check-ins. I showed my NPC card, met a couple sponsors and the event photographer, got my bikini bottoms approved, and got my height measured to determine my class. That was it. It was so easy and straightforward. I left with an information packet and a lot less confusion and fewer nerves.
Back at the hotel, I attempted to organize all of my stuff (bikini, heels, jewelry, makeup, clothes, yoga mat, rice cakes, Bikini Bite, and so on) so that I wouldn't look like a hot mess back stage scrambling to find something. I ordered room service and the chef was clearly prepared for bodybuilders and bikini girls. He cooked exactly what I asked for - plain grilled chicken with plain steamed veggies, no oils, no salt. It was surprisingly delicious.
My tanning appointment wasn't until 10pm which made the later part of the evening a struggle. I was exhausted - as most competitors are during peak week. I was able to sneak in a little nap before heading downstairs for the spray tan. The tanning was an experience all by itself. I'll start by saying Tanning Tailz did a phenomenal job and despite the setting did not make me uncomfortable. I walked into a large room with two rows of stand-up tents - one row for the men, one for the ladies. I hopped in the tent at the end and waited for my turn. I got two coats that night and was back in our hotel room by 11pm. I was nervous to go to bed thinking I'd ruin my tan. I did. I slept in a baggy t-shirt dress. Turns out you should sleep in baggy sweats. I woke up with a big hand print on my leg and a really dark hand to show what had happened. Luckily, Tanning Tailz was available for touch-ups that morning and saved my tan. Having never been tan in my entire life, I have to say it really was a confidence booster and was the last step in making me feel like I was ready to go on stage.
Competition Day
I woke up a little after 5am full of excitement and disbelief at the fact that I was actually about to compete in an NPC event. After dealing with the tanning issue, I got dressed (bikini, fuzzy flip flops, and baggy dress, very stylish) and did my hair and makeup. I got a little nervous about being able to match my foundation to the dark tan I had gotten. I used my normal makeup and added NYX Total Control Drops to darken it up. I HIGHLY recommend this product if you're doing your own competition makeup.
My mom drove us to the high school where I headed to the Athlete's Meeting and she headed to meet up with my fiancé. I ran into a competitor I had met the weekend before at the stage preview - it was nice to see a familiar face, even if we'd only met once before. The Athlete's Meeting made sure that the competitors knew exactly what to expect. We got goody bags and shuffled out into the athlete's hall. The expediters called us up by class for tanning touch-ups, shine, and Bikini Bite, and then we were moving. We were lined up behind the curtains ready to go on stage. True Novice Class B went out in two lines; I was in the second. We lined up on a straight line, did some turns, and went to the diagonal lines. The head judge called us out one by one to do our individual routines. I did my best to focus on breathing and smiling (though it probably looked awkward) while the other girls presented. When they called my name, I remembered to acknowledge the judges and I walked out to center stage. I had a brief moment in my head where I wanted to freak out, but I thought "I'm out here, I know the routine, I don't have a choice but to do it because I can't simply disappear." I spotted my fiancé and mom and kept moving. My routine was admittedly not as confident as others, but overall I was happy - I didn't fall or forget how to do a transition. That's a win in my book.
That was it. Pre-judging was over in a flash. I shuffled back down the athlete's hallway passing the other Bikini classes and Men's Classic Physique competitors who were up next. I threw on my baggy dress, grabbed a rice cake with some almond butter, and met my family in the auditorium to watch the next competitors. We watched a few rounds then headed out to the vendors' area. I watched as my fiancé, Peter, enjoyed a fresh treat from Duck Donuts (I can't say I blame him) and checked out some great sponsors. My mom got me a shirt from Max Muscle as a souvenir and enjoyed a sample from Muscle Egg. We killed some more time before my mom had to leave and then Peter and I made a quick trip into town to knock out some last minute wedding errands. Yep, we're getting married exactly one week after the competition. Talk about a supportive and gracious man.
From there, it was back to the auditorium for a pre-finals Athlete's Meeting that went a lot like it did in the morning. We went back on stage as a group for a confirmation of scoring and then winners were announced. It was the moment that the 5th place trophy was given in my division that I knew I had to compete again. My goals evolved right then and there. Yes, I crossed something off of my "30 Before 30 Bucket List," but simply going on stage was no longer a big enough goal. I'm going to compete until I place and qualify..And then I'll probably compete some more because I have come to love this sport so much in just 4 or 5 months.
Photos by Costa Dino Photography
Once finals were over, Peter treated me to a delicious warm donut from Duck Donuts. I could easily romanticize that moment, it was so good and I hadn't had anything like it in months. We drove back to Annandale and met two of my girlfriends for dinner (hey Jill and Brittany!). They greeted me with a bouquet of sunflowers from the farmer's market - it should be noted that sunflowers are our wedding flowers! It was just so sweet, they both supported me a lot through prep and put up with me NOT feeding them when they came over. We went to Matchbox, which was an excellent first meal post-competition - you simply can't go wrong with pizza for a cheat meal.
I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out, but it was such an exciting day and things moved so fast at times. I met a lot of amazing women at the competition - some I will definitely be keeping in touch with and hope to see at future competitions, if not sooner. They supported, encouraged, and congratulated me (trophy or no trophy). I was honestly so happy to see those women in particular called out to receive their trophies. They not only showed dedication to their sport, but they showed heart.
Next Up
I'm working on getting back on track with reverse dieting and adjusting my workouts. In the future, you can definitely look for me at future competitions and will likely see me pursue PT Certification shortly. My next post will be about the prep that went into this competition and the tips I learned along the way. I'd love to help other women get started in competing - I'm clearly not a pro, but I have found a lot of good resources and role models. I'm getting married in just four days and that will absolutely be my focus for a while - a good start to a great marriage.
Feel free to email me with any questions or if you just want to send a quick hello!
-The Girl