My Aronld Experience!

Ok so aside from being sick for over a week I guess it's about that time to recap the Arnold Classic. As you all know from previous times I have written I am not big into going to shows "just to show my face" or to "network." I go to shows for three reasons and three reasons only 1-if I am competing, 2-if I am guest posing, 3-if a friend is in the show and I am going to support them. It's not based on the fact that I hate going to shows, but it's the same reason I don't work or personal train in a gym, I feel if I did that I would get sick of the gym very quick, thus I don't go to every show. I do a lot besides bodybuilding, I work full time, and I have a lot of different hobbies, I snowboarded for over 8 years, I draw (I even took art lessons when I was younger for a few years), fishing, hunting, there's a lot to life aside from bodybuilding. I think that is needed in the sport, the sport can consume you because it's so demanding and more of a full time commitment, you need to have a work/life balance in order to make yourself and others around you happy.
At the Arnold there was an expo filled with many of familiar faces, some old, new, and up and coming in the sport. Although this sport has brought many things to my life, one thing I am very thankful for are all the people that I became friends with in the process. It was a great time and more of a reunion with many friends that do not live close to NJ that I only see at events such as the Arnold. It was a long two days Friday and Saturday was consumed with taking pictures, talking to fans, and signing autographs for many of the fans attending the expo. The Species booth which is where I was most of the time, the other few moments I had I was trying to make my way through the traffic to see the expo or hanging around in the Pro Tan booth with my good friend Carla Salotti. Me and PJ enjoyed a lot of catching up and laughing throughout the weekend, and it was great because the Animal Cage was right across from us so close friend Evan Centopani was hanging around and I had a chance to catch up with him. Evans in the 280's dieting down for the NY Pro and is looking amazing with still many weeks ahead. And I guess it isn't the Arnold Classic if you don't see Arnold, and I had the chance to catch a glimpse of the Mayor himself has he took his greatly anticipated walk around the expo. Between working the expo and being sick, I didn't do much, there was no going out or after parties for this guy. But at the end of a long weekend I can say that I am glad I attended the Arnold Classic, and maybe one day will be attending it as a competitor.
But all in all it was a fun weekend, I got to see and catch up with a lot of friends, as well as get the experience that everyone talks about. More so, I was happy that my prediction of Kai Greene winning his first, well deserved Arnold Classic. Kai looked amazing and hands down destroyed all the competition. I can say I am glad to be home and doing my normal every day things now, no more traveling for quite sometime now.
KEEP GRINDING!
Guy