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The ambitious noviceDate: 01.06.2007
Posted by: Anabolic Info Team Bahamas
"A lot of time you have your dream in one place, but you may have to live it out in another place", is a quote from a singer Anthony Hamilton and a quote that local bodybuilder Rob Harris truly believes in.
After all, Rob, who is an American, is living out one of his dreams right here in Grand Bahama.
In fact, he's totally convinced that if he had not moved here to The Bahamas, he would not be living his dream.
"Grand Bahama is a tough place to live, but that all helped to grow me up," said Rob, in an interview with The Freeport News.
"But to me, this is the ideal place to live out your dream."
And for Rob, the dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder has already begun to take on form.
It's fair to say that when it comes to competing on a bodybuilding stage, Rob is a novice.
But in terms of being around the sport of bodybuilding, Rob is quickly moving towards expert status.
Rob lives, eats, breathes, think and works around bodybuilding.
He reads everything he can get his hands on about bodybuilding shows, training and the top bodybuilders around the world.
Rob knows top bodybuilders by name, knows their training styles and even knows a lot about their diets and eating habits.
To say that Rob Harris is consumed by bodybuilding may be an understatement.
It's that same passion and excitement for the sport that Rob rubs off on others who happen to run into him at the gym or on the streets. His enthusiasm is contagious.
What's more, its that same passion and desire that has prompted the boy from Indiana to step onto the stage of his dreams and compete in his first bodybuilding show in 2006.
"I was motivated to compete by some people around me who said that I could do it," said Rob.
"It was after coming here and seeing that the average person who work out in the gym with you go on stage and compete. So, you're thinking if they can do it, so can I. It became more real and attainable for me when I came here."
Rob admits that if he was still living in the United States, he probably never would have realised his dream of competing in the sport of bodybuilding.
"While I was in the States, it seemed to always be an unattainable goal," said Rob.
"Yes, there are a lot of opportunities in the United States, but when you have so many people competing for the same opportunities, it always seemed clouded."
Since taking first place in his division at this novice show in 2006, Rob was more than eager to get back on the stage.
So when the chance came to compete at the USA versus The Bahamas show in Miami last month, Rob was the first to sign up.
He placed second in the heavyweight division, although he felt he should have won, but he fell prey to the hometown decision. But the second place finish was not something that discouraged Rob. In fact, just having the experience was more than worth the trip.
"Each show you get to learn something different," said Rob. "And I learned a lot from that last show. So, for me, its a continuous learning process."
The learning process for some, may be a tedious, boring experience, but for Rob, its just another fun aspect of bodybuilding. Seems like the more he learns, the more he wants to compete.
That's because for Rob, it's an adventure to put what he's learned into his training and preparation for competition.
The two shows that Rob has competed in thus far are only the beginning. To date, Rob is focusing all of his training in preparation for the Northern Bahamas Championship, set for the end of June.
With the experience of two shows under his belt and with more time to work with, Rob feels that this will be one of his best shows in his short bodybuilding career.
"The ultimate goal for any serious competitive bodybuilder is to go into each show bigger and better," said Rob, "To always present a better physique and see how far you can push yourself. Everytime you compete, you find a new level of discipline.
"And this year was my year to see how far I can go and try to put some doubters to rest."
Again Rob is looking to compete in the heavyweight division, another level from the light heavy division when he did his first show. Rob says that he was inspired to go into the heavyweight this year by John Hart, who encouraged Rob to try a heavier weight class.
"He said I can do it and so I gave it a try. But also, I wanted to go heavyweight to go head-to-head with John Hart in the Grand Bahama championship this year."
That may sound like an ambitious undertaking, but if it wasn't ambitious, it wouldn't come from Rob Harris. In fact, Rob is so ambitious when it comes to bodybuilding that he's looking to get a Pro card by next year.
That's right, pro by next year!
The goal may be a high one to reach, but as a personal trainer, Rob knows how much work he has to put in to achieve the goal he wants. The ultimate goal is the Pro card, but Rob knows that it will come step-by-step.
Those steps include competing at the Northern Bahamas Championships in June, competing at the National Bodybuilding championship in July, making the team to compete at the CAC and hopefully win overall to obtain a Pro card.
Rob admits that he's never attended a CAC championship, but has heard just how competitive it can get at a show like that.
"With the help of my training partner, 'big Charles', I couldn't have come this far and I know that he will push me to reach those goals," said Rob.
"When you have people like that supporting you and other people cheering you on, you realise that the goals I've set can be reached."
To some, Rob may be a bit braggadocious, but the truth is, Rob is the kind of people bodybuilding is made up of. Not only are the guys big, but so is their talk.
And once Rob can put his money where his mouth is, he will no doubt infuse the sport of bodybuilding in Grand Bahama, as well as make his own dreams come true. |
© Anabolic Info
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