Tiger Strenght
Date: 09-08-2010
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States |
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"Number 15, switch places with number 18."
That's what the head judge at a July 17 bodybuilding called out, in a series of moves designed to give all judges a chance to see different contestants next to each other. The No. 15 in question was Patrick Ryan of Los Lunas, who was making his debut in bodybuilding. "I want to get back to training so bad, I can almost taste it," said Ryan after his debut at a competition at Albuquerque's historic KiMo Theater. "I love being able to push my body to its limit. The only issue is money. It's an expensive sport, but totally worth it, in the end."
The 2008 Los Lunas High graduate trained for close to 11 months for his debut in bodybuilding, with the 2010 Natural Southwest Classic at the Kimo serving as the first time he hit the stage to pose.
With more than a dozen friends and relatives there on July 17 to cheer him on with all the fanaticism of fans at a rock concert, Ryan took the stage alongside six other contestants in the Novice class. The University of New Mexico junior-to-be ended up placing fifth and earned a trophy, something not every rookie gets to experience.
"When I was on stage I received the biggest adrenaline rush I had ever gotten in my life," said Ryan, a baseball standout during his LLHS days. "Everyone is yelling and screaming, loud music is playing, and you know you look absolutely amazing. It makes you hungry for more."
Despite a full schedule that's got him set up to receive a degree in Exercise Science about four or five semesters from now, Ryan approached bodybuilding with the same zeal that made him the Tigers' aggressive center fielder and one of its best offensive players.
Beginning in August of last year, Ryan began a combination of weight gaining and muscle building that changed radically about four months ago. That's when he started shedding weight in the months leading up to competition — a phase that's torturous to the appetite of a 20-year-old like Ryan.
"Thanks to everyone who supported me, especially through my dieting," Ryan said, smiling.
Ryan first became interested in body building when he saw his uncle, Brad Ryan of Farmington, perform at a 2006 competition. Through his uncle, he eventually met Laurie Varela, an Albuquerque trainer.
His sisters, twins Randi and Bailey, are LLHS seniors-to-be who seemed the loudest among the Ryan faithful cheering at the July 17 event.
"Just that the last week of training really had him on edge," said Randi Ryan. "He was extremely hungry, but very focused. He was always focused for baseball in high school, but this competition was to see how far he could push his body."
Ryan's career goals include becoming a personal trainer and possibly a gym owner.
"The bodybuilding aspect of it, I think, will help him tremendously in his career of being a personal trainer," said Randi. "If he trains anyone who wants to be a bodybuilder, he will have had the experience, to be more helpful."
Ryan said his parents, Pat and Kathy Ryan, along with my sisters and rest of the family, were very helpful in terms of their love and support during my training. The list of friends Ryan thanks for supporting his mission is like a who's who list of LLHS overachievers from the past few years: Kevin Klein, Marcus Mansfield, Josh Jaramillo, Matt Billups, Rico Gallegos, and Marc Rodriguez.
Klein was directly involved, working out with Ryan at UNM's Johnson Center. Ryan said he's tried to get the tall, lanky Klein involved in bodybuilding, but he knows how few people can make the financial, time-budgeting and psychological commitment to a challenge like his.
Ryan was also one of nine bodybuilders who competed in the Junior class at the July 17 competition, but he didn't place.
"I was one of the lightest competitors in that division," said Ryan. "That division is tricky. It's for anyone up to the age of 23, so there were guys older than me that were up to 20 pounds heavier than me, giving them a big advantage."
Ryan said the experience reminded him of baseball, but only in the adrenaline-rush sense. The way a bodybuilder uses that adrenaline was a completely new experience for Ryan.
"I had been in some extremely tough situations in the batter's box, with all eyes on me," said Ryan. "In baseball, you have to stay calm, not letting your emotions get the best of you, even though you can never control the outcome. On stage, I was able to use every ounce of emotion and energy I had and show it through each and every pose I did.
"I was able to let that adrenaline fuel my posing, the adrenaline coupled with that loud sold out crowd and loud music, gave me the biggest high I have ever experienced."
Like other sports, bodybuilding relies on crowd involvement, especially for newcomers. With many competitors at the KiMo being from out of town, Ryan seemed to benefit from his noisy hometown advantage.
"It definitely kept me focused," he said. "Knowing everyone I loved and cared about most was watching me through every pose really motivated me to nail every pose I executed. Their loud cheering made me a very happy bodybuilder."
