Part 25 - OPA Regionals in Sudbury

Well I'm back from my first bikini competition which took place in Sudbury on May 25, 2013. I also entered two figure categories while I was there. To say the least....IT WAS A SPECTACULAR WEEKEND!!!

At the last minute, I decided to take an overnight bus. It was the best idea ever since I was traveling alone. Ed couldn't join me because he was running the marathon at Ottawa Race Weekend. I basically got on the bus in Ottawa at midnight and woke up in Sudbury 6.5 hours later. As I had booked an extra hotel night for Thursday, I was able to check in early Friday morning on my arrival. The whole day was spent relaxing. Took an afternoon nap, prepped my hair for the next day and watched lots of TV. On Friday evening, I went to the competitor registration and meeting, then for my spray tan which was being done very near my room. It was a perfect prep day!

I had a good sleep and got up on Saturday morning feeling completely relaxed. I had no idea what I was about to face but it didn't matter. I was happy with how I looked and felt.

My first category was Figure Masters Short (over 35 and up to 5'4"). There were 8 of us. I got first call-out, they juggled the line-up, had us do our compulsory poses together, juggled again and positioned me center stage...wow what a feeling!

Next up was Figure Grandmasters (over 45, no height restriction). There were 8 of us again. This was a little tougher for me. I got first call-out and landed off center for comparisons. Standing there I knew that the woman next to me would be crowned the winner. I was okay with that because it's always difficult for me to stand out amongst tall women. I'm a pipsqueak and I know it!

My final division was Bikini Masters (over 35, no height restriction). This time there were 13 of us. Oh I had so much fun in this category. My dance background definitely helped to make me comfortable in my poses and transitions. Again I got first call-out. After they juggled us, it was difficult to assess how I was doing. The final comparison had an even number of us in front of the judges and I was placed in the center with someone else. Needless to say, it felt great to be sharing that spot with a bombshell almost 20 years younger than myself!

With the prejudging completed, it was now time to wait. Someone commented that they thought I'd make top 3 in each of my categories. I shrugged it off because one never knows what could happen and what the judges are looking for on that day. I've built myself up in the past and been let down so I wasn't going to do that to myself again. It is what it is and I was ready to accept whatever was dealt to me.

The evening finals arrived and it was time to hear the verdict. Here is it:
1st place Figure Masters (over 35 and up to 5'4")
3rd place Figure Grandmasters (over 45 with no height restriction)
2nd place Bikini Masters (over 35 with no height restriction)

Figure Masters (over 35 and up to 5'4")

Figure Grandmasters (over 45, no height restriction)

WOOHOO...EFFIN' A...I am thrilled with the results!!! I quickly texted my guy Ed Binggeli and my trainer Ken Clement. What a wonderful feeling it was to hear the glee in their responses!!!

So what did I eat after the show? A cheeseburger and fries with a really big beer! I worked hard for it. It was my first cheat meal in a while then I got right back on the diet.

I made plenty of new friends at the competition and had a great time. The whole event ran smoothly and everyone was welcoming. Soooo glad I went. And this was the same stage I stood on when I won my first bodybuilding competition in 1981. How sweet is that?

Ed met me at the bus terminal on Sunday with a bouquet of roses...I cried...it was so nice to see him! Oh and he had a fantastic run at his marathon. He did 4:08 which was about 20 minutes faster than his norm. I like to believe that I pumped some energy into him with the news of my own weekend.

Next stop is the Ontario Championships at the Toronto SuperShow on June 1st. Ed will be joining me this time, as well as teammates Kierston Fu and Marie-Pierre Dumont, and our trainer Ken. Hope to see you there!

Part 24 - One Year Later

Well folks it's been almost a year since I posted an entry in my blog. And wow has it been a great year! After placing 2nd in Figure Open (all ages, short class) and failing to make top 5 in Figure Grandmasters (over 45) at the Ontario Championships in June 2012, I took some time to step back and examine my future in the sport. Feeling that I was too tiny to stand a chance against the amazons in grandmasters where there are no height divisions, my first thought was to try my luck in the bikini category.

That thought didn't last long because deep down I am simply too hard core. The first time I saw a bikini competition at a physique event, I didn't think it belonged. Sorry girls!!! Since that time, however, it has grown on me. I've learned to appreciate the art of it and rather enjoy the sex appeal. It just wasn't something I could see myself doing. Kind of strange since I always strive to be sensual in my ballroom dancing.

For those visiting my blog for the first time, you're invited to read from Part 1 to review the background story. You can find out more about how and why I decided to strut my stuff in my 50s.

For now, it might help you to realize what the different categories are:
- Bikini is soft core and flirty, most comparable to modelling;
- Figure is for the athletic woman with a good degree of tone and symmetry;
- Fitness is similar to Figure combined with an aerobic or gymnastic routine;
- Physique is for the muscular woman with more mass and definition than Figure; and
- Bodybuilding is for the super muscular...enough said!

About a month after last year's provincials, I decided that if I was going to give Figure another shot it would be best to have a trainer. So one day I walked up to the counter at Florida Fitness and asked Ken Clement to take me on as a client. Ken and I go way back. It was a little weird asking him to take care of me when it was I who guided him through the ins and outs of competition 30 years ago. Today he is one of the best coaches and stage hands in the region. Ken advised me to continue working out on my own for the rest of the summer and come September we were going to draw a plan and get to it.

That's exactly what we did!!!

For the past 9 months, Ken and I have been together twice a week for grueling workouts and strategizing. I do other workouts and cardio on my own. I'm no spring chicken and have been through many contest preps but I truly respect Ken for his expertise and genuine love for the sport. He has remained active in the industry through the years, unlike myself who disappeared completely for many years prior to resurfacing.

Here we are today getting ready to hit the provincials again and I've made an about turn and decided to give bikini a shot after all. Hahaha, I truly never thought I'd say that!!!

The main problem with this decision is that I'm not qualified to enter the bikini category at the provincial level. It's necessary to place in a regional competition first. So I'm on my way to the Sudbury Championships on May 25th, one week prior to the provincials.

It's been a hard road of late as I've had to introduce new moves to my stage presence practice. The focus is on softening my look to accommodate bikini even though I've been training all year for figure. That said, I've decided to kill two birds with one stone. I will also compete in Masters Figure (over 35, short class) in Sudbury. If I place, I will be able to compete at the provincials as a Master which has height divisions, rather than Grandmaster which does not. Being 5 foot nothing can sometimes be detrimental. Plus, I have already proven that I fair better against competitors my size rather than with those my age.

With just a few days to prepare, it's time to decide which suits to wear. Here are my choices. Feel free to vote!

What got me excited to finally make an entry in my blog after so long? Well, recently the "Girls of Florida Fitness" got together at the gym for a bikini practice session. Ken was there taking us through our paces. Jennifer Lambert-Foster, our stage presence expert, was not there. But she had a really good excuse. She was busy bringing a beautiful baby boy into the world. Congrats Jen!

The practice session got me super pumped. It was only then that I knew I'd made it to my target. As the hour wore on, the bikini poses got more and more comfortable. Ken told me afterwards that every time he glanced past me, he felt like I was doing the wrong poses, He's so accustomed to seeing me strike more rigid poses designed for figure competition. Believe me, I'm more amazed than anyone that I'm actually doing this!

Ed showed up unexpectedly to support us. This made me beam a whole lot more. Smiling and working the crowd is essential in bikini competition. It was perfect that Ed came as it's important for him to fully understand what I'm involved in. He has been there with me every step of the way and has sponsored all my beautiful outfits.

It's the home stretch now after a full year of preparation and I FEEL GREAT!!!

At 54 years of age, I'm preparing for my first bikini competition!!!

Yikes, am I really going to do this?