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May/June 2002
Reflect, Relax
and Re-Group
After
a grueling but solid Spring season, followed up by
being on the road for appearances most weekends, I
finally had a chance to catch my breath. I am getting
a taste of the life of an IFBB pro - gone every weekend.
But, hey, this is what guys dream of and I am finally
getting to live it. No complaints whatsoever!
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"The
Mask" Routine
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For
example, a few weeks ago, I received a call, with
one day's
notice, to fly to St. Louis to guest pose in Jean
Pierre Fux's place (he suffered severe quad injury
during a photo shoot). I hopped on the plane (good
thing I stay in decent off-season shape) and gave
the fans at the Caveman Classic a showing of my "The
Mask" routine. This routine, I have to humbly say,
has been getting requests across the country since
I debuted it in Texas at a show for Ed Pariso.
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Garrett,
Mike Dragna and fellow Marines
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Just
got back from Hawaii where I guest posed and gave
seminars with Flex, Shawn, Nasser and Quincy Taylor,
including one at Kaneo Bay for my brothers in the
Corps. Sempre Fi, bros! Nasser
kept me in stitches the whole weekend with his deadpan
humor. My props to Shawn for displaying his great
emceeing and moderating skills at our seminar and
special props to Flex for looking great and being
on track to do the O. Your physique, Flex, is looking
like the one I admired and aspired to as a young wide-eyed
amateur.
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Dinner
in Maui with Flex and Shawn and our ladies
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After
the bodybuilding show and expo, Flex, Shawn and I
made a trip to Maui with our respective "better halves"
for a great getaway and much needed vacation. I was
a long-time fan of Flex and Shawn when I was coming
up through the ranks and they are both in great places
in their careers and lives right now, guaranteed to
be doing good things for the sport in the coming months.
Can't wait to see them in their respective roles kicking
butt at the O!
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Marjo
and Hannu Selin and Garrett at "Reps"
in Maui
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I
had a great workout at "Reps," the private training
facility in Maui owned by former IFBB Pro Marjo Selin
and her husband, Hannu, icons of the sport and enjoyed
hanging out at the "spa" at the Grand Waliea
Resort.
Thank
you, Marjo and Hannu, as well as Tom Ockerman and
promoter Keith Jones for the Hawaiian hospitality.
Just what I needed to give me time relax, reflect
and prepare for next season!
Speaking
of which… below
is a quick recap
of the Spring shows written immediately after finishing
all 5 shows (Ironman through Australia). I've taken
a step back, particularly after re-reading this recap,
and realized a few things about my physique, my potential
and my plan of attack for the future.
1. No more doing 5 shows in a row,
including overseas shows, which result in being
on 3 continents in less than 5 days. No, no no.
I did it last year and didn't learn my lesson. Did
it again this year and I think I learned that there
is no value in doing all those shows, UNLESS you
are Chris Cormier or Dexter Jackson who can pick
up paychecks along the way. While I came home proud
of myself for presenting a decent physique and garnering
great fan feedback from around the world, my body
was totally beat up. I had initially planned on
doing the Southwest, the NOC and the Toronto shows.
But, I was so physically destroyed from the 5 shows
and the traveling, that I had to pull out and give
my body a rest. However, now I am kicking myself,
because, no disrespect to the line-up at these shows,
but I could have done quite well and likely qualified
for the O (I am not coming to this conclusion on
my own - I've received tons of emails telling me
this) had I entered. So, again, no more doing all
these shows in a row!
2.
Garrett Downing needs to be rock hard.
I don't think there's too much more elaboration
needed here. I tried the "fullness" game and it's
not necessary for me. I already have round muscle
bellies that frankly, look better depleted. In fact,
I've learned that my muscle bellies, in my abs for
example, are so round naturally that I run the risk
of looking smooth if there is the even slightest
amount of extra fat or water on my body. So, again,
I'd do better to be depleted and starved on stage.
Not carb loaded.
3.
Garrett Downing needs to make 2 small muscularity
changes - bigger triceps and bigger legs.
I could skip training my chest, shoulders and back
for 3 months and it wouldn't matter. In fact, I
did that for the NOC, focusing almost solely on
my legs in 2000 and it made a difference. My legs
were actually more in proportion with my upper body.
Sounds like a lot of leg training in store for me.
Bring it on!
So,
there we have it. Good lessons learned. And, lessons
that will be successfully applied as I get ready for
the next season. Mark my words on that. I have heard
the buzz enough from folks…."If that Garrett Downing
would just get his legs up a bit more and come in
hard enough, it would be 'game over' for many."
Meanwhile, I am having a great time with my appearance
schedule. Just got word that "The Mask" routine got
another request to appear on stage for the Master's
O and the Jan Tana in August where the theme is "Hollywood."
How appropriate! See you there.
Best
in Health and Fitness,
- Garrett
Garrett's
Spring Show Recap
IRONMAN
- I like doing this show because it's close to
home and relatively easy in regards to travel etc.
After reviewing my condition from last year, as well
as taking in the feedback that I needed to be larger
(particularly in light of athletes who were fuller,
but not necessary harder than I), I made a conscience
decision to come in bigger and fuller this year. So,
while I wasn't as hard as I had in 2001 where I placed
6th, I did come in with the fullness I was striving
for. While the feedback was good overall on my package
and my improved stage presence, I did fail to be as
sharp as last year. Oh well, life goes on you have
to dust yourself off and go on to the next show (or,
is it the next FOUR shows!?)
ARNOLD
CLASSIC - Arnold and Jim Lorimer always put on
a wonderful show - from picking us up at the airport
to arranging transportation for grocery runs from
the hotel, it's first class service the whole way.
Given the feedback that "fuller" wasn't the right
look for me, I did extra cardio and dieted like crazy
for the week going into the Arnold. Everything went
like clockwork. By Wednesday I'd shed an additional
5 lbs, which in my eyes, made me look better from
the previous week. However, Murphy's Law took over…during
the morning of the Arnold Classic I felt an itchy
throat and mild body aches. Thinking this was simply
requisite dehydration, I pressed on. But, when it
was time to get on stage, I knew I was coming down
with the flu. It was a done deal. I began to fill
up with water under my skin and I started to sweat
profusely. Damn! Knowing I had another show to do,
I started to drink water to stay hydrated in the hopes
of staving off the illness so I could go on to the
SF show as well as the 2 overseas shows. But it proceeded
to make me hold more water. Hardly making excuses
for my placing, because last minute changes are what
make one competitive. But, I do have to say that I
have a case of Murphy's Law. Have I EVER managed to
pick a show that wasn't the most competitive of the
season?! The Arnold was very competitive and boasted
a heck of a line-up. So, the way I look at it, sick
with the flu, I still stood on one of the greatest
stages in bodybuilding and had a blast with the fans
and my unconventional routine that's replete with
self-deprecation and humor. After years of being serious
on stage, I am finally letting my real personality
out - that of a clown.
SAN
FRANCISCO - I love this city and believe I will
live there in the future. I love the diversity, the
culture, (let's not forget the food) and how the San
Francisco fans appreciate bodybuilding. After more
excessive cardio, completed amid afull blown flu,
to my surprise, I cut some additional weight from
not eating and slamming water to keep my fever down.
And when the time came for me to step on stage I managed
to have myself together despite a fever of 102 degrees
on stage. Thanks the drying out effects of Sudafed,
I actually managed to present a very good package
on stage.
AUSTRIAN
GRAND PRIX. Austria was not kind to GD. The flight
over plus an 8 hour long lay-over in Milan, adding
up to over 24 hours of travel time, caused my flu
symptoms to get even worse. Can you imagine being
slumped over in the Milan airport waiting area for
8 hours? With a fever and sweating? Uugh! When I finally
got in to Vienna it resembled last year's trip to
Budapest. The local cabbies take you on the "scenic
trip" around town, charging you an arm and a leg to
go a few miles. And, the show had its share of comical
moments as well. For some reason every time I got
on stage for a comparison, the lights would go off
in the theater! Hey, I hope nobody was trying to tell
me something about my physique. This went on several
times - go on stage, lights go off. Exit stage, lights
go on, etc. All I can say, is thank goodness for my
good friend and fellow IFBB Pro Jamo Nezzar because
at least we had a good time together and some good
luck finally came my way - the waiter at our hotel
just happened to be Algerian. We were finally well
taken care of thanks to Jamo's shared language and
cultural background. If Jamo hadn't been there, I
am fairly sure I would have starved!!
AUSTRALIAN
GRAND PRIX - What can I say here? Tony Doherty
does another terrific job of promoting a show in the
land down under. Tony has transportation waiting on
us as we arrive in Melbourne and steaks on the "barbie"
at his gym. Tony is the man when it comes to promoting
a show the right way. Feed us like pigs ready for
slaughter and we are one happy bunch of guys. The
Aussie fans are great too. My friends Amber and Eric
have shown me great Aussie hospitality for the past
two years. Many thanks, Amber and Eric. And, the Aussie
wine was wonderful treat when I returned… See you
again.
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