After nearly 25 years of competition, Rob Robson is going to the Super Bowl.
Robson, 42, has competed as a bodybuilder and power lifter since the age of 18. Although in recent years he has focused mainly on bodybuilding, Robson has won and placed high in competitions in each sport throughout his career.
After placing third at the 2010 Musclemania Mr. America bodybuilding contest in Las Vegas, Nev., last November, Robson qualified for Musclemania Mr. Universe in Miami, Fla., on Friday through Saturday, June 17-18.
This is big time. This is my Super Bowl, Robson said about Mr. Universe, which welcomes bodybuilders from around the world.
To prepare for Mr. Universe, it has been an arduous three month process where Robson has battled continuous right elbow and left shoulder problems. Not to mention sticking to a daily 1,500 calorie diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates, and lifting weights for 60 to 90 minutes daily and doing cardiovascular endurance exercise for at least two hours a day.
Its tough. Ive been plagued with injuries, but Im going to do it anyway, Robson said.
The elbow injury causes a painful strain while flexing, so Robson is hoping that it will heal enough in time for Mr. Universe where he wants to ultimately win, but will be satisfied to place at least top-five.
If I can place top-five, Ill be happy. If I can win, Ill be even happier, Robson said.
Robson is a certified personal trainer and nutritionist at the Ute Mountain Recreation Center in Towaoc. The Ute Mountain Ute Indian tribe is sponsoring Robson for Mr. Universe, as well as Hair Affair, located at 326 West Montezuma Avenue.
Traveling to bodybuilding competitions, Robson gets plenty of help from his sponsors, but credits his wife, Deina, for being the greatest help of all, his coach. Deina Robson helps her husband with his diet and nutrition, tanning and provides motivation.
She keeps me online and on track. It would be real hard to do it without her, Rob said about his wife.
The last two days before competition, Rob Robson will up his carbohydrate intake to gain the appropriate weight for Mr. Universe. He competed at 193 pounds for Mr. America.
I carb load for the last two days, which means I get about anywhere from 400 to 600 grams of carbs a day. It really fills me out, makes me look real big, Rob said.
Rob Robson has been competing in Musclemania, which is an all natural bodybuilding competition, meaning competitors are tested for drugs, for three years now. Before Musclmania, he was a member of Muscle Beach, Calif., (MBC) for 20 years.
I like the Musclemania a lot better. They drug test, so its a lot more fair to me, Rob said. Everybody is on a level playing field. You got what you got and thats all you got.
After almost two and a half decades of competing, the years have taken its toll on Rob Robson. But if the right opportunity presents itself for bodybuilding, hell keep training.
Every one I do, I say its the last one, Rob said about training for bodybuilding competitions. Ill probably do another one. I always say I dont want to do anymore, but I always end up doing more.
Rob Robson also has five kids, which he says provide great support.
Its kind of a family affair, he said.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com