No ... not the sword of Arthurian legend ... but the Excalibur Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championship in Culver City last night. A friend of ours—Troy—competed and we were determined to cheer him on. Troy got into the Finals and frankly, it was a real eye-opener. The one thing that slightly took me off-guard was the obsession with tan spraying. Ninety percent of the contestants sported a vibrant orange tan which was slightly disconcerting.
This championship was geared towards the "Masters" meaning men over 40. About 20 contestants were in their late fifties and flexing muscles I didn't even know existed. Their commitment to their art was jaw-dropping. The female bodybuilders were equally impressive.
Later at home as I tucked into a delicious plate of Trader Joe's Brie sprinkled with roasted hazelnuts and cranberries, I had to accept the truth that competing at Excalibur next year is highly unlikely for yours truly.
Now that Arnold Schwarzenegger is no longer "The Governator," I wonder if he'll go back to bodybuilding?
