By day: bankers and pharmacists. After work: bodybuilders
This might surprise you as much as it surprised me: A prominent sub-culture of bodybuilding exists in our city, complete with intense rivalries and bragging rights on the line.
One gym where the power is real is CharlotteRIPS off Remount Road. This week, I met 5 everyday Charlotteans who work 10-plus hour days at their jobs, yet find time to test their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual boundaries as they train for this Saturday’s Charlotte Cup Bodybuilding Championship.
Head trainer Vito Steel (yep, that’s his real name) warned me the athletes were in a hangry – hungry-angry – state since it was mere days before the competition.
Nicole Brown
– First-time competitor
– Occupation: Financial analyst at Aramark
– Past athletic experience: swimming
– Gritty quote: “The other day, I put a mint in my mouth and spit it out because I knew it was 35 calories.”
A photo posted by Fit.Chick.Nic (@nbrown07) on Apr 16, 2015 at 6:34am PDT
Adam Cardullo
– First-time competitor
– Occupation: Golf course manager
– Past athletic experience: golf
– Gritty quote: “These guys have gotten me completely addicted to it, but if I don’t win, I don’t win. I’m there to compete, have a good time and enjoy the process.”
Adam is ready for the charlotte cup!!! #charlotterips A photo posted by Vitosteel (@vitosteel) on Feb 26, 2015 at 6:33pm PST
Power Couple
Repost from THEE BEST trainer in Charlotte @vitosteel Getting us right! #SweatyIsTheNewSexy
A photo posted by ~B~ (@drb53) on Oct 13, 2014 at 5:46pm PDT
Her: Brittney Cobb
– First-time competitor
– Occupation: Pharmacist at CVS
– Past athletic experience: None, but she did dance ballet
– Gritty quote: “It makes me feel like there’s more purpose in our relationship. It’s not just about us, but what we can do to help other people and inspire them as well.”
Him: Cameron Dayne
– First-time competitor
– Occupation: Vice president at Wells Fargo
– Past athletic experience: 13-time All-American sprinter/jumper at Morehouse College
– Gritty quote: “When our bodies don’t feel like they’re reacting the way we want them to react, just being able to say to one another, ‘Hey, actually you look great.’”
Jamika Ford
– Second-time competitor
– Occupation: Cosmetology director at Regency Beauty Institute
– 36-year-old mother, Army veteran
– Past athletic experience: none
– Gritty quote: “I really didn’t want to do it at first, but I’ve always been the type of person that likes a challenge. I did it once and I didn’t feel like I brought the best package, so I was like, ‘Next year, I’m going to bring a better package.’”
Charlton “CJ” Giles
– Second-time competitor
– Occupation: Business control specialist at Bank of America
– Past athletic experience: Track and field
– Gritty quote: “When you’re just working out just to work out, there’s really no goal to try and reach for. Having something to push you towards going an extra rep or going harder in the gym, that’s kind of what led me to do this.”
A photo posted by Magneto (@cjgiles1983) on Feb 12, 2015 at 5:27pm PST
//><!--Charlotte Cup pre-judging is 10 a.m. Saturday with the finals set for 6 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center. I don’t think they’ll be handing out mints though.//--><!
10 days out. Im soooo not ready but imma go down fighting. #charlottecup2015 #charlotterips #fitnesslifestyle A photo posted by Magneto (@cjgiles1983) on Apr 15, 2015 at 11:43am PDT
Cover photo: Diedra Laird/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 4:35 PM with the headline "By day: bankers and pharmacists. After work: bodybuilders."