NIC student competes in his first Bodybuilding competition

Garrett Harrison waves to the crowd at The Bing Crosby Theatre in downtown Spokane after doing classic body building poses.

Garrett Harrison shows of his physique at the body building competition held at The Bing Crosby Theatre.

Garrett Harrison shows off his back muscles to the judges at the body building competition.

Garrett Harrison (far left) shows off his physique with two other competitors at the body building competition.

North Idaho college student Garrett Harrison, 19, competed in his first bodybuilding competition at the Bing Crosby Theatre in downtown Spokane for the GBO (Global Bodybuilding Organization).  Harrison also played for the NIC Cardinals soccer team last semester.  Harrison had seen many of his friends doing the bodybuilding competitions and found an interest in doing it himself, although he said never believed he would actually do it in the future.
Harrison is currently amidst his general studies at NIC but would like to take a semester off and then come back studying sports nutrition and personal training.  This was Harrison’s first bodybuilding competition and said most people start getting their diet together in the training process about 20 weeks out, but he started 10 weeks out.  He typically works out 6 days a week with some cardio in the morning and additional workouts in the afternoon.  He said he focused  solely on one body part a day.  Harrison’s friend, Austin Polsen, a former NIC student is now Harrison’s coach for body building and has done at least 4 competitions himself.
Harrison said he changed his diet to just things like chicken, rice and asparagus.  He noted that he has little carbohydrates and eats very clean but early on in his training he would eat pancakes after his long workouts to replenish the body and give more energy.  He also noted he didn’t rely on supplements like other bodybuilders but stuck with a strong diet and workout regime.  After all the training and preparation bodybuilders apply a spray tan which Harrison notes goes on in a few coats and is difficult to remove after.
“I was so nervous before the competition and was shaking but I went out there smiled and waved at the crowd and I immediately felt more confident.  It was the biggest rush I’ve had.”
The bodybuilding competitions have different categories by age and level of experience, but they don’t focus on weight, instead pairing the competitors up by height.  Harrison walked away with two trophies and said he hopes to do another one coming up at the Kroc Center.
Harrison said, focus on studying personal training and sports nutrition, he would be focussing on the business aspect too, and to someday open up a gym that has physique and competition rooms and do stuff that has never been done before as far as a competition gym.