The World's Greatest Bodybuilder -- by Russell Block
The first installment of this story can be found here.
Not only free weights, but machines, too, are vital to my routine. If the machines here were not of the highest caliber, then this gym would not appeal much to serious bodybuilders, to say nothing of the man though to be the greatest bodybuilder in the world; and I would also look elsewhere, if the machines were subpar. As it is, the selection is impressively up to date and varied, such that I rarely, if ever, feel tempted to find another gym or facility, knowing that this in itself would waste considerable time and effort. Older machines are available and remain useful. Every good bodybuilder, however, and especially the elitist of elite, knows that without access to the best machines even a perfected routine is of little use. When I see that the path is clear, if I am working out one an old machine, I will stop, although this inevitably disrupts my routine, and hurry in the direction of the newest and best equipment. If I am not exhausted already by this point in my routine, I try to keep from drawing too much attention to myself, and thereby hope no other bodybuilder notices the machine is free. Once there, when the machine looks improperly ridded of sweat, I will sometimes need to continue past it, either to get water and return to the machine I just left as if nothing happened, or to another and inferior machine nearby. To use a machine that was not properly treated after use would be considered a sign of desperation and gain the attention of the other bodybuilders, especially the most important of them. When I do get to use the best of the equipment, and I must correct myself if I exaggerated and made it seem like the use of those exemplary machines is impossible, then I begin to feel my form teem and strength increase. This feeling made the continued pursuit of my goals worth all of the inescapable disappointment.
Until recently, this worked. Of course, the routines I would devise, while nearly perfect in themselves, were always disrupted in one way or another, and this exhausted me and made hope not only counterproductive, but all but futile. All bodybuilders contend with this feeling to a certain degree. The apparent greatest bodybuilder in the world, so considered because he holds several titles, including Mr. Steelers Annual, Mr. Absolutely Indomitable, and Atlas Himself, works out in a special section of the gym I have never seen. Titles, perhaps more than the myriad other outward indicators we pursue in order to prove ourselves, convey who is a superior bodybuilder, who inferior. Of course, there are many reasons to strive for an ideal by lifting weights, and a special section, such as Mr. Steelers Annual enjoys and where I hear there are no disruptions, is not strictly necessary. For those that are absolutely dedicated to becoming both ideal and superior, by virtue of a special relationship with the world’s greatest, there is an enviable allowance made, but only for select periods of the day, that allow them access to this exclusive section. Although it has been witnessed directly by few, it is generally understood to contains sets of weights and machines in sufficient quantity and quality to satisfy any conceivable want the most imaginative bodybuilder could devise, but what is more, and this is truly important, these much talked about devices are arrayed in such a way that they allow for routines that would be impossible to implement in the public gym.
