The focus was on “getting myself in a better place than last year — beating myself — trying to do it better than last year”.
Now, coming off a second placing in Hawke’s Bay this month, Walsh is ready to present the results of his labour to the judges and public in Gisborne.
His brother Tawhiri Walsh, who owns the Gizzy Muscle gym, is one of the organisers of the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (NABBA) event.
A lot of tasks had to be done — such as organising music for the evening show, sorting out prizes and sponsorship — but watching athletes put in the effort made this worthwhile, he said.
Fellow organiser Dianne Akurangi, who developed the Metcon RX gym, expects a strong local line-up on the stage.
The event has traditionally run in September but was shifted to earlier in the calendar so less time would elapse between regional competitions.
Akurangi wasn’t quite sure what effect that would have but a dozen locals had confirmed their entry by Wednesday.
Ron Tamatea, 58, a former Poverty Bay and YMP rugby player, is one person Tawhiri Walsh encouraged to give the sport a go.
“He’s looking good,” Walsh said.
“His wife says he’s got his 35-year-old body back.”
Another who has signed up is LRB Sports agent Luke Bradley.
Bradley re-injured his back last year playing rugby and “wanted to show others that even with injuries you can work around them to maintain a decent physique”.
“I wanted to be a ‘practise what you preach’ type agent.”
Teacher Jual Toroa is an artist and mother-of-five and still finds the time for bodybuilding.
“Managing my time has been the biggest challenge,” she said.
“I’m a teacher at Te Kura Kaupapa o Horouta Wananga for three days of the week, graphic designer for our business Kaea Media and do animations for Te Amokura Productions.”
After graduating with a master’s degree, she wanted a new goal and “clean eating” and weight training appealed to her. She had “always wanted” to get into bodybuilding.
In mornings, she’s up early getting her children ready for school, taking vitamins and supplements and making sure she is drinking enough water and her intake of carbohydrates and protein is about right.
Toroa usually prepares food on Sundays.
On Mondays and Tuesdays, she normally hits the weights in the morning and cardio in the afternoon.
Abdominal muscles get a workout and there’s more cardio on Wednesdays, and weights are back on Thursday and Friday afternoons, with cardio in the mornings.
“Saturdays, I’d go right over Kaiti Hill and back again before we have weigh-in and posing practice.
“I started training on a Sunday as well about four weeks out just to build areas I felt needed more work. So it has been quite full-on.”
Johnny Walsh said that, having trained last year, he knew what he was in for this time.
Having a routine was good for him and his children could see the benefits of exercise, he said.
“The diet’s always the hardest part.
“You have to be mentally tough,” he said.
“This is hands down the hardest thing I’ve done in my life.”
The judging rounds start at midday tomorrow and the evening show begins at 5pm.
Tickets are available at Stephen Jones Photography.
