Through blood, sweat, and perseverance, a group of people from Morden made a lot of sacrifices to compete in a bodybuilding competition.

Kurt Miller, Cheryl Warkentine, Kari Friesen and Karen Chezick competed in the 2019 Manitoba Van Dijk Classic Open, and Chezick placed second in her category.

Chezick began her bodybuilding journey when she was inspired at a leadership seminar where they had to set work and personal goals.

"My husband has lifted weights the entire time we've been together, and while it intrigued me, I was much more of a cardio girl and didn't have a lot of interest in the weight training aspect. But, I knew the health benefits of it, so at this seminar, I set a personal goal to lift weights three days per week. That was three years ago. I originally set a goal to be fit for my 50th birthday; I loved it so much it took off from there. I competed for the first time during my 50th year, and while I really hadn't thought I'd do it again the following year, I decided to do it again," she said.

Preparing to compete on stage is a lot of work and is approached differently by coaches and trainers, Chezick says. Her coach, who happens to be her husband, had her begin training 20 weeks before the competition, training an average of six days a week.

Chezick says during prep-training you feel tired, sore, and hungry, adjusting to a new temporary lifestyle effects others more than it does yourself.

"While you have to re-arrange your schedule around your eating and training, I find it's actually my family that had to give up more. You spend more time at the gym and can't partake in all of the fun events and food that goes along with those. It carries a huge impact on them. I'm very fortunate to have an incredibly supportive coach/husband and family as well as my work family, who are also impacted by this. Emotionally, prep can be challenging, which I definitely found this time through, but it is what it is. You've set your mind to a goal, and nothing stands in your way, but it's something that you have to want."

That work and effort paid off, with Chezick placing second place; however, the placing was never the goal for her. She says placing second was excellent, but the real achievement was being leaner and stronger than she was last year, and although the stage time is short, she says the sense of accomplishment you feel and being able to share it with friends and family is all worth it.

With the competition behind her, Chezick says she will continue to train hard and eat well as she simply enjoys the lifestyle.