Who is Big Ron Partlow?

 

By Asha Menon, Photos by Musclemag's Garry Bartlett - 2006 Nationals.

 

BIG RON PARTLOW.  I wonder if there's anyone in this province who doesn't know the name; who doesn't admire the man.  I've waited a long time to sit down with this amazing man and find out who he REALLY is.  At long last, here we go…

 

Ron Partlow was born on October 14, 1975 in Grande Prairie, Alberta.  He grew up on a farm with his three older siblings: one brother and two sisters.  It's kind of funny to think of Ron as the baby of the family (ANY family!).  Anyway, I asked Ron how it all began…

 

"I grew up wanting to do things that most other kids weren't doing.  I guess that tells you something....  I spent all of my winters as a kid (from ages 5-16) skiing and I was pretty good. I was really getting into freestyle the last several years and would have probably wound up competing if I had kept going.  I spent the summers riding a freestyle bike - mostly flatland, which is still one of my favorite things to watch.  I still love BMX Freestyle and watch it every chance I get.  I also spent 3 years in Tae Kwon Do, and won a few medals in it.  I played football for the GP Composite High Warriors, and we won a league title in 92 (my grade 12 year, grad 93) and I was awarded League's Best Linebacker."

 

 

BMX? Tae Kwon Do? Football?  What about bodybuilding?

"I was in grade 9 and a few guys in my class started working out.  I could see them getting better arms, and looking different, so I started asking questions and thinking about it.  Then I saw Conan the Barbarian on the late show one night with my dad, and I decided that I had to look like that someday.  I was amazed at the amount of muscle Arnold carried in that movie, and decided I was going to start lifting weights."

 

The first time he walked into a gym, Ron knew he was going to be a competitive bodybuilder.  Deciding to get his feet wet as a junior, Ron competed in a couple of local (non ABBA sanctioned) contests.  After competing in his Grade 12 year, he was told that he'd clean up at the Northerns if he could step on stage at an incredible 230 pounds!  He took the advice to heart.  He spent a few years training hard and started dieting for the 1997 Northerns at 265 lbs. – he weighed in at 232.

 

Ron spent the next several years training hard, dieting harder and stepping on stage next to some very competitive athletes.  Under the guidance of Scott Abel, he brought in his best EVER package to the 2006 National Bodybuilding competition in Saskatoon, where he took a very close second in the Super Heavyweight category.

 

Big Ron finds inspiration in his daily interactions with people.  "All sorts of people inspire me.  I get a lot (of inspiration) from other athletes in other sports.  I get a good deal of fuel from watching my clients diet and train for shows.  It reminds me of what it takes to be the best you can be, and to do it for yourself."

Pushing the mind and body again and again for nearly a decade obviously takes superior levels of motivation.  I asked Ron where he finds his.  "I guess it is just the commitment that motivates me.  I know that if I am going to do a show, in 10 months, I have to take advantage of every workout, and do my best everyday because I can't get any of these days back.  I tell myself 'If it was easy, it wouldn't be so cool.'"  And it is cool.  Very Cool.

 

But Big Ron isn't just the mammoth that we see up on stage.  He has a very full life, and is a great example of an athlete who manages to achieve a very healthy balance.  For example, this is the average day in the life of Ron Partlow:

"I get up around 11am, eat meal 1.  Then I watch some TV or work on the computer (email, clients, etc.).  Meal 2, then go meet with a few clients, then train around 4-5.  I get in another 3-4 meals and do some more computer work in the evening, sometimes going to bed really late.  I usually go to bed at 3am.......I am a night owl, have been my whole life."

And that's just 'home' life.  Ron is also a veteran bartender at one of Edmonton's hottest spots, the Urban Lounge.

 

Has bodybuilding changed Ron Partlow?

"It has molded me and shaped me totally.  Not in a direct way necessarily, but through the people I have met and friends I have made because of it.  The lifestyle itself has taught me a great deal about commitment, discipline, hard work, etc, but certain people involved have taught me a great deal more.   Because of bodybuilding, I have traveled the world, lived overseas, made life-long friends (some in other countries), trained with some of the best in the world (including several pros), and partied with the best of them.....lol (Editor's note: he must be referring to me).   Now I make a living because of the sport dieting and training clients, so I owe a lot to it.  I have had many adventures because of this lifestyle."

 

Ron hopes to have continued success in the sport into the future.  "I want to win a National Title.  That means winning my class at Nationals.  If I can do that, then I can get a National Champion tattoo, which I have wanted for many years.  The Overall title and IFBB Pro card are like a dream, but I guess we'll see, won't we?"  Well, Ron, I know that if all your fans had their say, you'd already have it all.

 

An athlete of this magnitude doesn't make the climb to the top on his own.  Ron would like to thank:

"Everyone who roots for me and supports me along the way

All the guys and gals at Hardcore who give me the "hey" nod, and maybe lend a spot when I need one

The staff at the Urban Lounge.  They are so great and were behind me 100% again this year.  Picking up slack when I was really tired, covering the odd shift I couldn't work, and keeping the job fun which is hard to come by while dieting, LOL.  While a lot of people have bosses who want them to cover up, or not eat so much, etc, Urban has allowed me to be a full on bodybuilder.  I eat when I need to, and they love it when I actually use my bodybuilding to add to the business, like bringing in people to party after shows, etc.  Then there was the Alberta Beef fundraiser this year, the second time at Urban and it was very generous of them."

 

He would also like to thank his family for supporting him and believing in him, as well as his clients for being so fun to work with, and so inspirational.  And, of course his friends… his close friends – "you know who you are".

 

Big Ron Partlow is one of a kind.  Incredible athlete, true friend, and a generous, caring spirit.  Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting this man will agree.  Thanks for sharing your story, Ron.  I know you're a big inspiration to a lot of people.

PS. Thanks for the vodka. ;)

 

BIG RON PARTLOW: FACTS

 

Favorite Body Part to Train: 

 

I don't think I have a favorite or least favorite.  I guess I love training back, and legs.  They are so brutal and demanding, but after I'm done I feel like I have actually really accomplished something that most could not.  I like the way I look best after training chest or arms.

 

Strongest body part?  Weakest?

 

I've always been able to push a lot of weight with my legs, probably from all the stuff I did as a kid.   Hard to say what the weakest is, as I train with pretty moderate weights on most things.  I guess arms.

 

Competition history:

 

1997 Northerns - 1st heavy

1998 Albertas - 3rd heavy

1999 Albertas - 1st Heavy and Overall

2000 Canadian Nationals- 2nd Super Heavyweight 3rd (2002), 2nd (2003),

2001 Canadian Nationals- 5th Super Heavyweight

2002 Canadian Nationals- 3rd Super Heavyweight

2003 Canadian Nationals- 2nd Super Heavyweight

2004 Canadian Nationals- 4th Super Heavyweight

2006 Canadian Nationals- 2nd Super Heavyweight

 

Sponsors:

 

Hardcore Gym, Bio X, Urban Lounge

 

They have all been great to me.  I still bartend at Urban Friday and Saturday nights, so anybody in the Edmonton area, come down for a drink! 

 

Website and Contact Info.