You summed up exactly how I feel and look at it. I'll never be a pro. Hell my ultimate goal is to just step on a national stage I don't care if I plave just to stand up there and look the best I can would be like the peak for me
Standing on a national stage with 40-50 guys while in top shape seems like an awesome experience, right? Wrong.
It sucks when you stand there for the top call outs and miss the cut to pose in the night show finals. Been there/done that.
Plus, you just spent a bunch of $$ competing in a show you had zero impact in.
Mike, I've won and placed high at smaller events.
I competed in a few big shows , rarely did well and got lost in the crowd.
Being a BIG fish in a smaller pond is 100x better then being a minnow in the ocean.
Like your wife did, conquer the lower level 1st and you'll KNOW you can run with the big dogs.