Unbreakable Dave Goodin

54-Year-Old Pro Bodybuilder Dave Goodin Doesn’t Let Setbacks Set Him Back‌

Dave Goodin is a freak—and I say that as the highest compliment. The time clock will hit 55 in March, but the darn guy has a body that makes dudes 30 years younger fill with envy. And he’s drug-free to boot. Shoot, the “Texas Shredder,” out of Austin, has racked up more bodybuilding titles than George Clooney has sacked, er, racked up relationships (about three dozen in both instances) and a handful of powerlifting crowns as well.

‌In 2009 the 5’7”, 170-pound muscle machine took the IFBB North American masters 50-and-over middleweight and overall titles before moving on to topple the lightweight class in the same division at the ’09 IFBB World Amateur Masters Championships. Earlier the same season, Goodin had aced the welterweight class at the NPC Team Universe, which earned him a spot on the United States team for the Men’s World Amateur Championships, where he finished eighth. His victory at the North Americans qualified him for pro status.

Despite his success on the bodybuilding stage, Goodin, who also is a successful personal trainer and contest promoter, hasn’t been able to stay clear of injuries during his 30-year career. He’s had major setbacks due to injuries to his hamstring, biceps and shoulder areas.

Even so, he never let it deter his competition plans, and in 2014 the ageless wonder is planning for his next pro show, most likely the Europa Super Show in Dallas in May, where he’ll compete in men’s physique.

‌How does this cat still train, no less prep for shows, under those conditions? ‌Let’s find out.

‌LT: Let’s talk about your injuries. Start with the biceps.

‌DG: In December ’97 my training was going really well. I’d had minor knee surgery early in the fall that year, but I was fully recovered and bigger than ever. I was moving into a new apartment, and my buddy talked me out of using a moving company. As we were unloading the last piece of furniture, I slipped coming off the trailer and ruptured my right biceps tendon at the elbow. The chest of drawers that we were carrying wasn’t even heavy—maybe 50 pounds. I had done 585 for eight reps in rack deadlifts the previous week. Freaky accident!

‌LT: The hamstring?

‌DG: That was even more bizarre! If I’m not mistaken, it was July 14, 2007. It was about two hours after the Team Universe. I was pretty happy with taking a very close second place to Chris Faildo. I was drinking tequila and stumbled over the corner of the bed in the hotel room. As soon as I started losing my balance, my biceps femoris tendon ruptured just below the knee. Weirdest injury ever!

‌LT: And the shoulder problem?

‌DG: This was in May of 2012. Once again, my training was going great. My strength for eight to 10 reps was at my all-time best. I had a fantastic chest-and-lat workout one day; then the next day my shoulder hurt like hell. I tried everything to avoid surgery, but, after months of various therapies, I couldn’t lift my right arm past shoulder level. The surgery trimmed up a torn labrum, took out a couple of bone spurs and sucked out a bunch of cartilage that was floating in the joint. When I came out of anesthesia, the surgeon, Dr. Doug Elenz, told me that the joint looked like a snow globe because there was so much cartilage floating around the joint capsule!

‌LT: How did you approach your workouts when you returned to the gym?

‌DG: I continued with my leg workouts, starting about 10 days after my shoulder surgery. After about eight weeks my doctor gave me the green light for light upper-body training. I started with superlight weights, doing the same exercises, sets and reps that I normally do. My strength and endurance were increasing with every workout, and my pain was decreasing. Six weeks into my training, I was turning over in bed to turn off the lamp, and my shoulder popped really loud. It hurt so bad, I had to sleep with an ice pack on it. I couldn’t train upper body for a couple of weeks. That set me back at least two months.

Dave Goodin’s New Age Training

 
Monday: 4X Training—Chest Lats, Shoulders

Bench presses
Incline presses
Close-grip pulldowns
High-pulley rows
Machine military presses
Machine rear-delt flyes