Walker Runnels
AKA: BIG DOGG
Wheelchair Bodybuilder
Hello everyone, my name is Walker. When I was born, I had/have Spastic Cerebral Palsy with the left side being dominant, meaning that it’s about 80% normal usage on the left and 20% normal usage on the right side of my upper body, with almost no lower body control. I started working out and Bodybuilding at age 16, to help both my body and mind, trying to constantly push both to their limits; all the while always encouraging others to do the same. I was introduced to the sport of Wheelchair Bodybuilding a few years ago by my cousin, Abby (she was a personal trainer at time). I was then eased into competing by Patrick, Nick and all the other Wheelchair Bodybuilders who took me under their wing and made me feel at home. Because of that chance encounter, I now feel as if I have a true purpose in life. Let me tell everybody who reads this something; to feel that way about something in your life, truly makes you feel amazing, almost superhuman. I am now a Wheelchair Bodybuilder and a representative on behalf of the sport of Wheelchair Bodybuilding (WCBB). See our main site at the link below.
www.WheelchairBodybuilding.com
I’m always trying to improve in all ways. And in all the facets of life that are important to me. Believe me most assuredly, when I say I’ll never stop or settle for less than greatness in whatever I pursue, throughout my life. I’ll then use that greatness and the level of influence I gain from it, to help people throughout my life, because it is and always shall remain, one of my strongest beliefs that while you should never allow yourself to be overly vulnerable, gullible or get taken advantage of, you should, if you ever find yourself in a position to share positive knowledge and give your time and positive action to help people with your talents, skills, physical and mental strengths, encourage the people that you helped or who you are helping, to do the same for others someday, in the hopes of creating a never-ending cycle of good, you should try to do so. I for one know that that’s the kind of legacy I want to leave in the wake of my eventual passing, and whether or not I’ll get any chances to reach such a potent position while alive, remains to be seen. All I know is the world could always use more heroes and forces for good. To try to be one of them has always been one of my deepest desires.
Another never-ending goal of mine is to encourage people to make fitness a lifelong, unshakable part of their daily lives, just like breathing. Whether they are disabled or not, be it just one person or millions of people. And don’t think I’m just talking about fitness and working out either. I would also like to be a positive force in people’s lives and inspire them to go after their biggest dreams and goals, whatever they may be. By my own self-admittance I wish I could get everyone in the world to do so, or at the very least to try, but that’s not going to happen with everybody, no matter how bad I want it. People themselves have to want it too. That’s the internal self-possessed key, and one I cannot turn for others, so I’ve compromised with myself; even if I can motivate just one out of every thousand people who see me or read my words, to spark enough of a desire to chase theirs with unwavering boldness, enthusiasm, and persistence of some degree throughout their entire lives, within my lifetime and hopefully also many others long after my death, I’ll be a very happy individual.
I do also understand that at times my nearsighted, “listen to your inner voice and you can achieve greatness and change the world around you mindset”, does not always comfortably fit with, or appeal to, every situation or circumstance in life you either are facing or may face in your future. I will tell you now that I do not have, or claim to have, all the answers on the best ways to live. Thank goodness I don’t either, because I can’t answer that many emails everyday! Haha! And believe it or not, I still do battle everyday with past regrets, personal demons, unshakeable fears, and what not, but I do try my best everyday to give my best efforts, energy, and moods to the people and things in life I love. Listen everyone, all I’m saying to you, is to try and do the same as often as you can, but it’s your life and I guess the rest is up to you. I just hate to see my fellow human beings waste their lives in self-resented mediocre standards without ever exploring the power they have to possibly change their own suffering.
The main and foremost reason why I’ve painstakingly typed all these words here, is in the hope that whoever reads this message will they themselves, decide to compete if they are disabled, or if not, show support and pass word of this on to other wheelchair users who love fitness and/or being active, and who might be looking for a sport or new sport to try. Competing not yours or their thing? Well to that I still say go to a Bodybuilding Show that has a Wheelchair Bodybuilding Division, a lot of them do. However, call first to make sure. Watch one, and then decide. If you still find yourself remaining steadfast in your decision not to take the stage and compete, don’t worry. Having conviction is not at always a bad thing, it shows you’re strong willed and you’re your own person. I really like to see that in my fellow human beings. However, if you so desire, you can still help us and our sport out a great deal by doing a job no less important than training hard and taking the stage as a competitor; by being a fan of the sport, supporter of our efforts and again, not to sound too repetitive throughout these words, but help us also to raise worldwide awareness of Wheelchair Bodybuilding. You can also help us to spread the word and recruit more fans and competitors even if you’re not handicapped and don’t know anybody that is. Everybody can be on the fan and supporter side of things. Like I said, whether their handicapped or not, nobody can get out of it! Haha!
Anyway, any questions you may have about competing and/or ways to show your support for us and our be afraid to contact me. A word of warning however, it’s very hard for me to type and so I type very, very slowly, so what I have to do is keep my replies very short, but worry not my friends, as I will refer you to one of the other Wheelchair Bodybuilders and try to get all who email me, some answers to their inquires. The reason why I’m telling you all about my typing issue in advance is so you don’t think I’m not excited or passionate about helping a new person, competitor or fan get into our sport cause. I live for that as much as I do competing. We Wheelchair Bodybuilders look forward to seeing lots and lots of new faces at the shows, both cheering us on and taking the stage alongside us and showing the world the results of all your dieting, training, general hard work and incredible iron will mindsets. Learn more at: Competing
Join us today as a competitor or fan
One thing however that I try hard never to do, is make others, disabled or not, feel forced into doing anything they don’t want to do. If their efforts are only being fed by someone’s desires for them, then that person will never live up to their own abilities, so even though I’m very, very passionate about these subjects, please keep in mind as I ramble on, you have to do what’s best for you and no one else.I just simply want to have a positive impact on the many individuals of the world and try to help them to realize and become more aware of their inner power, if you will, to at least have some degree of positive influence on themselves and possibly others who are willing to listen. To take responsibility for themselves and mold themselves, through their own careful crafting, into someone who, at the end of their lives, have turned into someone they would be happy to take credit for, even if at times it’s an unpleasant process. Lastly, and most importantly, I would like everyone to use their bodies to the fullest and best of their abilities. This is partly due, I guess, to my envy. Desiring everyone to get the most out of what I can’t have, selfish expectations I know, but good intentioned. The other half is just my pure amazement at what a determined, fully able bodied person is capable of if they really give continuous, unwavering effort and want to do something.
In the end however the words and even actions of others can only do so much to prompt their fellow human beings to strive for their fullest potential, or for that matter, to help others try and achieve theirs. I wish I, or at least my words, could do more but at some point they have to take hold of the wheel, so to speak and control their own destiny and happiness. Facing those facts, I’ve done my best again, I wish I could take certain actions or say a magical spell to make people realize how powerfully they can live and/or inspire others to do so, if they wanted to. But it’s your life, and I guess the rest is up to you. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the bodybuilding, fitness, and figure competitors for all their support, encouragement, and understanding of Wheelchair Bodybuilding. The sport means a lot to me/all of us and it’s important for it to exist. When I’m around my fellow bodybuilders (both able-bodied and disabled athletes), I feel proud and at ease, like I never have before, except around close friends and family. I believe that for me, and possibly others as well, there is a deep reason for this connection. Bodybuilders, or at least the vast majority of them, feel that, when they have a weak or lagging body part, such as abs, quads, or whatever the case may be, they see that as a kind of disability or, at the very least, an encumbrance to achieving their dreams and goals.
So, the able-bodied bodybuilders much like their wheelchair counterparts, fight through and find ways to overcome their weaknesses (both mentally and physically) and become better overall in life and bodybuilding because of it. Something exists, a preserving and conquering fabric that weaves us all together as brethren, regardless of any other factors. And, because the able-bodied bodybuilders are aware that the wheelchair bodybuilders are trying so hard to be like them in many ways, and become masters of our bodies, most often in an attempt to do so, we wheelchair bodybuilders employ many methods; adapted exercises, and hungry mindsets, that are just as powerful as the bodies we see, adore, and desire. Because the able bodied bodybuilders see this hunger in our eyes, a true blazing inferno that only with death will ever put out, they feed it as best they can with confidence boosting words and cheers. When the able-bodied bodybuilders stop and acknowledge that hunger, and feed said flames, wheelchair bodybuilders meet their gaze and reply with a simple, “Thank you,” but behind that thank you, we are disguising a deep appreciation for the people that are willing to give us such a priceless gift, and I love it.
I’ve finally found a comfortable place in life and a role to play to exist within; that role being ?Walker the Wheelchair Bodybuilder,’ and I couldn’t be more at peace about the past or more excited about the future than I am right now. If you or your company or organization is of further interest and have any questions, comments, suggestions, interviews/media offers, motivational speaking offers or would like to know more ways you can help us to hasten the growth and expansion of Wheelchair Bodybuilding please feel to contact and learn more about everything from our organization’s President/CEO/Founder Nick “The Beast” Scott at the following links below once again thank you all for your time and support.
Contact: Nick Scott
Want to know anything else about me? Just ask.
I also would like to thank all the fans and everyone for all their cheers, support, efforts and encouragement. We the Wheelchair Bodybuilders couldn’t do what we do without all of you being there for us. Wheelchair Bodybuilding Rocks because of YOU!!!
My last, and by far most important, show of gratitude goes to my Mom, Judy and Dad, Willie. They try so hard to make sure I’m happy and content in life, a mission that they have done and still are doing very well. I am their common bond, and they have crafted me into the man I am today, which if I do say so myself, is a pretty cool guy. I love them so much. I don’t think they know to what degree I do love them. They are my heroes and friends, so much so that, if I died and the forces of the Almighty told me I could come back armed with all the gifts, experiences and abilities I wanted to have in my former life, I would look Him in the eyes and say, “No thanks, Lord, I had a good run as Walker the Wheelchair Bodybuilder.” Again, not to say I would reject a certain cure, but even if that – hopefully – someday occurs, I’ll never forget these days.
~Walker “The Big Dogg” Runnels
Who I’d like to meet:
Anyone that likes video games or working out/weightlifting/bodybuilding and MMA/combative sports as much as I do. Anybody that’s chasing their life’s dreams and goals with intense passion, no matter what. People who won’t give up on themselves
Overall Goal:
To help make Wheelchair Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding and it’s related sports bigger and better than ever. To get tons more fans and hardworking, dedicated competitors for our sport of Wheelchair Bodybuilding (WCBB) so it will grow. My dream is that, even when we are all really old men and women and we die, we can leave behind a well respected sport for all future generations of Wheelchair Bodybuilding competitors and fans that come after our time, which hopefully will be even more of both by that time, so that Wheelchair Bodybuilding will forever have a well-built and strong (puns strongly intended!) foundation.
Most importantly however, we want Wheelchair Bodybuilding to have a respected and well known place that will be forever engrained in the worlds of Wheelchair Sports, Bodybuilding and the worlds of overall fitness and athletics, worlds that we all love so much, think about constantly, and are so thankful to be a part of everyday. We want that place to remain, to grow powerfully and honorably every year until the day cures come and long term usage of wheelchairs is no longer needed anymore, by anyone.
This message will now self-destruct in 10 seconds. Man I’ve always wanted to say that!
Three, two, one, BOOM baby! *flexes arms* Welcome to the Gun Show!
Please also be sure to check out all of inspiring Wheelchair Bodybuilding links below when you have the time.
Lots of great information and videos are to be found within them, and while you’re at it, also please consider helping us in forwarding some of these links around the web and the world by various technological means such as Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, E-mail, etc. However, nothing can entirely replace good old-fashioned word of mouth to help us inform other wheelchair users or fans. Again, able-bodied or not, our sport’s existence and most importantly it’s powerful inspirational and motivating message needs to be heard. So get to it everyone!
When I was born I had/have Spastic Cerebral Palsy, with the left side being dominant, meaning that I have about 80% normal usage on my left and 20% normal usage on the right side of my upper body. I have almost no lower body control or use, with and moderate muscle weakness and poor muscular endurance throughout my body, due to muscular spasticity and joint contractures. Please see the link below for more information. Wikipedia - Spastic Diplegia
Since I've been old enough to remember and act on my thoughts, I've perpetually been trying to improve myself in the facets of life I enjoy the most. Having said that, I've always held an astounding amount of fascination and respect for feats and displays of strength of both the body and mind, but only when it's wielded with a humble mind and righteous heart. As I found out more about the sport of Wheelchair Bodybuilding and the competitors and people involved, I was blown away. First, because I wasn't even aware it was humanly possible to get in as good a shape as these guys and gals are, without the use of their legs, but that reason was mostly superficial visual shock. It wasn't until I met some them in the flesh and spoke with them, that I fully realized the kind of inspiring, hardworking, and friendly people that I had involved myself with truly hit me. For me, it was something out of Hollywood and ever since, I've really enjoyed competing and helping to further our cause of Wheelchair Bodybuilding (WCBB) whenever and whatever ways I possibly can. Most importantly, however, I want Wheelchair Bodybuilding to have a respected and well-known place that will be forever engrained in the worlds of Wheelchair Sports, Bodybuilding and the worlds of overall fitness and athletics. Worlds that we all love so much, think about constantly and are so thankful to be a part of everyday. We want that place to remain, to grow powerfully and honorably every year until the day cures come, and long term usage of wheelchairs is no longer needed anymore by anyone.
The effects all the Wheelchair Bodybuilders have on my desire to train for the sport is unreal. With incredible mindsets and physiques to match, and as a bonus they are all very cool and fun to be around. They are all my friends, and people I look up to, both for their bodybuilding training, and their outlook on life. I will tell this right now, out of all the muscles they flex, their hearts will always be the biggest. I know that sounds kind of "girly man" to say something like that, but it's true. Furthermore, it's exactly that kind of emotion I get from all of them. That's what makes me more comfortable and better able to deal with the fact that I am most likely confined to a wheelchair for my entire life. While I don't think any of us would turn down a chance to someday get better and get our bodies back at a hundred percent and beyond, we all have this sport as our shared passion. It is an outlet that is very important to us, and we would like to thank everyone for being fans and supporters. So, keep spreading the word and helping us out as we work to help others. And for always being the biggest reason, along with all the able-bodied Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure competitors, for all the support in making the sport continue to grow, helping it to get noticed and making our dreams continue to come true. Thanks again everyone we are all eternally grateful.
I started working out and Bodybuilding at aged Sixteen, to help both my body and mind. Trying to constantly push both to their limits, all the while always encouraging others to do the same. I was introduced to the sport of Wheelchair Bodybuilding a few years ago by my cousin, Abby (she was a personal trainer at time), who told me about seeing Patrick on the internet. One thing lead to another, as they say, and I was then eased into competing by Patrick Laugerude. Nick "The Beast" Scott and all the other Wheelchair Bodybuilders who I've met so far, took me under their collective wing and made me feel at home. Because of that chance encounter, I now feel as if I have a true purpose in life, and let me tell everybody who reads this; to feel that way about something in your life truly makes you feel amazing, almost superhuman. I am now a Wheelchair Bodybuilder and a representative on behalf of the sport of Wheelchair Bodybuilding (WCBB).
Striving to achieve my goals in life, which are as follows: My overall goal is to help make Wheelchair Bodybuilding and all of its related sports, bigger and better than ever. Get tons more fans and hardworking, dedicated competitors for our sport of Wheelchair Bodybuilding (WCBB) so it will grow. My dream is that when we are all really old men and women and we die, we can leave behind a well respected sport for all future generations of Wheelchair Bodybuilding competitors and fans that come after our time, which hopefully will be even bigger by that time, so that Wheelchair Bodybuilding will forever have a well-built and strong (puns strongly intended!) foundation.
I'm always trying to improve in all ways. And in all the facets of life that are important to me. Believe me most assuredly, when I say I'll never stop or settle for less than greatness in whatever I pursue, throughout my life. I'll then use that greatness and the level of influence I gain from it, to help people throughout my life, because it is and always shall remain, one of my strongest beliefs that while you should never allow yourself to be overly vulnerable, gullible or get taken advantage of, you should, if you ever find yourself in a position to share positive knowledge and give your time and positive action to help people with your talents, skills, physical and mental strengths, encourage the people that you helped or who you are helping, to do the same for others someday, in the hopes of creating a never-ending cycle of good, you should try to do so. I for one know that that's the kind of legacy I want to leave in the wake of my eventual passing, and whether or not I'll get any chances to reach such a potent position while alive, remains to be seen.
All I know is the world could always use more heroes and forces for good. To try to be one of them has always been one of my deepest desires. Frankly, it's not now myself I desire to have remembered, but my message of how I believe everything should be, and for my fellow humans to always be aware that one needn't be super rich, innately talented or in a position of power or fame to change the world around them. They just have to start small, somewhere they can have the most real impact, such as a small area around where they live, if possible. Not too dangerous, and then build confidence and momentum upon that, and also stay grounded enough throughout their existence to never become too cocky and forget their own beginning struggles, regardless of whatever heights of success they may reach. Or conversely, to become bitter when they slip up and are cast headlong into rock bottom pits of failure they may fall into and have to climb back out of. Only a true fool and an enemy of their own forces of creation would do such a thing, and I don't know anyone who looks good in a jester hat.
Another never-ending goal of mine is to encourage people to make fitness a lifelong, unshakable part of their daily lives, just like breathing. Whether they are disabled or not, be it just one person or millions of people. And don't think I'm just talking about fitness and working out either. I would also like to be a positive force in people's lives and inspire them to go after their biggest dreams and goals, whatever they may be. By my own self-admittance I wish I could get everyone in the world to do so, or at the very least to try, but that's not going to happen with everybody, no matter how bad I want it. People themselves have to want it too. That's the internal self-possessed key, and one I cannot turn for others, so I've compromised with myself; even if I can motivate just one out of every thousand people who see me or read my words, to spark enough of a desire to chase theirs with unwavering boldness, enthusiasm, and persistence of some degree throughout their entire lives, within my lifetime and hopefully also many others long after my death, I'll be a very happy individual. One thing however, that I try hard never to do is make others, disabled or not, feel forced into doing anything they don't want to do. If their efforts are only being fed by someone's desires for them, then that person will never live up to their own abilities. So even though I'm very, very passionate about these subjects, please keep in mind as I ramble on, you have to do what's best for you and no one else.
I just want to have a positive impact on individuals of the world, and try to help them to realize and become more aware of their inner power. If your will is to at least have some degree of positive influence on yourself and possibly others who are willing to listen, to take responsibility for themselves and mold themselves through their own careful crafting, into someone who, at the end of their lives turns into someone who they would be happy to take credit for, even if at times it's an unpleasant process.
Lastly, and most importantly, I would like everyone to use their bodies to the fullest, and to the best of their abilities. This is partly due, I guess, to my envy; desiring everyone to get the most out of what I can't have. Selfish expectations I know, but good intentioned. The other half is just my pure amazement at what a determined, fully able bodied person is capable of if they really give continuous, unwavering effort and want to do something.
In the end however, I am aware that the words and even actions of others, can only do so much to prompt their fellow human beings to strive for their fullest potential, or for that matter, to help others try and achieve theirs. I wish I, or at least my words, could do more, but at some point they have to take hold of the wheel so to speak and control their own destiny and happiness. Facing those facts, I've done my best. Again, I wish I could take certain actions or say a magical spell or something to make people realize how powerfully they can live and/or inspire others to do so, if they wanted to. But it's your life, and I guess the rest is up to you.
I do also understand that at times my nearsighted, "listen to your inner voice and you can achieve greatness and change the world around you mindset", does not always comfortably fit with, or appeal to, every situation or circumstance in life you either are facing or may face in your future. I will tell you now that I do not have, or claim to have, all the answers on the best ways to live. Thank goodness I don't either, because I can't answer that many emails everyday! Haha! And believe it or not, I still do battle everyday with past regrets, personal demons, unshakeable fears, and what not, but I do try my best everyday to give my best efforts, energy, and moods to the people and things in life I love. Listen everyone, all I'm saying to you, is to try and do the same as often as you can, but it's your life and I guess the rest is up to you. I just hate to see my fellow human beings waste their lives in self-resented mediocre standards without ever exploring the power they have to possibly change their own suffering.
1. Supplements can only aid a good workout and or diet plan. They can never replace it.
2. Exercise must be accompanied be a decent meal plan everyday, to get the best results.
3. Always stay humble in victory and hungry in defeat. Pride yourself on staying in control of yourself and mastering your own will, because every time your able to do so successfully, it's like a muscle, you'll get better at it and of all the things in this world, your own sense of self is the hardest to keep a hold of and to share with others, but also that level of our awareness and consciousness remains one of the most precious possessions we mortals can ever have and show to other living beings who we like and love.
4. You only get one body and mind; take care of them, and please use the heck out of them out of a show of respect for people like me and a whole lot worse.
5. Stay active your entire life if possible.
6. Fitness should be a life-long journey for people and not some on-again off-again fad. I mean, who doesn't have at least one hour a day to workout or at least move around a bit and get their heart pumping? In 95% of all cases, any and all excuses are just sad and pathetic.
7. Never give up.
8. Never allow yourself to openly believe you know everything on a subject or are superior to anyone else in any way; it will end up making you look stupid.
9. Always give your best, most focused efforts and moods in everything you do, even on seemingly easy tasks, because even if you don't see the point, others who look up to you might be watching.
10. Never allow your dreams or sense of imagination to fully die off, if you do, you've suffered the worst death possible.
11. Be your own very best friend and hero, don't ever lose sight of where you've been, who you are, or who you want to be in life.
12. Laughter can make even the most horrific situations better, if only for a while.
Lasty I shall conclude my words with some of my all-time favorite quotes, because quotes are awesome in that they say so much, with so little words, unlike myself! Enjoy!
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however is to change it."
- Karl Marx
"What we think or what we know or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do."
- John Ruskin
"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do."
- Lewis Cass
"There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don't allow yourself to become one of them."
- Ralph Marston
"It's never too late to become what you might have been."
- George Elliot
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to ones courage."
- Anais Nin
"Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do."
- John Wooden, UCLA Basketball Coach
"Your body hears everything your mind says."
- Naomi Judd, Singer/Songwriter
"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place."
- Nora Roberts
"The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer."
Walker: Other Information to Consider
If you or your company or organization is of further interest and have any questions, comments, suggestions, interviews, TV/media offers, motivational speaking offers or would like to know about more ways in which you can help us to hasten the growth and expansion of Wheelchair Bodybuilding, please feel free to contact and learn more about everything from our organization's President/CEO/Founder, Nick "The Beast" Scott at the following links. Once again, thank you all for your time and support. Contact: Nick Scott
• Amateur Contest History
2011 NPC USA Wheelchair Championship : 1st Place
2008 NPC Wheelchair Nationals : 1st Place
2007 NPC USA Wheelchair Championship : 2nd Place
2007 NPC USA Wheelchair Championship : 3rd Place
