Darnell Roberson
Most of our athlete spotlights are people who primarily or even exclusively train from home. Today is a little different. Today we are talking to Darnell Roberson, who competed at MY garage gym in the 2022 Spring Garage Gym Competition. He was the first person outside of my family to lift at my garage for the GGC. And he is coming back for the Spring 2023 GGC, so I thought digging into him, his background, and seeing what makes him tick would be a cool one.
How Did We Meet
Before we jump into the Spotlight, I wanted to highlight how Darnell and I met. I’ve been going to the same General Practitioner since I was really young. In my visit in late 2021 he mentions his daughter’s fiance. Says the guy is really into fitness, and thought I might be able to help him. Sure thing! I hand over my contact details, and expect to never hear anything (this is the usual). Before I get home I have a message from Darnell, the aforementioned fiance. He was super intrigued by the Garage Gym Competition, hadn’t really dug into powerlifting before, but wanted to try. We chatted back and forth occasionally, and I invited him over to lift for the Spring 2022 GGC. He showed up, when another 3 or 4 people bailed on me the week before or even the day of.
The GGC
We met in person for the first time that day, he had a low back that was bothering him, and he managed a 1200+lb total. He weighs considerably less than I do, hasn’t lifted in powerlifting for long, and had a problem low back, and he almost hit my best lifts. I was impressed by Darnell Roberson from the very first day we chatted, and he just took it up a notch. I recommend he connect with my chiropractor to get some ART done on his back. He signed up that week. What I’ve watched happen over the past year has been insane.
Ok, enough on that, let’s get into his spotlight.
Let’s Meet Darnell Roberson
I was born in the East Bay of California. My fiance, Meghan, and my puppy Kanga, keep me company in Auburn, CA. I work just outside of town as a Technology Sales Representative. I went to UCLA and got my Bachelors while running D1 Track and Field. Lifting is currently my main hobby, but I like traveling and being outdoors with my family.
How/when did you start lifting? Why?
I started learning how to lift during practice at UCLA and I have always really enjoyed it. I got into powerlifting in 2021. During the pandemic, I was able to do a ton of body weight workouts to stay in shape as I was looking for something new to try after training and completing a marathon in 2019. What I didn’t realize is that once I was able to reunite with weights my bench skyrocketed from 230-275. From that point I realized powerlifting could be a fun challenge for me.
Do you have any injuries?
My main one since graduating has been my back as Ive done alot of rehab to not go through surgery to remove the bone spur that I have.
You competed at my place, but tell the people about your own home gym.
My gym is not much but it gets the job done! I don’t need much but a wooden bench and steel. started training at home during the pandemic. Now, I mostly go to a local powerlifting/bodybuilding gym.
My home gym consists of:
- Half Squat rack
- A few rubber plates
- A few steel plates
- Rusted bar
- Pair of 50s dumbbells-made of concrete
- Wooden Bench
- Smelling salts
- Chalk
- Bands
Once I buy a house, I would love to create a home gym with competition bars, plates and just workout fully from home as I move forward with building a family. I sometimes train with my fiancee, but mostly train by myself. So the home gym lifestyle fits me.
The convenience, controlled setting, and always open nature of a home gym is certainly appealing.
Tell me about your involvement with the Garage Gym Competition
I heard about it when I moved down to Auburn from my fiancée‘s father who knew Joe Gray and mentioned that he was running this amazing community bringing lifters together to have fun in a safe competitive zone.
I first saw more information about it on instagram and checked out some of the past results. Then I said “Holy Cow!” because the weights being lifted were incredible.
After the GGC in the Spring, I competed in my first USPA meet in January!
I plan on coming back for many years to come! Its simple, easy, and fun!
How did you prepare for your first GGC?
I am actually a certified personal trainer through NASM. A lot of my training has been just me testing out things I think would be good as well as hunting for the free resources around us and pulling from other great programs that are already out there.
How are you preparing for your second GGC?
I signed up for a year on the Juggernaut AI app! Super excited to see what comes from it.
What has been the key pieces to your success in lifting?
Consistency- I really enjoy being in the gym rather it be lifting or crushing a cardio session. I am trying to find my limits and I am not there yet.
What motivates you to lift, day after day, year after year?
Being the best version of myself so that I can be of benefit to those I love around me. My goal is not necessarily to be a leader but to lead by example. I want to be the good that I expect out of the world.
What do you think of when you eye down a big lift?
If not me. Then who? If not now then when?
Favorite personal record song to listen to?
Kid Kudi- Mr. Rager
What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
I am here to drain the tank! + I have a dog that is or household #1 cardio pacer!
Thanks Darnell Roberson
For more on Darnell, you can check out his lifting on Instagram. You’ll see that since recovering from his back problems, he has managed to deadlift 700lbs! Dude is a monster.
