{"id":31995,"date":"2026-10-18T23:25:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T23:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=31995"},"modified":"2026-10-18T23:25:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T23:25:39","slug":"redwood-city-gym-owner-heads-to-reno-for-bodybuilding-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=31995","title":{"rendered":"Redwood City gym owner heads to Reno for bodybuilding competition"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Keith Kern. courtesy Keith Kern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Keith Kern, 47, started ObstaCourse Fitness<\/a> in Redwood City in 2017, his goal was to create a gym where people could train for obstacle courses. He\u2019s since pivoted to strength-and-conditioning workouts primarily. His own training has changed over the last four years, leading him to intensive training for bodybuilding competitions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before bodybuilding, Kern focused his time on his then-passion: obstacle course racing. But he grew tired of how much running he had to do to train for those races.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Keith Kern, founder of ObstaCourse Fitness in Redwood City and an NPC Men\u2019s Physique competitor, poses with an Ace of Stage medal. Courtesy Keith Kern<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

About four years ago, when obstacle course racing had slowed down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a friend suggested he consider bodybuilding.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018OK, I do love lifting weights,\u2019 but it\u2019s a different style of training,\u201d said Kern, a San Carlos resident and Sequoia High School graduate. \u201cSo I learned everything about nutrition, and then I got into straight bodybuilding consistently. I went from 140 pounds, around 15% body fat four years ago to now I\u2019m 165 pounds, 3% body fat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Kern is heading to a national-qualifying show,\u00a0NPC Mother Lode, in Reno on Saturday, Oct. 17. The committee is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States, according to its website<\/a>. He\u2019ll compete in the Men\u2019s Physique and Masters 45+ categories.\u00a0<\/p>\n