Profile
- Age: 39
- Hometown: Springfield, MA
- Location: Hickam AFB, HI
- Profession: United States Air Force | Bodybuilding
- Industry: Bodybuilding
- Certification: ACE Certified Personal Trainer
- Team Kawasaki
- 11x 1st Place winner
- Instagram: @noble41_traeborn
- Facebook: Trae Rans The Machine
Rise of The Machine
Introduction
Before I get started, I wonder if you wouldn’t mind taking a minute to visualize with me first. You’re in your local grocery store picking up your weekly usuals for you or your family. You turn a corner, and you find yourself in front of a tall and burly man. A man who has the most muscle density you have ever seen and the most pronounced striations that run from one end of his arms to the other. You then quickly look in his cart and all you see is about eight packs of chicken breast. Also, ten packs of vegetables ranging from green beans to the infamous broccoli, a bulk package of brown rice. Lastly, the bottom of his cart is covered by gallons of water which is the complete recipe to create the perfect “bro meal” delicacy. Now, let me ask you a question, what’s the first thought that comes to your mind?
You may feel inspired or let’s be honest, maybe a little jealous. However, the one thing you cannot dispute or buy from your local grocery store is time, consistency, and hard work. As someone who too has a passion for fitness, I understand the commitment it takes to achieve your fitness goals. Whether you are a casual gym goer or a competitive athlete, I hope you can draw inspiration from this man I am about to introduce. This is a man who looks difficulty in the face and gracefully welcomes more. This is a man whose discipline becomes more and more callused with every bodybuilding competition he trains for. Please allow me to introduce you, nine-time winning men’s physique competitor, Mr. Trae Ranson, ladies and gentlemen.
Trae Rans “The Machine”
Trae Ranson is an active-duty military veteran in the United States Air Force. With over a decade served, his work ethic has been named invaluable by those he has come across throughout his career. His work ethic in the sport of bodybuilding, however, runs even deeper as he devotes all his spare time to getting better both mentally and physically for his next competition. Like many great athletes, success in your passion is not always linear. Trae’s ambition to be great had to start somewhere.
Born in Springfield, MA, Trae Ranson, referred to now as “The Machine”, was raised by his devoted Mother and Father in a loving environment where education was highly prioritized and competitive sports were highly encouraged. Like most kids trying to find their niche, Trae tried his hand at everything from football to mixed martial arts. At first, Trae found sports to be something to just pass the time and could never remember having a love for anything sports-wise early on. Instead, Trae can remember vividly struggling with feelings of inner rage and anger. Things weren’t very pleasant in the mind of the machine. Bottled-up anger found a way to keep him away from greatness.
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The Foundation
Growing older, Trae enlisted in the United States Air Force to create a new foundation for his life and establish a career for himself. Upon arrival at his first base after technical training, he found solace within this new system he became a part of. The Air Force not only became a way of living but also allowed him to network with other like-minded people worldwide. Not too long after planting his feet on this new ground, he discovered weightlifting.
Sure, the military must maintain a healthy aptitude for physical fitness year-round to pass the bi-yearly PT exam, but what Trae envisioned for himself physically goes beyond anything the military required. Most importantly, through weightlifting, he finally found the perfect place to lay down his feelings of anger as he was now learning how to transform those feelings into seeds of greatness.
While his passion grew, he began implanting himself in the bodybuilding world by looking to influencers such as CT Fletcher, Eric Thomas, and even Bruce Lee just to name a few. He started to adopt and apply mental toughness to his training to give himself the edge he desired to become the best. Trae’s newfound belief in being intentional through every session and every lift quickly catapulted him just where he needed to be as an aspiring NPC Bodybuilding competitor.
“We need emotional content. Not anger. Now try again, with me.” – Bruce Lee
The Requirements
Fast forward a couple of years, countless hours in the gym, and even more hours of meal prep. Trae Rans the Machine has built and developed so many skills to obtain his countless accolades. If you ever have a chance to experience Trae Ranson alongside his fellow athletes on Team Kawasaki, it is an unforgettable experience.
The upbeat tenacious environment is for sure set by the clanking of heavy weights and loud grunts from himself including the whole team. Due to his high-intensity level, other gymgoers often ask him for tips and even to be trained by The Machine. Because of his passion to see others succeed, he balances his time training others towards their specific goals as he sets out on winning his Pro Card.
Over the years, he has trained over 50 clients to become a better version of themselves. Although, competition is where his hunger is, his love for building relationships through fitness is a key to his greatness. Now, I must ask you once more to imagine with me. Imagine that same man stepping on stage to pose down against some of the best competitors around the world. Imagine him winning a tremendous landslide in each category that he competed in.
The Machine does just that. Trae Rans takes 1st place in each category, Masters Class A, Masters Class Overall, and Men’s Physique Open Class A at the Stingrey Classic a National Qualifier in Hawaii. It is indeed a significant win for himself and Team Kawasaki as the march for a pro card continues. A celebration is a much-welcomed event for the achievement, however, Trae continues to stay focused taking the stage at the next event which is soon to come.
What makes Trae Ranson such a dominating force in the sport of bodybuilding and fitness is that he understands the requirements. His commitment to winning is nothing less than impressive. But, if you ask the machine himself, he would probably say, “It’s required”. He does not train to be fit, he trains to win, all while following strict guidelines that are provided by his team.
As a fan of athletics and fitness, I always questioned why athletes do what they do. Moreso, why do bodybuilders feel the need to become so big? My response to the overall question is, “pushing beyond unfathomable limits”. This may not make sense to many, but it’s just that and a legacy for the athletes.
Legacy
Being a natural competitor, Trae knows there will be a time when competing will come to an end. And when the time does come, he wants to be known as a legend at his craft. Having a legacy is important because your story lives on through many years of hard work. With a vision and the will to fight for the Mr. Olympia title, Trae expects to leave a legacy that is a stepping stone for his children and loved ones. Also, he desires his gym for those to love the game just as he does. His gym will be a reminder of all the years of work as well as keeping his legacy alive.
I ask you to imagine both of those beginning and ending imageries for a few reasons. One, we can all relate to seeing someone who is in tremendous condition and naturally begins to draw our conclusions on why someone would want to participate in something so extreme whether it be on a stage in front of thousands or at a grocery store, no one knows the middle of someone’s journey which is usually done behind the scenes and their reasons can be belittled may many. But as I also stated early on, time, consistency, and hard work can never be bought or denied.
As a friend of this man, it is my pleasure to present to you his unseen story. A man that knows what it takes to continue success at becoming an undeniable athlete and future Olympian. So next time you see a bodybuilder in the grocery store, just know they have a beginning, a middle, and their why, who knows, it could be The Machine!
Don’t forget to follow Trae Rans “The Machine” on Instagram and Facebook for content. Bless.
