Thank you

I just can’t begin to describe the awesomeness that was watching everybody get out and kick some serious ass for a good cause yesterday. There’s still a huge need for more support and aid, so if you were not able to make it yesterday, please consider clicking here and making a donation to the American Red Cross.

For those of you that were there…thank you. Thank you very much.

And thank you to Ty over at Warrior Hardware for lending us bells and med balls for the occasion. If you’re in the market for some equipment Ty’s the man to talk to. Follow this link to the Warrior Hardware homepage.

Now, on to what went down. What did we learn?

1. Pacing. This was all about a mix between getting through each station’s reps as quickly as possible. The only thing is, with 6 stations and damn near 100 reps at each one, you have to balance pacing with all out effort. While maximal exertion is something we want to train and increase, sometimes pushing to the absolute limit as fast as possible doesn’t get you to the goal fastest. Pulling back just before you hit that wall of physical failure allows you to recuperate more quickly to continue your set.
2. Work to your level! Yesterday’s training session was rife with opportunities to push yourself too far. Beyond considerations of recuperation vs total time, there’s the issue of your body, what it can accommodate right now and what it can’t. You know how people say that listening is the most important skill in communication? Well, the same is true in the relationship between you and your body. It talks to you all the time. Listen to what it has to say. If you hear when your body is telling you that it’s coming up on its limit in one way or another, by listening to it and taking care of it, you’ll end up getting a better training experience, better results, a safer program and all in much less time. Training movements, rest intervals and other stimuli can ALWAYS be adjusted to your level.
3. That being said, there are benefits to winning these challenges. I do have to say I was seriously impressed by how fast you all got through that redemption. 10 wind sprints up that hill AFTER 45 minutes of training ain’t no small thing. Proud of you! Congratulations to our first place finishers!

Thank you all again! For those of you interested in continuing this work, or getting more into the technique of competitive kettlebell based lifting, click here to see the schedule of upcoming classes. Thank you all again.