Ed -
and the people you'll meet.
I went to my first kettle bell class today at the gym. A friend of mine who is addicted to kettle bells and big ass clubs (I think that's what they call them) has been trying to get me into that sort of training for awhile. She looks totally buff, I've watched KB videos and it looks like they're good all around body workouts, but I had no idea how I would work them into my busy, rapidly approaching OCD running schedule.
Well, since my season has kind of wrapped up for the short stuff I need to lower the intensity of my track workouts, add strength training again, and rebuild my mileage base I thought now's as good as time as any to try it kettle bells. And my wife saw that this class was now being offered at 6:00 am every Friday morning. Done.
Sweet mother of mercy what a great little exercise. I used the baby bells (8kg) but did the entire workout of Turkish Get Ups, Two in One's, Squat Jumps, Renegade Rows, Bent Over Rows, Military Press, Single Arm Swings and a couple of other things with really cool names. Sweat dripping off my face grunting, thighs quivering and gasping for air I thought that was just the coolest thing ever.
The class had a wide variety of people in it and everyone did really well. I was the only newbie and could tell. Their stamina was better and technique looked really good for the most part. Plus it was fun. Music was good, one lady who I've seen at the gym a number of times was singing now and then. I joined in when Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" came on. People laughed. Let 'em, I was doing squats and still got the hip thrusts in when the line "picked up the phone, dropped it on the floor, said unh! unh! was all I heard," came on. Made me smile.
The instructor, Ross, was really good. Young guy and sort of matter of fact and was tuned into each person. He'd shout out what we were supposed to do and demonstrate it and tell us to do 12. He'd then move around the room, get to me and quietly say, "you do 20. Faster. Come on. Move." Then turn and adjust someone else's technique some. Turns out the guy was a miler and half miler in college. Ran a 4:08 mile and a 1:50 800. On my way out he asked me if I was a runner and we talked about that some. I got some great advice on my next cycle of training and he said that the kettle bells were as good or better than plyometrics and he'd make sure to get me more jump squats in and "explosive core" maneuvers to improve my power transfer and other fancy shmancy terms that apply to serious runners.
I signed up for the 5 more weeks of this!
Confirmed.. you are crazy.. but I love you brother mine. :-) (Ps....that ocd thing... you are waaaay past that.. way man - way. Just saying. )
ReplyDeleteI’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the class Ed and have decided to stick with it for the next 5 weeks. I’ll say it again and again. Kettlebells and Clubbells have transformed my body unlike anything I’ve ever tried before. I’ve done everything, aerobic classes, weight machines, years of tkd and running alone. KB’s work your entire posterior chain (upper & lower back, glutes, hamstrings and calves) and it will make you breathe hard and sweat like a mofo. You can do a 5 minute all over body workout with just The Swing alone. An out of shape person can build strength, increase tone (yay!) and burn some serious calories. All the other movements like, presses, snatches, goblet squats are icing on the KB cake. Did you know that The Turkish Get-Up is now being used as a functional movement screening tool? Yes! The TGU alone reinforces the functional moment patterns including stability, coordination, symmetry, balance and strength. Watching someone perform the TGU can determine which movement patterns or regions are dysfunctional and what treatment or correction exercise is needed to address those issues. I TRY to incorporate at least 2 to 4 TGU’s on each side of my body after each workout. Lastly, after my ankle break I just knew that once I was given permission to run I would have difficulty with leg endurance and breathing. Our friend Robert kept telling me that my KB workouts will show that I had not lost any endurance or leg strength. That guy knows some shit, but likes to hide behind that hair of his. I was a bit skeptical until I was given permission to run again. I’m proof that it helped in my rehab. I alone have imposed a run/walk plan to get myself back to where I was with running, but I honestly can say that I could run without adding the walking part. *deep breath* Did I tell you that I’m glad you are going to continue with the KB classes? Who is the person that is so into KB's, do I know her?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!!
Delete...and I'm feeling it this morning. I'll do a long run tomorrow to work out the kinks, but feel really good.
ReplyDeleteKettlebells are seriously the best thing that I have done in maybe forever. Just the swings give a full body workout without really even knowing it. Not that they aren't hard, because they are, it just that you are working your core, your legs and everything else at the same time. I have always neglected my legs in strength training. I was amazed at the improvement in endurance I found in my legs after a period of working with the bells. Now, you're really going to be a monster! Bob
ReplyDelete