Not Just Muscle
Sarah
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Posts by Sarah
Thinking about HKC
Sep 24th
I first read about it back in May. About 10 minutes after that, I registered. For me, this is a no-brainer. It should be exciting, rewarding, career-advancing and fun. It’s the HKC, the Hardstyle Kettlebell Certification. And it’s happening on Saturday.
Rather than being excited right now, my tendency is to be concerned about what is ahead, worried that A) I will forget everything I’ve learned thus far about kettlebell training and won’t be able to assimilate the information I’m given or B) I won’t be able to unlearn the things that I am doing wrong. Everyone will need correction – that is a fact. I just hope I can learn and learn fast.
I keep thinking too much. I think about how I’m NOT a natural athlete. About how doing something that requires a degree of strength and athleticism like this would have been completely out of the question for me just a few years ago. “What have I gotten myself into?” a voice in my head repeats. I wonder. I question. I doubt.
My family and friends (who really know nothing about my kettlebell skill or lack thereof) all offer their support and encouragement, saying, “You’ll be fine!” among other positive things. My twitter friends, many of whom are very knowledgeable about kettlebell training and the RKC system, have been incredibly encouraging and helpful, far beyond my wildest dream. Even Elise Matthews, RKCII and my trainer, has said that I will do fine. I’m not sure why that’s not enough for me. But it isn’t. I won’t believe it until the moment I am told that I have passed. If that happens, I’ll be one happy puppy.
Nervous but hopeful. Excited for the opportunity to actually meet some of the greats in the kettlebell community. This is what is on my mind. In a few days, there may be an HKC shirt on my back. Stay tuned. 
Heavy Thoughts
Aug 1st
One of the three structured days in each week of kettlebell training outlined in Pavel’s Enter the Kettlebell is known as “heavy” day. In the early weeks of the program, light, medium and heavy days are all very much alike. Then in week 8 of 12, the pattern for the rest of the program is established, with one day being a light day, one day being medium and one day being a heavy work day.
Mental toughness factors in on heavy days. It may not sound too daunting to read about, but in practice, hoisting a kettlebell overhead many, many times becomes not only a physical challenge but also a mental one. I’m sure it is not unlike any other tough athletic practice, in which self talk can make or break the entire effort.
No doubt, during a heavy ETK day, my thoughts can become tainted with self doubt and/or slight insanity. Here’s a sample of a few of my thoughts during today’s kettlebell practice:
(Note my abbreviations: Rg- Rung: Repetitions performed in a specific pattern. On your first rung you do one clean and press on the right, then one clean and press on the left, followed by one pulling exercise (chinup/pullup or one single arm row per side.) On rung #2 you perform 2 presses on the right, 2 presses on the left and 2 pulls.) Lr-Ladder: A group of rungs. Generally three to five rungs make a ladder. A heavy day in ETK has 5 ladders with 5 rungs each.)
Lr 1 Rg 4 This kettlebell feels heavier than it did last time. Am I still recovering from being sick?
Lr 1 Rg 5 Made it through the first ladder, only 4 more to go. Ugh 4 more!?
Lr 2 Rg 1 OK gotta blow through Lr 2 so I will only have 3 more ladders to go.
Lr 2 Rg 3 Ouch that was a bad clean. I know how to do cleans. What’s my problem?
Lr 2 Rg 4 Ouch gotta fix that bad clean. RKCs don’t do that. Gotta do better than that to be an RKC.
Lr 2 Rg 5 Almost done second ladder, push! And I have to do how many more ladders? Right.
Lr 2 Rg 5 This is taking a long time. Who do I think I am?
Lr 3 Rg 2 I think I’m almost half way done. Ugh. I’m not mostly done?????
Lr 3 Rg 4 I lost count, what am I doing?
Lr 3 Rg 4 Oh yeah I just did 3 pulls last time so I’m on Rung 4 now. FOCUS!! Don’t want to have to repeat a ladder.
Lr 3 Rg 4 Gotta watch the clean. Lock out the elbow. Don’t make stupid mistakes!
Lr 3 Rg 4 Only two more ladders, almost. I’ll feel good later.
Lr 3 Rg 5 Two more whole ladders??????? I did this before but it’s so harrrrd this time.
Lr 4 Rg 1 Yeah next to last ladder!! One silly rep. Ha Ha!!
Lr 4 Rg 2 Keep shoulder down, don’t make stupid mistakes. Focus!!
Lr 4 Rg 2 Am I on ladder 4? cool.
Lr 4 Rg 3 Why do I practice with kettlebells? This is extreme.
Lr 4 Rg 4 Shoot. This is hard. Come on wrist, stay locked and straight.
Lr 4 Rg 4 Grip the bell HARD!!! Push! Don’t want to have to repeat week 10!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lr 4 Rg 5 I am on the last rung of this stupid ladder thing. I must get this last press. NOT going to have to redo!!!!!!!
Lr 5 Rg 1 Oh yeah! Oh yeah!! I’m on the last ladder!! Oh, the swings are ahead.
Lr 5 Rg 2 Hee hee two presses. Easy!
Lr 5 Rg 3 This isn’t a tough rung to get through. Come on. Can’t run out of gas. But the swings are ahead.
Lr 5 Rg 4 Shoot. My arm feels weak. I don’t want to repeat this week.
Lr 5 Rg 4 I’m tired. The swings are ahead. Pavel is a bad, bad man.
Lr 5 Rg 4 I hope this stupid program pays off.
Lr 5 Rg 5 Last rung of last ladder – this might happen. Gotta make it through. So hard to push. I have to!!!!!!!!!
Lr 5 Rg 5 I don’t like this.
Lr 5 Rg 5 Last press -come on YESSS!
AHHHHH!! Putting the silly kettlebell down, but in a minute I have to do the swings. . .
Thankfully, with the swing practice, there isn’t really much time for thinking. It’s mostly counting and breathing and hopefully focusing on good form. And glancing at the gymboss to see how much longer. And then, finally, REST.
