Today marks the one -year mark for this blog.  It’s strongsarah.com’s blogiversary, which also means that today is the (4th) anniversary of  The Accident. That was a rough day, but it was also the start of something very cool. You just never know how things will unfold and evolve into something beyond your wildest imagination.

A look back at the past year is in order.  It has been a big year, most of which has been documented here. In the last 12 months I have evolved from kettlebell newbie to HKC instructor.  Not to be limited to kettlebell training alone, I became quite proficient at jumping rope, and also tried a Randy Couture MMA (mixed martial arts) workout that I loved.  I explored (and did not love) the Eat Stop Eat program. My kettlebell studio, Intensity Works, was conceived and opened, and I shared many details of that process. I worked through the Enter the Kettlebell (ETK) program twice and realized success with it,  nearly doubling my kettlebell pressing ability.  I struggled with physical limitations resulting from The Accident and worked around or through them. I even began to feel ready to register for the RKC Instructor course. Just contemplating that was a milestone for me. I feel pretty good about the last year.

The blog has been neglected a lot too. I didn’t want my posts to become too repetitive, so I stopped posting regularly when my workouts often looked the same.  When starting a small business became my focus, blogging dropped down the priority list.  Then, when a (cancer) bomb was dropped on my world, I started a new blog, strongersarah.com, which has received much more attention than this blog lately.

But, Happy Birthday to strongsarah.com.  I hope to be able to post many more workout triumphs over the course of the next year.  Possibly, I will even have the priviledge of posting my experiences at an RKC instructor weekend.  If not, maybe I will have at least registered for one by the time this blog turns 2.  I am grateful to all who have visited and commented and encouraged me here. This has been fun, and it is far from over.  You just never know how things will unfold, and I am excited to continue the adventure!

The things that were tough for me all stemmed from weakness within myself anyway.  Now I know some areas that I need to investigate further and/or bring up to standard.  I’m one step ahead having gone through this event, both in my technique and in my expectations for what it takes to succeed at RKC.  For this knowledge I am grateful.  Besides, our struggles are what make us stronger.  And I have stated that I’m a strength addict.  Time to act like one.

I am proud to be an HKC Instructor and I encourage others to pursue the title themselves.  I learned much more than I imagined that I would, and although I am nervous about beginning to train others in kettlebell technique, I know that I am prepared.  How cool for more qualified instructors to be out in the world sharing their knowledge of proper hardstyle swings, squats and Turkish Get Ups.  With any luck, maybe Jillian will run into one of us!

To say I learned a lot in that one day would be a huge understatement. It didn’t take long to realize that Pavel is the real deal.  He is an incredible teacher, a true expert not only in kettlebell training, but in strength and conditioning and body mechanics and also, seemingly, human nature.  I hung on his every word in a desperate attempt to absorb at least some of his wisdom.

My Team Leader, Senior RKC Doug Nepodal, did not disappoint either.  Doug has the perfect combination of knowledge and experience wrapped up in a tough but kind trainer.  I trusted him, and that says a lot.  Doug was busy with the ten of us on Team Nepodal, but still managed to provide the help and advice that we needed.  We were also fortunate to have an extra set of eyes and hands in Laurel Blackburn, RKC.  She was there to cheer on her son to HKC-ness, but was kind enough to work with our team for the day as well.  Doug and Laurel were phenomenal, and I am so happy I got to be part of their team.

The agenda for the day was pretty much what I had expected.  First came the strength test.  Ladies had to simply hold themselves motionless with flexed arms on a pullup bar for 15 seconds.  Men had to perform 3 dead hang pull ups.  Our whole team passed easily.  I’m not sure about the other 110 people there trying to get certified.

After the test we headed outside with a kettlebell to begin the training.  For each segment of our training, we began with an introduction by Pavel, then some form of practice, more instruction, and more practice.  We never did the same thing for very long, and there was always an opportunity to have any problems or questions addressed.  Pavel was the Chief  Instructor, but several Master RKCs and Senior RKCs lectured or provided input upon his request.

We learned three main kettlebell movements at the HKC:  the Goblet Squat,  the Turkish Get Up and the Swing.  For each we were shown mobility drills and stretches to make the exercise more effective, and were taken through a progression that helped us learn the movement and learn how to teach it.  All my fears about my own ability to swing, squat and perform Turkish Get Ups were put to rest after going through these progressions.  Specifically with regard to the swing, the process we went through enabled me to perform swings more efficiently and effectively than I ever had before.  The training I received was simply outstanding.

Our overall evaluation consisted of the Strength Test (described above), our Professionalism during the day, the Technique Test and the Teaching Test.  For the Technique Test, we were called in groups of two to perform first squats, then later swings, and finally the Turkish Get Up.  We were only required to perform the Turkish Get Up on one side.  For the Teaching Test we broke up into pairs.  One student acted as the Instructor and the other acted as a kettlebell newbie, so that the “Instructor” could show proficiency in teaching kettlebell movements.  Then we switched roles.

Before long we were called into our last session with Pavel, who delivered parting words, and advised us that our Team Leaders would be letting us know if we passed.  If we did not pass, we would be told what, if anything, we could do to earn our HKC title.  We then went back into our teams.  Our team rejoiced when Doug let us know that each of us on his team had passed.

The day was successful for me, but I wouldn’t call it “fun”.  In Happy to Be Hardstyle Kettlebell Certified – Part II (tomorrow), I’ll describe the Evil Trifecta at work that nearly thwarted my HKC attempt, and I’ll comment on my future plans and training.

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.