Last Saturday, I competed in New Jersey’s Strongest (Wo)Man Competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I won first place. Indeed, I broke or tied my records in all the events. 

 

Driving myself to the competition, I had repeated to myself three times aloud, “I’m going to win today. I’m going to win today. I’m going to win today.” I just knew I would, and I did.   

 

At first, though, I was really, really nervous, just like last time, to the point where I was physically ill. I had to force myself to eat some oatmeal, although, this time, at least I ate it. I did the 16-second breathing exercise over and over again. It helped, but still, I was sick.   

 

It was natural to be nervous. I was going to perform, and the competition was very important to me. But I knew I had to avoid the kind of experience that I had with the York competition; I certainly did not want to go through that again. 

 

Fortunately, this time, all my nervousness and anxiety went away as soon as I stepped up to the weights. I knew exactly what to do. I had a plan and a goal. I was able to see that, having done the events in training, there was no real reason I couldn’t do them again. Each event was just a task that I was going to accomplish, and that was all. This was my biggest victory – to believe that, to feel it. That’s what made it possible for me to take first place.  

 

On Saturday, I didn’t, for the most part, build up a lot of nonsense in my head. I didn’t have to make a big production, like changing my shirt before each event. This time, I did ‘less.’ I just focused on the task at hand and did it. Simple. Honest. No BS.   

 

In the axle clean-and-press for max weight (130 lbs.), I came in first and still felt I could’ve done more. I was first in the sandbag carry (150 lbs.), going 350 feet. I flipped the tire (450 lbs.) eight times in 62 seconds, for second place, breaking my record by two flips. The press medley was also a first place finish for me with eight reps, again beating my record. On the Atlas stone (160 lbs.), over which I had faltered so badly at York,  I came in second with seven reps, beating my record by four lifts!  

 

Ahh, I was so relieved, despite my disbelief, when the results were made official.  I felt very proud and impressed that I had come a long way in a short time.  Even then, I was still calm, as if what had happened was just what was supposed to happen. 

 

Of course, I couldn’t actually know I’d win. That depended on lots of things over which I have no control, but I was able to handle what I had to do. It was my moment. It felt totally natural.   

 

In the few days since then, I’ve been, I admit it, watching the videos of it a lot. It feels good to know that it was really me, and I think I looked good in each event. I’m proud of how I handled myself. It gives me a sense that anything’s possible, and I’ve been feeling at peace since then. I hope it lasts. I hope I can do it all again, only better.   

 

What may help is that I understand more of what strongman is all about. It goes beyond winning or hoping to win. Of course, I push to win, but strongman has meant, for me, overcoming my fears and being willing to find out of what kind of stuff I’m made and making that stuff as strong and as tough as possible. That’s what enables me to be confident enough to approach heavy weights and push myself beyond any previous limits.   

 

Doing so well without doing strongman training more than once a week raises the issue of how important is sport-specific training? It was necessary for me at least so that I could be familiar with the events and hone specific abilities, but it was my far more thorough kettlebell training that developed my strength, explosiveness, and movement under weight. A big part of what I saw in the videos of my performance was not just lifting, but how I moved. Anthony observed the same thing.   

 

With AOS training, I use and develop all my muscles. That is the basis for ability in any activity or sport, whether one is like a bulldog or a gazelle. Kat won two recent golf tournaments. Without focusing on golf-specific training, she relied upon her AOS training and was great. Henry, an AOS trainer in Austin, Texas, won a kettlebell competition the same day of my contest. Sandi, in Hawaii, was able to paddleboard through “bumpy” waters because of her similar training. And I do strongman also based on kettlebells and ropes and such. The training works for everything, creating strength, endurance, toughness, and grace of movement for one’s whole body. It all comes down to the basis of any sport - moving better using all one’s muscles in concert.   

 

AOS training has been fulfilling because of the possibilities it raises for me. I’ve come to feel ready for life, for whatever is thrown at me.  I can teach others how to move well and develop authentic strength. I enjoy knowing that I can help anyone. It gives me a feeling of purpose. For me, purpose is what AOS and kettlebells are all about.   

 

That purpose brings me to strongman. It seems like what I’m supposed to be doing with my life.  Kettlebells and AOS are how I can do it and win at it. The sense of purpose and confidence I get from knowing how to move help me to cope with the mental stresses of pushing my limits in competition. That’s what I was able to do in Atlantic City.

 

And as for next time, I’m ready. 

 

P.S. Credit should be given to Matt Keller, of Linden Yard Strongman, who ran the competition, for successfully integrating the women’s division into the entire event in such a way that all participants received equal attention and respect. In my short experience, I’ve found that the sport of strongman has a particularly high level of good sportsmanship that is very satisfying and encouraging. 

 

 

 

Three kids, a husband, owning and operating a gym, running a successful outdoor Bootcamp business, training for my first marathon, hard core kettle bell workouts, and eating clean…and this is the short list. I’m tired just writing it. People ask me sometimes “Wow - how do you do it?” and honestly, some days I really don’t know. Believe it or not, I am actually a pretty unorganized person. I have no problem admitting my shortcomings. I’m really, really good at a lot of things, but organization and time management are not on that list. Here are a few things that DO help me keep all my balls in the air:

 

I have an amazing husband who not only owns and operates his own steel fabricating business, but is frequently “Mr. Mom”. There are many, many early mornings when I’m at the gym and Bill gets the kids bathed, feeds them breakfast, and drives them to school. Then, since I’m also at the gym almost every evening, he comes home from work, helps them with their homework, plays with them, feeds them dinner, bathes them again, and gets them into bed. In short, my husband is the most supportive person in my life when it comes to all things family related. I couldn’t do this without him.

 

I also have an incredible staff of trainers at Punch South Bend who do a great job of teaching classes and delivering butt kicking kettlebell workouts. Our one year anniversary is October 1st, and in less than a year, we have developed a reputation in the South Bend area as THE place to train if you’re serious about your training, want to see quick results, and want the best quality kettlebell training in the area. I credit my staff for this. We simply feel like our reputation is directly related to the success of our members and we absolutely will not allow them to slack. We can’t afford it. And, our members are awesome! We don’t let negative people train here. We only allow fun, positive, energetic, and happy people in our gym. Because of this, we have created a community of supportive members who are like one big happy family. My trainers and our members are truly special people. I couldn’t do this without them.

 

As far as my personal marathon and kettlebell training goes, I have lots of accountability with my trainers since we all workout together and my running partner and Marathon coach are always riding my ass if I even think about skipping a workout. I couldn’t do this without them. Finally, eating clean is a no-brainer since I eat mostly raw foods. If I had to actually cook my food, I guarantee I would struggle with eating clean!

 

Finding “balance” in my life is truly a day to day endeavor and there is nothing predictable or organized about it. I simply do what needs to be done, accept help from the people I love the most, try to give my family, my staff and my members what they need, and pray that I can keep all the balls in the air.

 

 

 

Place a kettlebell on the inside of your left heel

 

Extend your right arm overhead, palm facing forward

 

Angle both feet towards the left and shift all your weight to right, sticking your right hip out. In this position, your left leg is slightly bent and your right leg is straight.

 

Looking up at your right hand, slide your left hand down your left leg and reach for the kettlebell. As you reach down, keep your right leg straight, and continue to keep all your weight in your right side.

 

Grab the bell with your left hand and stand up with it, inititating the movement by flexing your core and driving your right hand to the sky. Keep your right hand in the same spot and look up at it throughout the entire exercise.   

 

 

 

 

Here’s a killer workout written by Rick Freeman, AOS

 

Punch Gym South Bend

 

Complete this workout with two matching kettlebells. There are a few exercises below that you will do with just one bell.