From time to time everyone needs a good ass-whipping.  I got mine today.  Wild Bill who is one of the characters on IGX hosted a virtual competition with the 24kg bells.  Sounds fun.  I thought I would do traditional (jerk/snatch).  I hate traditional.  I dislike jerks because structurally I am not well suited and snatch kills my hands.  Well so what?  Sergey Mishin was the reigning champ in Russia for a long time and he was a heavy guy who really couldn't get any rest in the rack.  He made up for it by being a total badass.  As for the hands, well that is just an opportunity to improve technique.

You recall I backed off the GS training because of a bout of plantar fasciitis.  That went away so I started to train hard again but pretty much as soon as I started it came back with a vengeance.  Last weekend I didn't help matters when I decided to do a 30 min continuous set with a pair of 24s.  Bad idea.  My right foot was screaming.  Oh well it sucks gettin' old.  We'll see what happens but I really like this stuff and I would like to keep doing it if I can.  It didn't factor into today's test anyway.  I wore my running shoes, that helps a lot.    That said I hate giving up ground and today's sets were telling.  The videos are attached below.  The snatch technique simply needs work.  The jerks were interesting.  I wasn't really fatigued by the set but my triceps were locking up.  They get a lot of strain being stretched in the rack position it seems.  I did 100 reps I think.  A few months ago I did 100 long cycle with the same weight.  It really points out where my limitations are.  My conclusion from this is that I have to work faster and possibly get a bit more flexible.  Also I still hate traditional.
Going forward I have some goals for the heavy bells with one arm work and I have been making progress with the 48kg.  I have also rediscovered my concept 2 rower given that I backed off the running.  It is going to work out well as my bro-in-law just started training with the C2 as well.  He has been a marathoner for years and he has a lot of knee arthritis now so his doc told him the running is probably not the best idea.  Some friendly competiton is always good.  Anyway I plan on posting quite a bit more about the rowing soon.  Rowing to me is a strength endurance activity very much like kettlebell sport, so it is a natural fit.  The plan going forward is focus on heavy one arm work, snatch, and rowing.  I have to nail that monster bell I just made sooner or later.  In addition I will continue to address the rack position and flexibility issues.  As always I'd appreciate your comments as far as technique, sartorial issues, and choice of music.  Thanks to John Wild Buckley of the Orange Kettlebell Club for the t-shirt.