SO WHAT'S IN STORE FOR ME?

"Take three months to prepare your machines" - Sun Tsu, The Art of War

NOVEMBER '09
I spent an hour on the phone talking to Lynn about what i should do.
His first homework assignment was "learn kettlebells"

One quick wikipedia search later told me:
The kettlebell or girya (Russian: гиря) is a cast iron weight looking somewhat like a cannonball with a handle.
Unlike traditional dumbbells, the kettlebell's center of mass is extended beyond the hand. This allows for swing movements not possible with traditional dumbbells. Because more muscle groups are utilized in the swinging and movement of a kettlebell than during the lifting of dumbbells, a kettlebell workout is said to be more effective, and yields better results in less time.

The more i read about Kettlebells the more i could see Lynn's reasoning.
This challenge wasn't to get super buff and to be Mr Body Beautiful, far from it...but i did need to be strong. Kettlebells make really strong people.
I was excited. In my head this was like an awesome Rocky Montage...

I got in touch with Phil Earley (pictured above), a highly respected RKC and IKFF accredited Kettlebell coach who taught in my city.
Phil is a cool bloke, quiet, softly spoken but highly enthusiastic. Phil had trained Natalie Smith, a Geordie girl who had starred in BBC3's Last Woman Standing (someone who would become a good friend and a constant source of encouragement over the next few months).
Phil taught "Hardstyle" kettlebell techniques, focusing on technique, form and effort. You would work damn hard, but you would do it correctly.
No crappy lifts, no half-assed squats, but also no injuries, no accidents and no mistakes.

Phil's classes were full of friendly people of every shape and size imaginable, but they all had one thing in common..they were all tough!
Very quickly every man and woman in that hall became my role models.
Phil gave me lots of attention, helped me with my bruised ego and lack of confidence and encouraged me to dig deep and train hard.
I found kettlebells to be the toughest, most demanding physical exercise I've ever done in my life.
That first night i found i could barely sleep for the pain in my abs and thighs..the next day...well, let's just say i hurt...