TruFusion KB Comp ~ first 16kg snatch!

last week I got to go to Vegas to compete in a kettlebell competition and do my first competition with anything other than a 12kg bell. Which was really exciting and I trained really hard for it over several months mostly on my own

  Training for this event was wayyyy different than anything I've trained for over the past year. Usually I do my training with Kor and with my team but this cycle, no one else on my team was doing this event so i bought the online training program from Brittany van Schravendjik (my coach) that had a monthly program so I could do the training by myself. (Side note, if you're thinking of getting some online programming for kettlbell sport, definitely check out her programs! They're awesome!!) 

The first month was some of the hardest training I did, because I was trying to get ready for the long cycle championships in May and simultaneously progress my lifting weight with snatch (that month was training with the 14kg). It was hard and to be honest there were lots of days that I just didn't want to train and it was just a push to do all the training. but I did it! And once I finished with the long cycle championships I was able to fully focus on snatch training and boy did that make a difference. 

Once I started training just on snatch, I was less fatigued, my hands weren't as torn up, and I started really feeling stronger with the lift. 

The progression from a 12kg snatch to a 16 kg snatch is substantial. And it's really hard to go from snatching fast as heck (20+ rpm)  to really figuring out how to pace yourself so you can actually last a full 10. 

that was the breakthrough I really made throughout this training cycle ~ it's okay to go slow. And tbh, you have to start slow with just about anything you do. plus the whole "slow is smooth and smooth is fast" deal really comes into play here. and the weeks leading up to the event on the event I was feeling real strong with the lift and was looking forward to the comp.

The comp itself was different from any one that I've done before. First, didn't have the whole team there (only Dan & Albert). Second, definitely the farthest I've traveled for a comp. Third, it was an afternoon comp vs a morning which was different. And fourth, it was just a totally different competition vibe and space and competitors. And fifth, I could NOT stay hydrated. It was like a 30 degree hop and I couldn't stop being thirsty the entire time I was in Vegas. 

Just in general, the competition was just much different than what I've experienced in the past year. It definitely wasn't catered to someone who had actually been training for the event like I had been. And the scoring system was made up for this comp and it was odd. (It was calculated with your weight, bell weight, and arm length ~ so it seemed that someone with long arms [bc the bell travels further] would have an advantage in the point system). But the music was rocking and the energy was fantastic which is honestly key. Cause lifting in silence feels like murder (as I learned at the long cycle comp). 

my set was also weird because i was suposed to be lifting against two other ladies lifting a 16kg bell and then one of them decided to not lift snatch at all and the other decided to lift a 12kg. Which was kind of a bummer cause I really wanted to lift against and with people but I had come in with my own goals and I only ever focus on myself during my sets anyway so that's all I would do for that set. 

My goal for the ten minute set was 1) to finish a whole 10 minute set and 2) 130 reps 

and I did both! finished a whole 10 minutes AND hit 141 reps (11 reps over my goal!) 

really proud of myself and for keeping my mind right for the competition despite all of the deviations from my normal routine and set up for a comp. It went beyond what I thought I was going to do, I got only one hand tear (left side in the last minute) and I was the only woman to lift anything over a 12kg bell at the competition. So I'm taking it all as a win. 

Now I don't have any competitions until October now, so I have lots of time to train for the next one! 

If you want to get training for kettlebells or running come check me out at Edge in San Marcos (Wednesday @ 4pm / Friday @ 7:30am) & I'm available for one on one and small group training along with online training! Send me an email at tiffnessfitness@gmail.com or a DM on Instagram or Facebook! 

Long Cycle Championships

this weekend was the Kettlebell King IKO Long Cycle Championships! And it was a really successful competition for me!

Since Worlds, I've had a lot going on. Quit my job, took a break from training, got a new job, and then dove the heck into Long Cycle training... and then a month ago I added a snatch training cycle in on top of it. Cause I am also doing a kettlebell comp at the end of June.

SO, it's been a lot. but I did have a whole lot of focus for my long cycle sets for this comp. I worked a lot on nailing down some technique issues that I saw in my competition set in February. And I had a lot more time to really work on it all.

My goal for this competition was to break 100 reps, so then I could start lifting some heavier bells in my next competitions. (all the yellow bells!!)

some additional stuff that I had to deal with was that: 1) this was the first comp that I didn't have Britt, my coach at (@kbfitbritt) which was a change, but nothing too crazy to adapt to. 2) figuring out the weigh in the days before the comp, trying to get there before they left/getting out on time from work. 3) my brother came and I haven't had any family see me lift before so that was a bonus stress. 4) I randomly got to do an extra 5 minute 16kg one arm long cycle. 5) I had no idea when I was lifting. due to lots of circumstances, the flight schedules came out pretty late

but overall, all that worked out. I got to weigh in and eat everything I wanted the night before. the random 16kg set went well, and didn't tire me out for my 10 min set.  I had awesome support from Dan (@musclehipster) during the set, along with Gary, Marian (@marianjhart), Lolo (lolonicole13) , and my brother and Colt. But, Dan was really awesome during those last few minutes, you can hear him really coaching me through it, in the video I'll post below, and it definitely helped.

16 kg, 5 min One Arm Long Cycle

58 reps (1st place)

despite the music shutting off a couple minutes into the set, I finished pretty strong and honestly, it was just fun! got all my nervous energy out of the way, and made it happen.

2x12kg 10 min Long Cycle

106 reps (? rank)

SO, SO  proud of this set. honestly, my favorite part of this video is the last 90 seconds. it's all grit and will power and I am really proud of how well I did. I wanted 100+ reps and I did it. Max effort. and next time I get on the platform I'll be stronger for it. And I am really excited that I hit over 100 reps. My last PR was 75. That's 31 more reps added in about 3 months. That is hella progress.

Now, we're all onto all the snatches so I can be ready for the end of June! So excited!!

if you want to learn some stuff about kettlebells or take a class with me... check out edge.fitness to see what classes i'm teaching in San Marcos. Or message me on Facebook or Instagram!

I have online training and in person available to kick off your summer workout program!  

my first kettlebell competiton!

if you follow me on any of my social media (which i am gonna assume you do if you are reading this) you'll know that this weekend was my first kettlebell competition! it was SO MUCH fun and now I am so ready to do another one (once my hand is all healed up, tbh)! 

this post is basically gonna be a wrap up of my sets and how i feel about them. also i need somewhere to post all the great pictures and videos I got from it.  

all my prep for deck the bells came from my bad ass coach, Brittany van Schravendijk (i am so hoping I spelt that correctly), also known as @kbfitbritt and I did most of my actual kettlebell sport workouts at Kor Strength and Conditioning in North Park. 

All of the following pictures and videos are taken by my awesome boyfriend Colt Magana. Video is on a GoPro Hero 5 Session, pictures on a Google Pixel 2! 

Snatch Set! 

10 mins, with a 12kg bell! 

This is the event that I was really training for over the past 5 months. 

My goal was 200 reps (I hit 198! :) ) 

below is the full video if you want to watch me swing a bell for 10 mins straight 

I am outrageously proud of myself for this set, because it was my first ever competition set. I was straight up shaking when i got up to the platform... and probably throughout my first few minutes too...and maybe after. (i'm only kinda joking there)

i don't think i thought throughout this set anything other than, "breathe" and "OK" to my coach's cues. i was concerned that i was going to slip into some sort of negative self talk, but we did go through a lot of mental prep with Britt, so I had plans on plans so I wouldn't do that. and the plan A mental game plan went great. and because I had SO much adrenaline going it knocked out my cough that i has been fighting off for the last week and a half. (woo!) 

most helpful, was the cues from my coach and teammates. SO appreciated that. and by the last minute I was able to rep it out really fast that last minute. I think I hit like 25 reps that last minute which is pretty solid for me. And then I hit 198 reps! Which is a PR for myself! 

onto my One Arm Long Cycle! (clean & jerk)  12kg, for 5 mins. I hit 59 reps! First in my flight, and 3rd overall! 

Not something I really trained for as much as snatch. I did practice clean and jerk a lot on my own, with hardstyle bells more so than comp bells, but it clearly translated pretty well! 

this one I had an audience outside of my team and Colt cause my friend Josh and his lovely ladyfriend Ashley came and watched me! :) 

here is the whole set for your viewing pleasure: 

I didn't have as much coaching in this event, but i felt really solid throughout it, and it was 5 minutes, and I felt really good during the set. Long cycle is just a lot of breathing, so it was just getting into that breathing rhythm and sticking with that. 

so i was and am very happy with how that set went! 

so, all in all, i had a great first comp! i am really proud of how i performed and really excited to do another comp! i learned SO MUCH about kettlebell sport and all the scoring and just little things i didn't know and I got to see amazing lifters do amazing things, which was and is SO inspiring for me to keep on going with this sport! shout out to my awesome team and for all the awesome performances that came out of Deck the Bells! legit, got to see a woman break the world record on 2x20kg long cycle.so amazing. so excited i got to do my first comp in the kettlebell world with my home gym, full of all sorts of great people! 

onto the next! 

if you are interested in following my future kettlebell lifting comps or if you want to kick off your own fitness journey check me out on instagram and facebook and drop me a line!