trying strongman

This past Saturday I tried my first Strongman class.

It was awesome.

I showed up knowing very little about Strongman, only that it involved some pretty crazy events (like lifting heavy Atlas stones or occasionally pulling trains). I remember watching competitions on TV with my dad as a kid (my memory conjures images of burly dudes sawing down trees and doing Superman curls with chains attached to trains or some such wizardry), and the fact that I was going to try out a class now was somewhat surreal.

A few years ago, I would never have considered giving it a try. But after having tried a variety of different fitness sports over the past 2 years, I went into it with an open mind and the sole goal of having fun.

And fun it was.

I checked out Untamed Strength in Sacramento, where the owner Alan Thrall has put on a Strongman Conditioning class 3x/week for years. There was a group of 12 or so regulars there (I was the only new person) and they were all incredibly welcoming and supportive.

The workout itself consisted of 3 circuits, the first 2 of which involved alternating between 2-3 exercises (everything from sandbag step ups to sled drags to odd object overhead presses) for 15 minutes. And the workout finisher was lifting a heavy rock (anywhere from 73 to 180lb) and carrying it for 200 feet or so.

The step ups, sled pulls and axle overhead presses were no problem, since I’ve done plenty of these movements before. The box overhead presses (lifting a 90-100lb rectangular box from the floor to overhead) and stone carries were a lot tougher though, largely because the objects were irregularly shaped and a logistical conundrum for my barbell-accustomed brain.

The first lap of the carries, I lifted a 135lb rock and carried it without any issues. Which of course meant I had to try the 180lb rock on my second go. Everyone was hyping me up and giving me tips—it was a dope atmosphere.

I tried picking up the rock twice, and had no trouble getting it from the ground to my lap, but struggled to get a good grip on it due to the unwieldy shape of the stone, and had to set it down. I remember saying, “I don’t think I can do this one.”

But at everyone’s encouragement, I gave it a third try, and succeeded in lifting and carrying the rock up and back by adjusting the positioning of the stone. After I got back to the start and set it down, one of the bigger dudes said, “You know what you said before you did that? ‘I can’t do this.’” He gave me a look that finished the thought: “But you did it.” He gave me a fist bump.

I left the class with biceps and a low back that were already getting sore, but also a sense of accomplishment that I’d tried something new and had a great time doing it. So often, especially as the years go on, it’s easy to get stuck in your routine, and the frequency at which we try new things plummets. It takes more intention and activation energy to put yourself out there and take on a new challenge. It’s a sad reality, but it’s one that can be actively changed if you normalize pushing back against that friction. Doing the class was a great reminder of that.

I’ll definitely be going back for more.