4 Days Later....

Pretty close to healed! Aw, look, it's in the shape of a heart, how sweet.

While I'm feeling the need to get back to training after my 2 consecutive off-days after the RKC, I suppose I should just let my hand heal completely first.

Oh, right, the RKC... ;)

So, I was REALLY excited for my cert, every part of it. The learning, the challenge, the acquaintances.... the whole experience. I had huge expectations. And, I am not disappointed. I got to meet several people I'd admired for a long time, I did learn (and retain!) a great deal, and it certainly was challenging. Let's put a more accurate word to it: does "Brutal" fit? The RKC is hardcore. Yeah, most of us already knew that. Yet, as a girl who, I admit, likes to think of herself as pretty tough, I can tell you that all of that goes bye-bye with the last remnant of fog of the Los Angeles summer morning. The heat bears down, the skin starts tearing, you have to grab an opporunity to hydrate when you can, because you might sweat a liter before getting another chance. Honestly, although I can't remember ever being that sore from head to toe (first day snowboarding comes close), the hand problems were still the biggest physical challenge for me. And that, of course, was really disappointing, not to mention surprising. I do a pretty high volume of KB snatches, without any protection. My hands are well-conditioned. Throw some brand new gritty bells, major heat, moisture, and overspeed swings (pictured left) into the mix, however, and the "tough" girl with the good callouses ends up blistered, weepy, pouty, and a little bit pissed. You know what, though, I should have been prepared. I should have bought some sock-sleeves, and I should have been taped from hour 1. Remember the line from Kettlebell Safety 101? "It's your fault."!

TBC.