Firefighter Recruit Training + Sustained DOMS = a lot of changes in my "other" life!

In the fitness training world, DOMS is an acronym for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. Usually, this happens when the trainee makes a significant change in their program, or starts something brand new and their body isn't really ready for that adaptation. So it rebels by making the area hurt for days after. It takes quite a bit for anything to make me sore for days after, and usually I welcome that new challenge because, well, that's the kind of strange breed I am. Hmpf... well now, let me tell you something funny!

I have been DOMS-ing for a week and a half straight. And not just a little, "ooohhh, my hammies are sore from all those deadlifts... :-)!" I have been in full-on-everything-hurts-and-I'm-completely-mentally-and-physically-exhausted mode for a full wek and a half. Even when the larger muscles start to get back to normal, my hands, and grip strength, are still cramped in a claw-like position. Yesterday I loaded up with not only the biggest bottle of Ibuprofen I could find, but a crapload of Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM 1300mg caps as well as Glucosamine & Chondroitin topical cream... and herbal tea.

I have a new class of Police Training Program vicitms starting this coming Sunday, and believe me, they are going to get NO sympathy from me anymore! As sadistic as it may sound, I greatly admire the standards the Fire Training Chief has set for us new recruits, because he demands we meet and exceed the bar set for Abbotsford Fire Rescue. If we don't like it, we can go home. For that, I am proud to have even made it this far. Keeping in mind that for each of us 11 recruits in my class, there are a couple hundred that would gladly step in to take our spots, so NONE of us are going to allow ourselves to be beaten down.

Beaten UP is another story, and for that I have this blog. As I recount my experiences, there comes a realization that something's gotta give, and that means sacrifices in my personal life, the "other" life before I became a Career Recruit Firefighter. I have had to give up (at least in the meantime) any questionably injurious sports (ie. judo or volleyball, and I even parked the motorcycle), fun stuff like salsa dancing or, hmmm, going home to my condo in Vancouver during the week ;-), my volunteerism at Odd Squad and BCR Army Cadets... I am even slipping on, but trying desperately to hang on to, my hula dance and practice, because that keeps me sane and spiritual. But on the business of training side, I have ceased all personal training, and most recently, postponed my regular Saturday kettlebell classes. This hurts a lot because I feel I am letting down my loyal clients, even though most understand what I am going through and recognize the sheer IMPORTANCE of me focusing on my training.

With the kettlebell class, I thought I would be able to continue because it's something I do anyways, so why not keep it going? Well, weekends are for rest and recovery, and even if I didn't participate and only instructed, SOMEONE'S gotta haul out the bells, throw them into the truck, drag 'em out the the field, and reverse the process once it's done. That in itself is tiring enough! I tried to book space at the Y where I can store the bells on site, but I can't get in until January.next year. So until then, I have no choice but to postpone my classes. I hope everyone understands.

Tomorrow, we are told, will be Hell on Earth. We are doing ground ladders ALL DAY, and our training officers promise the Chief will drill us until we drop. Of that I have no doubt, because he is a scary man, well actually, he is a human with a role to play and that is to turn us into top-notch firefighters. Which means inflicting a lot of pain during recruit training. So I'm going to shut 'er down, get some rest, and look forward to a new day!

TD

Beating myself up is easy during fire recruit training...

... both physically and mentally. Physically I've been challenged before, but this takes things to a whole new level. Mentally, because I've survived some intense situations that I overcame because of a strong spirit. But when you put the two together, I don't have a word for it, but it feels like a big frustrating happy cry that leaves you... spent.

Today we got familiar with catching a hydrant and deploying large diameter supply hose. Blah blah blah for those who don't know what I'm talking about but it's fundamental skills that all firefighters need to know and practice. But it was the SCBA and stair tower evolutions that threatened to void us of our lunches, lest we suck it up. I am the smallest in my class at 5'4", 130lbs. The biggest guy is 6'5", 260lbs, and then there's everybody shape and size in between. Self Contained Breathing Apparatus and bunker gear weighs maybe 40 - 50 lbs, so we are like bulls in a china shop by the time we are suited up and ready to go. We ran up and down the tower, multiple times, crawled through small spaces, up and down tower ladders, and then, for even more fun, hauled each other up the tower taking turns playing the "victim".

This is where things get hard and humbling. As firefighters, you do what needs to be done. Size, sex, nationality, etc., mean zero when you need to save your fellow partner and pull him out of danger. So we practiced lifts and carries, in full gear, UP the stairs. But our Company has only 5 people, so we had teams of 3 and 2. I was with the 2-man team, paired with a classmate that is about 5'11" 235lbs in street clothes. First he had to carry me up, which, as I could hear him huffing and puffing, was no easy task. Boy, I felt fat and huge! Then, we had to switch. Same teams, just reverse the roles. How the heck was I going to get this guy up 6 flights of stairs? I had some serious moments of self doubt at that point. I knew I had practiced carrying heavy guys in judo, with no problem, but they wern't all bulked up with an extra 50lbs of gear hanging off them, and in judo we were walking across nice cushy mats, not going up a tower. But there was no option, I had to do it, so I carefully loaded him across my shoulders, took a wide stance, and prayed for stability as I took one step at a time up those metal stairs. I made it up a flight and a half before I had to put him down and switch to trying to drag him up, basically doing a modified deadlift / horizontal row while taking steps backwards and upwards. The most awkward thing I've done, and he helped my out by kicking up now and then, but I have never felt so uncoordinated and useless before. Dejected, the instructor told us to come down on the fourth flight, before I killed the poor guy because his helmet came off and I could bash his head against the stairs... ooops...

I felt like I had let me team down, maybe I killed my partner, maybe I wasn't cut out for this... but the instructor gave me a mini Atta Girl, saying I impressed the shit out of him because I was able to get my partner up and out of the way that first flight and a half – removing him from immediate danger, at least. At that moment I felt like crying because I was so upset I hadn't made it up to the top, but a bit happy because Atta Girls don't come often, or at all, during recruit training because we work as a TEAM and nobody gets singled out. So I let myself feel a bit better, even more so when my partner shared with the team my meager little victory.

So this was supposed to have been an easy day, because the rest of the week will be HELL since we are on SCBA the whole time, plus we will be doing ladders. Which may just replicate the pukish-ness of today, and the first day. So on that note, I'm off to study, rest, hydrate, and get ready for another day of Fire Recruit Training.

TD

A Newfound Respect for Humpin' Hose

And that title is not meant to have any dirty connotations!

I said I wasn't going to go into detail into our training specifics, but firefighter recruit training has opened up a whole new perspective on functional fitness for me. For the last three days, we've rolled and unrolled hose, learned how to load, carry, and connect hose, and how to squirt water from different sizes of hose. We've learned a lot more than that, actually, but it's the cardio and strength aspect of it all that I can really speak to from my three days of experience.

I did a damn good job at training myself for the CPAT fitness test; a 10:20 timed obstacle course specifically designed to see if the fire recruit candidate has the bare minimum level of fitness required to do the job-specific duties of firefighters. It wasn't easy, but I did it, and gave myself the humble pat on the back since the fitness requirements are the same for me as they are anyone else. Well, let me tell you, the Abbotsford Fire Recruit Training MOCKS that standard and I have confidence in saying this even on DAY 3 of the program... because it only gets harder from here on in. Put it this way – I've gone through Police Academy, the RKC Kettlebell Instructor program, and a TON of challenging physical activities, but firefighter training kills them all. I'm so VERY thankful for the knowledge I have about fitness, biomechanics, form, breathing, and especially TRAINING with kettlebells, because without that, I'd be in trouble! I'm not tough, I'm realistic, and while I know I am strong for my size, the duties of a firefighter don't give a crap whether I'm 5'4" and 130lbs or 6'5" and 260lbs. The job needs to get done. End of story.

I worked my ass off, yet I feel it wasn't enough. I felt like I should have been faster, more coordinated, and just STRONGER in general! Mental fortitude only goes so far before you just have to grunt and give it everything you've got. And sometimes you come up short. We did evolution after evolution after evolution and I soaked through my turnout gear (from water), street clothes (from sweat), and chafed my legs and heels (from big-ass boots). I have no idea how many THOUSANDS of calories we burned, but my uniform pants are already loose!

I realize I am starting to babble so I'll call it a night, get some rest, and think about my game plan for next week. I will definitely NOT be working out this weekend... but my experiences will be translated into the language of fitness to one day share with you all.

Fit for Duty has taken on a whole new direction!

T

Digging Deep

So it's been four days since my last blog. I was going to create a masterpiece entry yesterday, but I, uh, fell asleep. But rest assured, there's a whole lot to share, and a lot more to learn, as I push myself to physical and mental limits I thought not possible. This is from someone with an already strong Type-A perfectionist personality, who survived Police Academy, RKC training, and whose self-imposed workouts continue to clear a path in the gym when the kettlebells hit the mats. But let me tell you, Day 2 of Abbotsford Career Fire Recruit Training was one that stands out as probably the most physically and mentally draining experiences of my LIFE so far.

We rolled and unrolled hose. Lots of hose. Over and over again. 1 3/4 inch & 2 1/2 inch hose. In turnout gear, minus the snoopy hoods and SCBA. For four hours. Word cannot describe the complete and utter exhaustion we felt as a team of 11, but I assure you, the feeling is unforgettable. Our Training Chief is a disciplined man, who has a reason for strict expectations of us as a rookie group, and he is very good at his job... which, if we can live up to his demands, will be to ready us to work with the regular crew on the fire trucks as soon as we finish recruit training on Dec 19. To ready us for a job that DEMANDS readiness in physical fitness, strength, coordination, skills, and most importantly, the BALLS to dig deep when the shit hits the fan and you need to pull up your big girl panties and DEAL with whatever needs to be done, no questions asked.

In a twisted way, I appreciate this, not because I am masochistic (well, maybe a little) but because I've played that game before. Police Academy, to learn knowledge and skills where your life (or the life of your partner, or a civilian in your community) could be at stake on the next routine call, or training my own police pre-recruits, who need to understand the very concept of training for a lifestyle, not a job. Much is the same for this training. I knew it would be hard, and I knew these days were inevitable, but I also know it's done for a reason, and it's a reason that will one day keep me and my teammates alive when things go sideways at a call - because of the thoroughness of our training (longer than any other Fire Depatment around here, if I'm not mistaken) we will be able to perform under duress and do things RIGHT. I'm very proud to be with Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service because they are investing a significant amount of time, resources, and money on me and my 10 teammates; they chose US over the other applicants and they believed when they hired us we have what it takes to do this job and represent their organization in the community. Now we have the task of proving them right.

I also have to thank my hula kumu Paul for his same standards of perfection he SCREAMS into us every class. Ok, the risks and rewards for firefighting and hula dancing are VERY different, but I seem to attract this need for utmost refinement of skills in whatever activity I undertake. Perhaps it's the feeling of gratification, and gratitude, when you know you've worked hard towards an objective and you nail it... it could be for a trophy, or a simple "atta girl" and a pat on the back... or perhaps I am one to chase a challenge and will never slow down, because life is full of challenges and I've never shied away from a single one. I don't know, but I know that today was day four and there are going to be a LOT MORE days like today and yesterday in the next two months.

So I'll just hydrate lots, suck it up, and put on my big girl panties... and deal with it!! Because when it comes down to it, there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Bring it on!!

Trish

My new life begins today!

Not that there was anything wrong with the "old" life, and I certainly have no regrets. But today was Day 1 of 9 weeks of Career Fire Recruit Training with Abbotsford Fire Rescue, and there will be many trials and tribulations over the next 2 + months. It takes a lot to unnerve me, but as much as I know I rightly earned a spot amongst my 10 other classmates, as much as I have mentally prepared for this undertaking, and as much as I have physically trained for this demanding career, I - to be blunt - was scared shitless.

It doesn't matter how tough I SEEM, it doesn't matter how GOOD everyone says I'll be, and it doesn't matter that I beat out hundreds of other applicants for this opportunity to PROVE myself worthy of joining the exclusive brotherhood of firefighters... the awesomeness of what lies ahead is both intimidating and inspiring, and I bow my head in humility when I think of the enormity of what this fulfilling career really means to me. I am thankful and appreciative that I have 10 incredible classmates with whom I will share this journey, and with whom I will form a lifelong bond. I'm also grateful for the department and personnel that believed enough in us to make a significant investment in time and money, entrusting us to carry on their traditions with honour, pride, and respect.

I'm focussing my blog posts on how this training affects me at a deeper level, instead of a play-by-play on what the tasks of the day were. Well, maybe I'll pepper that in occasionally. And I'm sure you'll all understand if Duckie lays low for the first while, because, well, it's not his time to shine just yet.

Day 1 was a scary, joyous, info-overloaded, proud, fast, incredulous, and mind-boggling adventure. I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow!

Trish

What's with the Duck?

Ok, fine. It's been a year with me and Squirt, the Fire Duckie. And the question never changes: "What's with the Duck?"

There is no big story. There is no fantastic life-altering event that brought me and Duckie together as inseperable companions. I was teaching a kettlebell workshop in Victoria, BC, one weekend last fall (Oct 28, to be exact), and went into one of those quirky little boutiques that sell funky knicknacks and useless tacky gadgets. Well, this little store happened to have an entire section devoted to duckies of all kinds. Long story short, I have a Police Duckie, a Hula Duckie, and yes, Squirt, the Fire Duckie.

I knew I was working towards a career in the fire service, and was in the process of getting all of my requisite certifications and exams: Level III Occupational First Aid, Class 3 Driver's Licence, NFPA 1001, CPAT physical, Fit-Tech physical, Ergometrics aptitude testing, AW Fraser psychological testing, not to mention applications, resume, references, blah blah blah... I figured why not have Duckie accompany me on my journey through it all? So I starting bringing him... everywhere.



Sure, some people pretend they find him silly... think I'm crazy... but there's no denying the cuteness of the lil guy! The journey's not over, but through it all, I will bring Squirt along for the ride and share our adventures with y'all!

The next stage starts Octocber 20... stay tuned!!

TD & squirt

Being "in shape" is not the same as being "fit"!

Tonight is more of a rant, really. I've had a few days to reflect on the workshop I gave for fitness leaders at the BCRPA Fitness, Strength & Conditioning Conference this past weekend. It was a great turnout, and I was pleasantly surprised when all these trainers showed up to learn how to use kettlebells in their programs! Because I wasn't within my "normal" client group (normal meaning somewhat crazy but fun to be around...) I laid off the tough love, kick-ass persona and treated them, well, kinda nice. Apparently, "nice" in my vocabulary means something quite different in other people's!

It was a 90-minute workshop designed to introduce them to the concept of kettlebell training. I covered some basic movements, and demonstrated different programming options using 2 moves - the kettlebell swing, and bodyweight pushup. Pretty simple, no? But, as they say, simple doesn't mean easy. The first thing I showed them was ONE partial set of a decreasing ladder superset workout. I even knocked off the first rung, and modified the "workout" to 20-15-10-5 each of swings supersetted with pushups.

Half the attendees dropped out before completing this! Many couldn't even perform a proper pushup! I was, and still am, shocked. I told them they were the fitness trainers. I told them THEY were the ones people look to for improved health and wellness! I told them – they had to walk the talk. They had to set the example, and to motivate and inspire their clients. And I told them to stop looking at me like that... :-) Is that too much to ask? They may be in great "shape", but there is a humbling moment when one realizes that being (or having) great shape does not necessarily mean one is "fit".

So, perhaps I won't ever be the Fitness Trainer of Trainers of the year. Hell, maybe I won't be invited back to present!! But I am proud that I protected the integrity of the humble kettlebell as an exercise tool. So although it may take a little longer for the KB craze to kick in fully here in Vancouver, I now know that the instructors that do end up using them seriously will give the bell the respect it deserves.

Until then, my classes are open!

TD

Kettlebells for Fitness Leaders

This weekend (Sunday afternoon) I'm presenting a 90-minute workshop on Kettlebells for Fitness Leaders at the BCRPA Fitness, Strength and Conditioning Conference. The theme is Moving Forward, Gaining Strength, and I think it's a perfect way to introduce kettlebells to the masses – responsibly.

I love kettlebells. They literally have changed my life and opened up so many more opportunities that just wouldn't have presented themselves if I hadn't started training with them. But I respect them as a training tool, nothing more, and nothing less. Nothing more, because kettlebells aren't the be-all-end-all of fitness toys. They are very effective at what they are designed to do – but they are one modality of many in my arsenal of exercises I use to train myself and my clients. Nothing less, because they deserve the respect they command. And this is what today's blog is going to focus on.

Too many people jump on the "teacher/trainer/instructor" bandwagon. Not just in strength & conditioning; I, an avid salsa dancer, am sickened by the number of "salsa teachers" that have suddenly become "world experts" in teaching this dance to unsuspecting newbies. What are your qualifications? Oh, you mean someone liked the way you danced and asked you to teach them how to spin? THAT makes you a teacher? AND you have a website and YouTube video? Oh, ok. Just checkin'. You get the drift. Now, of course, salsa teachers aren't qualified with the certification requirements fitness leaders possess (provincially through BCRPA, nationally through CanFit-Pro, or other internationally recognized certifying organizations), but the fact they are passing on flawed knowledge to others is what annoys me. How does this apply to kettlebells?

Kettlebells are a fairly new-to-North America phenomenon, but are quite an ancient tool in Europe. I first learned about them from a friend, who encouraged me to get my certification with an outfit called Dragon Door, which offered the Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) Instructor Certification. I followed his advice, and since then have trained with and learned from some of the world's top experts – REAL EXPERTS – in the field: Pavel Tsatsouline, Steve Cotter, Steve Maxwell, Mike Mahler, Nate Morrison, Brett Jones, Anthony Dilugio, to name a few. These people helped me along in my journey to becoming a respected and solid kettlebell instructor. There are now more than a few different certifications out there, but folks, lets get realistic - a weekend workshop does NOT make you an expert!

I remember one of my judo instructors telling me that achieving the rank of black belt means you have a good grasp of the basics. At that point, your real training can begin. And I just loved that reality. We are ALWAYS learning. We can never know it all. Because once you think you've reached the top of your game, well, there's only one way to go! And so it is with kettlebells, in my little corner of the world.

This weekend I am going to TEACH these fitness instructors that just because they attended my 90-minute workshop on how to incorporate kettlebells into their programming, they are far from being qualified instructors. Yes, I know, "but nobody has a certification in dumbells!?...." – Don't get me started. Just because you ordered a DVD online and watched some crazy KB stunts and stupid human tricks on YouTube does NOT make you a kettlebell instructor! And you will be doing a disservice to your clients. Walk the Talk. Be a good example, demonstrate proper form, and earn your respect. The old-fashioned way. 'Nuff said.

Trish