What if...

I read a great article on "What if's" as it relates to 2008's outlook.

Here's my "What If..." list:

What if people could realize that simple training often yields the greatest results?

What if people understood how much strength could be developed from just one lift, the deadlift?

What if young kids didn't have the sports scandals of professional athletes to ruin their image & view of their 'heroes' on the field?

What if all the fitness magazines actually got together and realized how much garbage they print out each month?

What if all our athletic youth had coaches who were 'up-to-date' on the latest training methods, and not stuck on what their old coach had them do?

What if we could all discover how a gym full of machines is still useless if you don't make the effort to workout in the first place?

My predictions:

Kettlebells will really hit the 'mainstream' in 2008. Just in the regional sporting goods store, there are now 2 brands of kettlebells sold, and even Target is selling the GoFit brand of kettlebells in their stores. It may take a while, but once people start using them for their intended purpose (and not as an expensive door-stop), Kettlebell Training will be the 'new Yoga' or Pilates craze, and it will stick around for a long time. It will probably face some backlash from those who are afraid to learn the proper way to use them, but it will be their own loss due to their ignorance.

Simple training methods, such as deadlifts, push-ups, jump roping and hill sprints, will start being used more instead of all the gimmicky items out there used in speed training. It is programs like the "Underground Secrets to Faster Running" program that is helping change this mindset. (I highly recommend checking out http://bearpowered.com) How much more simple can you get by running at a top-speed range and literally ceasing the workout once you can't maintain it any more? Athletes are getting faster, in quicker time frames than other gimmickly-induced training programs. A deadlift routine, and simple, smart sprinting methods, is really what it comes down to in getting faster. Strength + Sprints = The Simple Solution for Speed.

Happy New Year, may 2008 be GREAT for you!

Rick Karboviak
1 Cor 9:24
"Run so as to win."