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@@ -1,5 +1,32 @@ # Scratch +I hate running. If I am running, it's because I'm being chased. Or I am chasing something. + +Neither of those scenarios come up much though. Every now and then I might do some trail running because I want to get to a particular location by sunrise or because I'm trying to track a bird. But running for fun? There is no fun in running. Have you ever watched someone running? Do they look like they're having fun? No, they look miserable. Because they are. + +I hate running so much that back in high school, when told I had to "take" a sport, I went through the list of options and picked rowing because it seemed unlikely to involve any running. I was right. Mostly. Now rowing turned out to be it's own special kind of physical hell far worse than running, but at least it wasn't running. I don't mind enduring hell, so long as it isn't running. + +Yet I've noticed that the old adage that "use your body or you'll lose it" becomes increasingly true as I age. I'd go back to rowing, but boats are expensive, and hard to transport when you [live in an RV](). I like to lift heavy things, but weights are also out for those us in RVs or apartments. What to do? I know what you're thinking, go to the gym you moron. I hate gyms. I might hate gyms more than running. It's a toss up. + +For years I got by with pushups, sit ups, and pull ups whenever there was an opportune tree nearby. It worked. Mostly. A little lacking in cardio perhaps, but I'm not trying to win a marathon, I just want to stay strong and age with a modicum of grace. + +Then I discovered GoRuck's sand kettlebells. Now I can lift heavy things and pack them away in tiny bundle when I'm done. + +For me GoRuck sand kettle bells hit the sweet spot between price, size, and workout potential. + +I should probably here note that my idea of a workout is very simple: work as many muscles as you can with the minimum of exercises necessary. After a bit of experimenting I found what I've been looking for ever since I stopped rowing: a brutally hard workout that doesn't take hours. The kettlebell swing combined with the Turkish get up give me a very well rounded workout (and I still do pushup and pullups as well). + +I'll be honest, I've never really liked sand weights, they tend to be poorly made. GoRuck's sand kettlebells are an exception to this rule, they're well-made and incredibly durable. They're heavy duty (1000D) Cordura nylon, and use a zipper system with a velcro flap that roles down (like a dry bag) to make sure no sand leaks out. In months of testing I have yet to see any sand leak out. Oh and if you don't happen to live near any free sand you can always grab a bag of play sand from your nearest hardware store. + +I started with the 35 pound sand kettlebell, which I think is a good option if you're in decent shape. While GoRuck doesn't endorse it (and it won't work for some excercises) you can under fill these if you buy a size that doesn't work for you. After a couple of months with the 35 pounder I ordered the 44 pounder as well and find that between the two I can create all sorts of complex, well-rounded workouts. That said, I mostly stick to swings and get ups. Like said, I am not a sophisticated person. Me swing heavy bag. Me happy. + +Even if you have plenty of space for iron kettlebells there's a lot to like about sand. I've dropped the 35 pound from about waist height on my foot with no injuries. Don't try that with iron kettlebell. These also don't hurt when you stub your toe on them. I have three kids, there are enough Lego pieces strewn across the floor, I don't need an iron kettle bell out to get me too. + +Then there's the beginner-friendly aspect. Sand is more forgiving than iron. I can't tell you how many times I dropped this thing trying to figure out the Turkish get up. I'm pretty sure I'd have some cracked ribs if I'd been trying to learn with an iron kettle bell. + +If you're curious about kettlebells or are looking for some home workout gear that doesn't cost a fortune, and packs up small when you need it to, GoRuck's sand kettlebells are hard to beat. That said, be warned: swinging a kettlebell looks easy enough, but do it a few hundred times and you'll be breathing hard and sore as heck the next day. As GoRuck would say, embrace the suck. Just don't run, cause running sucks. + + ## Best Linux Laptops Linux will work on just about any PC. There plenty of Linux distros that still happily support 32-bit processors. Remember the Pentium 4? It's still supported by Debian Linux and others. That said, Linux runs better on some laptops than others, and some PC makers offer official support for Linux on their machines, meaning you have somewhere to turn if things should go awry. |