Kettlebell Marathon Training

Kettlebell marathons are nothing new, although they are only recently gaining in popularity though competitions and fund-raisers.

Kettlebell marathons fall into the non traditional kettlebell sport category, but what does it mean? The modern rules of kettlebell sport we know today have been in evolution since the 1960s.

Here are some of the changes that kettlebell sport went though:

• the half snatch (stopping in the rack position on the way down) was allowed until 1978
• the press was a discipline until 1982
• there was no time limit until 1989
• Small swings between reps were allowed until 2007

So, kettlebell marathons can be seen a return to the source of kettlebell sport, a way to figure out the last man standing. Kettlebell marathons have been kept alive and different types of records have been attempted over the years.

Most times, athletes lift a single kettlebell with multiple switch, but in some instances, 2 kettlebells are used. Athletes can compete in the jerk, snatch, long cycle and sometimes the kettlebell triathlon, a combination of all 3 competitive lifts.

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The International Kettlebell Marathon Federation  (IKMF) was created at the end of 2013. Right now, IKMF has members in: Belarus, France, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Finland, Spain, Australia, Greece, Venezuela and USA.

A world championship will be held in Minsk on the 10-13 September 2015.

If you’re interested in this kind of event, check out my kettlebell marathon training approach here. The new ebook is half price for the whole of February, and includes an 8 week kettlebell marathon training plan!

Here’s a description of events (from the IKMF rules book)

30 min: KETTLEBELL HALF MARATHON

The athlete must last the time required of the event. If an athlete puts the kettlebell down before the 30 minutes are over, he will be disqualified.

Check out the Ultimate Girevik Cup, an international kettlebell half marathon league. There’s even a virtual edition for those who cannot travel.

60 min: KETTLEBELL MARATHON

The athlete must last the time required of the event. If an athlete puts the kettlebell down before the 60 minutes are over, he will be disqualified.

But the fun does not stop here. Athletes have been doing 2, 6, 12 and even 24 hours of kettlebell lifting!

60 min +: KETTLEBELL MARATHON RECORDS

For events over 1 hour, resting position prohibitions are lifted to ensure the athletes safety.

For events of 6 hours and over, it is allowed to place the kettlebell on the ground once every hour, for 5min during day time, and 10 min during night time but the clock must keep running.

For events of 12 hours and more, any restriction about placing the kettlebell on the ground are lifted but the clock must keep running.

Some records, for inspiration

• Horoneko Vyacheslav, Belarus did  18108 jerks @16kg in 24 hours 1998
• Sergei Matskevitch, Belarus did 4922 jerks @24kg in 6 hours in 2000
• Oleh Ilika, Italy did 6260 jerks @24kg in 12 hours in 2009
• Stephane Dauvergne, France did 2117 jerks @16kg in 2 hours in 2013
• Rock Cox, USA lifted 110720kg in a combination of jerk, long cycle and snatch in 12 hours in 2014