Sick Day Marathons - The History of Strongman and My Inspiration

As a child in the 1980s-1990s, staying home sick did not include the internet let alone smart devices, sophisticated video games, and food you could order on an app. A sick day meant extra television time spent at the single TV set my family owned with some blankets and a pillow situated on the living room floor. And it was on such a sick day, there on my living room floor as a child that I saw a man pick up what looked like an entire tree and hoist it over his head.

I had to see what would happen next.

I don’t remember what channel or the exact year, but I do remember Bill Kazmaier. Lips flared out as if making a train sound, Kaz would turn red in the face and look like a superhuman as he hoisted odd objects and fended off the challengers. I watched for hours. Episode after episode until there was a champion, and then another year played, another World’s Strongest Man.

Later in life, I learned to love lifting weights and eventually I bought a strongman log of my own. From the first lift, it was the most fun I’d ever had in my home gym up until that point. I quickly added an axle to my lineup, and I began strongman training. Learn about the history of both the axle and the strongman log in Episode 10 of the Home Gym History Podcast.

Just as talking about lifting with someone or home gyms connects you, strongman carries the same conductive property. The sport is mostly a friendly affair. Not much trash talk. I’m not sure if the televised nature of the modern strongman events inspired the friendly sportsmanship or if it was just a quality of the athletes whom competed. Either way, strongmen and women seem to equally compete and cheer for each other. Yes, there are squabbles at times, but for the most part from what I’ve seen in my years following the sport, there is a camaraderie. It is this connection that inspired me to ask Kurt of @the_kurtlocker to be my first interview on the podcast. I love recording with Jake and Adam, but I’m rarely interviewing them. Unlike me, Kurt has been competing in strongman and has an extensive collection of strongman implements. I wanted to bring an experienced strongman’s perspective to the history I’d provide. Only recently have I set my sights on my first strongman competition, and although I’m grateful for the strongman implements I possess, Kurt’s gym is a strongman’s paradise.

Other than a strongman log, the next most sought after strongman implement for me were Atlas Stones. I searched for Atlas Stones for years on the used market, and in hindsight, I should’ve just bought some molds and made my own. After speaking with Kurt during Part 2 of the Home Gym History episode, it was even more apparent stone molds would’ve saved me a lot of time and headache. But alas, I had eventually tracked down some stones from two different sellers, and for the time being, they suit my needs. Learn the history of Atlas Stones on Part 2 of the podcast.

Strongman lifts involve fluid movement and usually the whole body. They are exercises for everyone to enjoy. You don’t have to be a 400 pound giant. Just as you don’t have to be Sydney Crosby to enjoy playing a little hockey, you can go out there and enjoy some farmer’s walks. Hoist a log overhead and feel like the world’s strongest man or woman. You might not be the world’s strongest, but if you’re a home gym owner, you’re the strongest in the entire gym.

Thanks to my log lifting brother, Kurt, for helping me learn how to conduct an interview! Subscribe to my YouTube for more historical content, and check out Kurt on YouTube as well.