Buzz
This is the moment—the week of the sandbag fitness challenge where I take on the notorious toss and chase. Outdoors. Under the blazing sun. If I can make it through, so can you.
The toss and chase is straightforward. Grab the sandbag, hurl it as far as possible, and sprint to retrieve it. Repeat the cycle, akin to a solo ping-pong match where the 'ball' weighs anywhere from 20 to 100 pounds.
Sandbags aren’t designed for throwing, so they don’t travel far. The upside: your sprint is brief. The downside: the throws come in quick succession.
Anyway, here I am, looking utterly ridiculous as I fling a 50-pound sandbag around:
Surprisingly, it’s not too bad! After 10 reps, I was ready for a break, but it wasn’t the kind of workout that leaves you drenched in sweat. Naturally, the heavier the bag, the more challenging it gets. I noticed I could complete 10 reps with a 35-pound bag in roughly the same time (one minute) as with a 50-pound bag. For context, I can squat over 200 pounds and power clean around 130. Adjust the weight based on your strength level, or simply increase reps for lighter bags and decrease them for heavier ones.
Since you’re exerting yourself intensely for short bursts followed by rest, this qualifies as interval training—call it 'conditioning' if cardio isn’t your thing, or 'HIIT' if you’re a fan.
Oh, and don’t forget to trim your fingernails beforehand. They’ll definitely catch on the bag.
