Blogging from PrimalCon 2012 – Day 3
I’ve spent the whole weekend trying to wrangle a 9 1/2 week old puppy that I’ve only had for four days while interacting enough to cobble together a a few blogs that somewhat encapsulated the PrimalCon 2012 experience, and I think I did a fair job. I’m dead tired. Too tired to join an epic 2-game Ultimate Frisbee series spanning an hour and a half. (Mark’s team lost the final match by a couple points, and, contrary to his claims of it being merely his outlet for carefree whimsical play, he takes it pretty seriously.) But despite all that, I feel good. It feels good to help put something like PrimalCon together, something that people really seem to appreciate. Because I work in this world, and almost everyone around me is clued in, it’s easy for me to forget that most people who get into this Primal stuff often do so as lone wolves without a Primal pack. So it’s been fun to see people discovering their pack.
Still, PrimalCon 2012 is finally winding down, so there’s a bit of sadness. It’s not quite done – everyone’s still hanging around, chatting, stretching, Olympic lifting, hitting PRs, generating vitamin D, inhaling macadamia nut butter, and exchanging emails, Facebook friend requests, hand shakes, and promises of future meetings – but it’s going to be, and you know it. People are getting in their last licks.
The group leaders are sharing hugs and looking radiant.
Mark and Erwan are flexing for the camera.
People are laughing and lounging around in the warm grass.
A few are even practicing power cleans and snatches – for vacation.
Mark’s giving his final words and fielding some last minute questions. “Are hot tubs healthy?” someone asks the guy from Malibu with two of ‘em at his house.
Not much more needs to be said. This is the trailing off, the sinking in of concepts discussed the previous days and sure to be ruminated upon for days hereafter. Now it’s time to say goodbye, and move on and up and forward. After all, sadness is just a reprieve from a previous high, isn’t it? Feeling sad now means you were feeling happy, and the two are co-dependent. Two sides of the same coin. This is nostalgia before it’s supposed to happen, which should tell you something about how meaningful this weekend was.
Sadness, shmadness; there’s always next year. See you then?
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Posted By: Worker Bee
Amazing. I hope I’ll go to the next one, or maybe the one after that.
And after I’ve been to one, I’ll try to bring it to Brazil’s beautiful beaches!
I’ll attend that one!
practicing power cleans and snatches- for vacation. Love it haha! wish I could have been there.
Mark and crew –
Just an amazing experience. The quality of coaching, the advice on Primal living and cooking demos where outstanding. The MDA team deserves a special thanks in making the experience so memorable and enjoyable in not the best of weather conditions.
Hats off to MDA!
So jealous. Glad everyone is having great time!
So I was one of the lucky ones this weekend and attended PrimalCon 2012. The weather was a challenge but the staff was incredible and just made things work. In fact, they were some of the hardest working folks I have seen in a long time! I’m sure they will sleep like rocks tonight and really appreciate not having to feed us anymore (food was AMAZING!). My highlights were getting amazing advics on my llifts, my PR, working on squats and mobility, tips on posture, FOOD, and meeting some incredible folks! Thanks for a great experience and I hope to do it again next year!
You were AMAZING!! So nice to meet you! Keep in touch and keep working on those cleans!
No puppy pictures? You tease us.
It is time for PrimalCon East. Please? Perhaps this fall?
PrimalCon 2012 was a great experience for me. I am re-inspired on making good food and fitness choices. The instructors were excellent. I think my running form has improved 100%. Can’t wait for my next sprint session next weekend!
Looks like such an fun and invigorating time! And right where I used to live… but since I’m in Chicago now, I’ll put in for a Midwest Primal Con too. Hey Toad, how about a Lake Michigan site–South Haven area? We could show those west coasters how beautiful our coast is!
How about PrimalCon western Europe? The Alpine version? Pleeease? I want some macadamia butter.
Thank you for sharing with the rest of us!
Thank you for the post and keeping us updated. Hope to make it to one soon! Looks like an incredible experience…
awww, what a wonderful way to vicariously experience this thing called PrimalCon. And thanks for inspiring me to attempt a small batch of mac nut cashew butter myself this week!
Thank you, Mark! Thank you to all those who helped out, both staff and presentation speakers! Thanks especially to Adam for assisting me with beating my PR twice in the deadlift…Sunday morning’s was 315 lbs.! Thanks also to Kelly Starrett for working on my right knee and calf muscles. And I loved the sledgehammer workout with success-story Timothy Williams so much that I attended it twice. I also learned how to stand on my head (briefly — gotta’ work on core strength to lift my legs straight up). Looking forward to trying out the recipes from Chef Rachel’s cookbook. I was tickled by the questions I received from people pointing at my right leg and asking, “Is that Grok tattoo REAL?” (Yes, it is.)
I hope to attend 2013. Tara Grant said if she brings her guitar, then I’ll bring my Celtic harp.
- Russell / Anthrocavedude
Europe loves you too Mark.
Your knowdge has changed lives here too.
How about organizing an event like this here?
I’d be the first to register for it, I’d probably volunteer to help with the organizing!
Wow! I loved reading these! Great!!! Writing!
AWWWROOOOOOOO
from one lone wolf to her pack!
Re: the last photo…Here’s how to get up on the table…search youtube for “ken jumping on table.mov”