Feats of strength have been revered throughout history. One of the most popular modern feats of strength is a vehicle pull. On October 10th 2009, I will be putting my 190 lbs. of bodyweight to the test against 28,000 lbs. of steel in the form of an almost 40-feet long school bus, as part of our "Pulling For The Hungry" event to help feed hungry students in the city of Toronto.

The bus pull is one of th most grueling challenges a person’s body can endure. All of the muscles in the body burn, and the lungs feel as though they will burst. Since I have announced my event, the most common reaction has been, "how the heck are you gonna pull a school bus?" Which then leads to the more obvious question, "how do you even train for something like that?" That is what this article attempts to answer.

Well, without giving too much away (don't want to spoil the show!), it takes a marriage of strength, endurance, and technique to make the bus move. Height and weight is a huge advantage in this type of thing, one which I won't have! Being an average sized man at 5'7" and weighing only 190 lbs., I will have to rely much more on two things: preparation and courage.

Henry Ford said it best, "whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, you're probably right." The first step is just believing in myself, and knowing that, if I apply myself, I CAN do it.

Next, I must be extremely diligent in my preparation. I need to fuel my body regularly with plenty of high-octane, high-powered but low glycemic index carbohydrates, protein to rebuild battered and bruised muscles, and fruits and veggies for phytonutrients and fiber.

I need to build my strength, and get my body used to handling very heavy loads in basic movements like squats, deadlifts, and barbell presses. I also need to improve my speed and endurance by doing things like fast-paced step ups or high repetitions on odd object lifts like log presses. Finally, I need to practice my technique by pulling a weighted sled, and visualizing as though I were pulling the school bus. You can see video highlights of my training by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rib9ABKNAYU

Make no mistake about it, this will be a BIG test. The last time I attempted something like this I weighed almost 40 lbs. more than I do today, and had been training for years to accomplish the feat. Now, at 190 lbs., I will have had a total of 12 weeks to get ready to battle a 28,000 lb. school bus. While I may be taking a big risk, I believe in my heart that I'll rise to the occasion. And whenever I waver, I only need to think of the plight of hungry kids in our city to further strengthen my resolve.

Success is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. I have an opportunity to help, and I assure you I will be prepared! A lot of training goes into pulling a 28,000 lb. bus at any weight, let alone at only 190 lbs.

In conclusion, there is a definite art and science to preparing the body to perform great feats of strength. First and foremost, you must have a strong enough reason to attempt something like this. In my case, it’s helping less fortunate children who don’t get to enjoy the benefits of proper nutrition as I do.

For more information on the event, or to find out how you can help, please visit our website at http://www.pullingforthehungry.com