Kristyn Vytlacil Whisman is the mother of an 18-month-old boy who can dead-lift a 10-pound dumbbell.
And when he lifts, her toddler makes the appropriate grunting noises.
“It’s the cutest thing, ever,” Whisman said.
If that sounds wild, consider that Whisman, 31, of north Snohomish County, is arguably the country’s strongest woman in the lightweight division.
In fact, just 12 days ago she brought home her fourth North American Strongman National Championship.
Last year, six months after her son Emmett was born, Whisman earned a second place at the event. That was OK, considering she was a new mom, she said.
Whisman was back this year with a vengeance.
“I’m very competitive.”
Whisman reports to work at about 7 a.m. at the Monroe Correctional Complex, where she serves as the dean of corrections education for Edmonds Community College.
In order to stay in shape, lift weights and prepare for competition, Whisman and her husband John rise at 4 a.m. to work out in their garage gym.
It’s not as grueling as it sounds, she said. Her family goes to bed at 8 p.m.
“And I’ve learned to drink coffee,” she said.
Earlier this year, Whisman participated in six other competitions, include The Arnold (yes, that Ahhrnold) Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. The contests were all lead-up to the Strongman competition Oct. 4 and 5 in Reno, Nevada.
Whisman stands only 5-foot-2 and weighs about 139 pounds. She has numerous piercings and about 16 tattoos, the newest of which are of a ram that represents her son’s astrological sign and one that says STRONG(HER).
Whisman previously noted that her weight lifting and tattoos help make a connection with some of the prisoners at Monroe, if only to show she is less of a nerd than she feels.
“My work is about common courtesy, respect and my belief that all people are redeemable,” Whisman said. “I care about my students.”
A longtime swimmer, Whisman has been competing athletically since age 9.
“For me, it’s the competition that motivates my workout. If I was just exercising for general well being, I probably would let a lot of things slide,” she said. “My advice to other new moms is that you will learn how to fit your workout into your new, busier schedule when you commit to a competition.”
For runners, that means signing for a half marathon, or for dancers, it might mean a ballroom contest.
“It’s about watching yourself make improvements in your time, your strength, your endurance,” Whisman said.
The best way to get started after having a baby is to find someone to do the workouts with you, whether it’s a professional, your husband or partner or a friend down the street, she said.
“I already am missing the camaraderie at Strongman,” Whisman said. “I met so many strong, positive, upbeat women who were excited to show up and carry heavy things.”
Her workout includes cardio, conditioning and dead-lifting hundreds of pounds. In a log book, she records each of the exercises. “If you don’t write it down, it didn’t happen.”
Each national competition is different, Whisman said, and might include events such as lifting and carrying a 200-pound “Atlas stone” concrete ball, moving a giant wheelbarrow load, dead-lifting a car or dragging a heavily laden sled.
After this week, Whisman will be back at it, preparing for the next contest.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
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