Whenever you think about the typical Bavarian Oktoberfest participant, you think of thick calves and an ever thicker belly, lovingly called Wampn.
Fitness and sport doesn’t seem to be on the daily agenda, so it seems. The true Wiesn fan however knows better. In reality, the annual event does indeed bring around a couple of great and exhausting activities. The main one is obviously the so-called Maßkrugstemmen. The rules are easy enough: A whole “Maß” or a liter of any chosen liquid has to be held with an outstretched arm in front of your body. Whatever liquid is inside that pitcher will all equally weigh 2.5kg. Some of the competitions allow you to drink as much out of your pitcher as possible for a few seconds until you are signaled to stop drinking. But even if you manage to drink it all, you’ll still have to carry 1.5kg during the competition.
The record in this discipline is held by a man who actually managed to hold the pitcher for 45 minutes and two seconds.
Against all odds, a contestant doesn’t have to be all bulky to win this contest. Maßkrugstemmen is primarily a mind thing. You have to defeat yourself in order to win the game. Because you see, the tension in the muscles inflicts pain, which is being sent to your brain so your body can shut down. You have to actively fight the urge of putting it down despite your body telling you to do so.
Funny thing on the side: You don’t have to have a thick biceps to win it all. Bare in mind that any contestant with a muscular am has to be aware that he or she has the bear the weight of the whole arm as well.
Definitely an interesting way to keep yourself fit amidst the cheerful Oktoberfest turmoil.
