I have been reading a few different running blogs lately and I came across one called Chocolate Runner’s Blog.
This blogger mentioned a 100 Push Up Challenge where you can train yourself over a six week period to eventually do 100 push ups in one go. I do push ups (very) occasionally and this appealed to me. Besides, the Chocolate Runner did ask if anyone else wanted to give it a go. Who am I to pass it up? Anything that helps increase fitness levels is always a bonus.
Before you start the program you have to perform an initial test. You have to do as many (good form) push ups as you can to the point of failure, then you see where you are on a chart and it tells you your starting point.
I did 27.
According to the program/website I am supposed to start at week three! So, I went to the instructions for week three and performed the following 5 sets:-
Set 1: 14
Set 2: 18
Set 3: 14
Set 4: 14
Set 5: To failure (at least 20) – I did 20.
Now I’m supposed to rest for a day or two and then perform the next part of the training schedule. I’m supposed to do push ups three days a week.
I’m concerned about how much the push ups increase from day to day and I’m wondering if I’ll be able to complete the next days’ workout or the one after. But, I’ll give it my best shot.
As for my running, I did some speedwork today. 600 metres at slightly faster then 10k pace with 400 metre recovery. It was a good workout and I covered about 11.20km in the hour I was training.
Things are looking okay so far and I’m feeling good.
As for non-running related matters. I had the worst day at work I can remember and it made the day drag on. I lost my usual positive attitude and got upset about something and I shouldn’t have allowed that to happen. That’s all I’m saying about that for now.
100 push ups, speedwork
Two posts in about a week?! Something must be wrong.
I went to my local running club again last night with my good friend Tony and we were all ready for a cold wet night of running around the track.
We did 800m warm-up before it all started at 6:30pm and after the announcements were done everyone starting breaking off in to the different training groups.
We decided to join the same group that I was in the previous week because the training seemed just right, however the group leader then announced that we/they were going to do something different this week. We were all to run in to town to a place called Kendrick hill and do some hill work and then run back. This didn’t appeal to me at all, and it didn’t appeal to my friend Tony either. I mean, we paid a whole £1.00 for the night to use the track.
We decided to do our own thing on the track in our own little group of two. We repeated the drills I did last week: 600m at 10k pace, 200m slightly slower than 10k pace follwed by 400m recovery (1200m). This was one set.
We did one lap (400m) to warm up followed by 6 sets. I think it was a good workout and it was nice to have someone there to help set the pace and make you push yourself that little bit harder. Because running is such a solitary sport it is sometimes hard to motivate yourself to do that little bit more.
By the time we were done the evening (8.4km in total) I could certainly feel that I had put in the effort.
running club, speedwork
I went back to my local running club last week on Wednesday night for the first time in a long time (since early last year). A good friend of mine went with me to see what it was like and he joined the “special” group for the 1st timers to learn the track rules and etiquette. They did a bit of running but nothing too strenuous he said.
Normally when you go to my running club they start the evening (6:30pm) with some announcements and then everyone splits off in to various groups with different coaches. You can pick any coach you want, however there are a couple of groups which are clearly more “elite” than others.
I chose my group and the fun began. After dynamic warmups and a quick run around the track we were told to do 600m at 10k pace followed by 200m slightly slower than 10k pace and then a 400m recovery jog (no walking). We had to do 3 or 4 sets of these and each set is 1200m in total.
It was a good workout and I was really sweating, however if you stopped running for too long the cold really set in.
I’ll be back tomorrow night for more fun and I believe my friend is coming along again. It should be good!
My running week has changed a bit with the re-introduction of the Wed evening sessions because I used to run every morning but Mon and Sat. Now my week consists of the following:-
Monday – Rest
Tuesday – 1 hour easy run
Wednesday – Track Session (speed training, hill training, fartleks etc)
Thursday – 30 mins non-impact cardio exercise (cross trainer, rowing, cycling)
Friday – 1 hour easy run at 10k pace (with gradual speed increase for last 20 mins)
Saturday – Rest
Sunday – Long Run (I’ve been increasing this run by about 10% each week)
Aside from the running and cardio exercises I do other exercises in the evenings whilst I’m at home (which my son finds odd – he’s two).
Having looked at a few training plans I don’t think this is far off at the moment. Over the coming weeks I’ll incorporate some training sessions from a training plan I’ve got from Runners World.
On a non-running note, my oldest friend is currently in northern Quebec preparing for an adventure which will take him and a team of dogs (with dogsled) across northern Canada all the way to Alaska. He’s assisting a man that has done the journey before and they’ve been training the dogs for the past couple of months.
Within the next two weeks he will be uncontactable and his journey begins!
All the best Rob!
robby kilborn, running club, speedwork
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