Push up challenge

misty floyd

Robbed this idea from the guys hosting the MarathonTalk podcasts (if you haven't already I'd recommend downloading these).

Rules
- So the goal is to get to 3 x 100 push ups :eek:
- You start off with 3x1 on day 1, then 3x2 on day 2 and so on.
- Days off are ok and I'd imagine will be needed when you get up to >3x15.
- The 3 sets are done in the same session...in other words, you can't do one set in the morning, one at lunch and one in the evening.
- Take as much rest as you like between sets. Be reasonable though....a few mins maybe.

Tip:

"Get the technique as strict as possible in the early stages, nice and slow and all the way up and down. You need to find as much training benefit as possible in the 'easy' early stages. As long as you do all three sets in the same 'session' feel free to take as much rest as you like between sets... - TW"

I'm up to 3x9 myself. I was thinking maybe we could do this along the lines of the 1000 mile challenge? We could start it in the new year? or maybe not.

Or, you could simply start it yourself or with your mates in work (for example). I'm doing that and there is a bit of banter with some of the lads dropping off and missing days etc. Its a good motivator.

Maybe there are people giving it a lash....if so how are you going?

This thread could drift away like a bad fart but meh,....its Monday and I'm bored.

nomadic

Tunney will be well up for this.

RoyMcC

I can probably do that straightaway in girlie press-ups - does that count?

misty floyd

RoyMcC wrote: »

I can probably do that straightaway in girlie press-ups - does that count?

only if you strap 20lbs to your chest.

christeb

how long in between sets?

token56

RoyMcC wrote: »

I can probably do that straightaway in girlie press-ups - does that count?

Nope, all push ups have to be done planche style

LupeBrown

Sounds Decent, count me in. I'll start on Wednesday:)

tunguska

Im not really clear about the instructions man, is it you have to knock out 100 pushups. Rest for a minute or 2, then another 100, rest then another 100. Is that what youre talking about? Bloody hard if it is. As it stands I can do one set of 50, then 2 sets of 30, then Im wasted.

ecoli

Saw this in your log last night started myself however got a bit ahead of myself and started with 3x20 and gonna build one rep per set per day so today will attempt 21 dunno if this is cheating?:p

RayCun

misty floyd wrote: »

The 3 sets are done in the same session...in other words, you can't do one set in the morning, one at lunch and one in the evening.

No, I think you can, that's what the 3x is. 15 in the morning, 15 at lunch, 15 in the evening. You can't take a break in a set of 15, but there are breaks in between each set. Otherwise you might as well call it a 300 press-up challenge.
(Plus, isn't their plan to do 3x100 at the Comrades ultra? 100 at the start, 100 in the middle, 100 at the end)

Just Contribute

I'd be willing to give this a try. It's going to be tough though, I've never done any weights or anything.

I was also wondering how long between each set?

misty floyd

christeb wrote: »

how long in between sets?

tunguska wrote: »

Im not really clear about the instructions man, is it you have to knock out 100 pushups. Rest for a minute or 2, then another 100, rest then another 100. Is that what youre talking about? Bloody hard if it is. As it stands I can do one set of 50, then 2 sets of 30, then Im wasted.

Thats it yeah, rest for a couple of minutes but I'm not sure now after reading Raycun's post . I'll recheck that. Thats good going 50/30/30,
Its hard alright. The idea is to concentrate on form at the early days. Get it right. 3x1, 3x2 etc is dead easy but make sure to do them right and slow.

LupeBrown wrote: »

Sounds Decent, count me in. I'll start on Wednesday:)

Thats the spirit, no time like a Wednesday

ecoli wrote: »

Saw this in your log last night started myself however got a bit ahead of myself and started with 3x20 and gonna build one rep per set per day so today will attempt 21 dunno if this is cheating?:p

Its all good, will be interesting to see how you get on starting at that level.

RayCun wrote: »

No, I think you can, that's what the 3x is. 15 in the morning, 15 at lunch, 15 in the evening. You can't take a break in a set of 15, but there are breaks in between each set. Otherwise you might as well call it a 300 press-up challenge.
(Plus, isn't their plan to do 3x100 at the Comrades ultra? 100 at the start, 100 in the middle, 100 at the end)

Thats right they are doing that in the comrades. As mentioned, I'll check the 3x100 thing.

misty floyd

I checked marathon talk facebook there. They have to be in the same session. Quote from Tom Williams:

"Get the technique as strict as possible in the early stages, nice and slow and all the way up and down. You need to find as much training benefit as possible in the 'easy' early stages. As long as you do all three sets in the same 'session' feel free to take as much rest as you like between sets... - TW"

bart simpson

ìl do this aswel lads......when will we start it?

Gringo78

Would a one legged squat challenge be more suitable for runners?

SUNGOD

im in, are we all starting together?
will we start at 1 or go straight to 5 or 10 or ?

SugarHigh

SUNGOD wrote: »

im in, are we all starting together?
will we start at 1 or go straight to 5 or 10 or ?

Starting at one is going to be pretty boring for at least a month.

Just Contribute

I'm starting at one, tonight.

bart simpson

im starting at 5 tonight

increasing a only one push up a night seems easy.....being able to do 300 push ups with just 3 months training seems really hard and a big challenge...id imagine that the last week of the challenge would be really tough on the arms....we wont even have a taper for the final goal

VR46

This would take an obscene amount of effort.
I think it would mess with my training too much so just gonna start on 3x25 and try to make it to 3x50.

Anyone that can do 3x100 is an absolute BEAST. fair fcuking play!

RacoonQueen

I'm willing to give this a try. Proper push ups not those stupid girlie ones. :rolleyes:

Krusty_Clown

What are the benefits of doing press-ups? Is it a good general core workout?
Would you be better off going for a more rounded program, than 300 press-ups in a session?

I'm very lazy about core work, so need some kind of a challenge, but don't want arms like Popeye if it's not going to benefit my running (do I have to eat spinach?).

bart simpson

are we going to have a max time limit between sets......id imagine you would need more than a couple of minute to recover from your second 100 push up set!!!!

how about fifth of your push up number as the max number of minutes rest you are allowed?????
ie 50 push ups would give a max of 10 min break, 100 would have a max of 20 min break
what do ye think??? or would 1/4 or a 1/6th be better?

ecoli

Right lads gonna get the table going

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes

tunguska

Man what have you started here.........This'll get out of control in no time, there'll be lads doing push ups in the middle of the canteen on their lunch breaks. Feck it, count me in.

decisions

Im in
3x1

ecoli

tunguska wrote: »

Man what have you started here.........This'll get out of control in no time, there'll be lads doing push ups in the middle of the canteen on their lunch breaks. Feck it, count me in.

Last year i got roped into a game of if you said the word MINE regardless of context you had to do 10 push ups there and then no matter where you were. Lets just say canteens and that were normal places compared to some of the places i got caught out including shops restaurants and bars was quite funny though thank god the game fizzled out:D

bart simpson

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes

menoscemo

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes

Christ, that was hard! Struggled through the last few, about a year ago when I was still going to the gym, I could do 50 straight no problem!

decisions

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes
decisions | n/a |n/a|3x1|30 sec|Yes|

AntiVirus

Chest to the floor or it doesn't count.

http://www.ehow.com/how_3190_proper-push-up.html

SugarHigh

]Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes
Sugarhigh |n/a |1 min|3x25|1 min| Yes

misty floyd

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

What are the benefits of doing press-ups? Is it a good general core workout?
Would you be better off going for a more rounded program, than 300 press-ups in a session?

I'm very lazy about core work, so need some kind of a challenge, but don't want arms like Popeye if it's not going to benefit my running (do I have to eat spinach?).

If done right, it should be good for the abs as well as shoulders and chest. I know a 2:37 marathoner and thats all the core work he does. Good enough for me:D. Sure you won't have arms like popeye unless you lash the calories and lots of protein in.....I'd say.

bart simpson wrote: »

are we going to have a max time limit between sets......id imagine you would need more than a couple of minute to recover from your second 100 push up set!!!!

how about fifth of your push up number as the max number of minutes rest you are allowed?????
ie 50 push ups would give a max of 10 min break, 100 would have a max of 20 min break
what do ye think??? or would 1/4 or a 1/6th be better?

You're looking into it too much;). Lets see what happens and worry about the big sessions if when we get there. Just keep the rest as reasonable....a few minutes in between or whatever you feel is enough.

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes
Sugarhigh |n/a |1 min|3x25|1 min| Yes
misty floyd |3x8 |1 min|3x9|1 min| Yes

Just Contribute

Just Contribute wrote: »

I'm starting at one, tonight.

Change of plan. Just back from the physio and I need to rest my shoulder. I'll start Monday...

gerard65

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes
Sugarhigh |n/a |1 min|3x25|1 min| Yes
misty floyd |3x8 |1 min|3x9|1 min| Yes
gerard65|n/a|1 min|3x1|1 min| Yes

maddogcollins

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes
Sugarhigh |n/a |1 min|3x25|1 min| Yes
misty floyd |3x8 |1 min|3x9|1 min| Yes
gerard65|n/a|1 min|3x1|1 min| Yes
Maddogcollins|n/a|1 min|3x6|1 min| Yes

donothoponpop

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes
Sugarhigh |n/a |1 min|3x25|1 min| Yes
misty floyd |3x8 |1 min|3x9|1 min| Yes
gerard65|n/a|1 min|3x1|1 min| Yes
Maddogcollins|n/a|1 min|3x6|1 min| Yes
donothoponpop|n/a|1 min|3x10|1 min| Yes


Great idea Misty!

shels4ever

Maybe change the rest into squats or lunges and have a a nice core session

token56

I'll start this next week when I'm off antibiotics. I've never been great at push ups though.

shotgunmcos

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes
Sugarhigh |n/a |1 min|3x25|1 min| Yes
misty floyd |3x8 |1 min|3x9|1 min| Yes
gerard65|n/a|1 min|3x1|1 min| Yes
Maddogcollins|n/a|1 min|3x6|1 min| Yes
donothoponpop|n/a|1 min|3x10|1 min| Yes
shotgunmcos|3x20|20sec|3x30|1 min|Aye


I don't know about 3*100 and fair play to anyone who can do it but thats hard!

ecoli

misty floyd wrote: »

If done right, it should be good for the abs as well as shoulders and chest. I know a 2:37 marathoner and thats all the core work he does. Good enough for me:D.

[/TABLE]

Considering it deals with Abs Torso Chest and arms to no mention high rep workouts can increase HGH in the body to aid in muscle growth and repair in the body (including in the legs)

just a little info for anyone worried about it hindering there training(yes I am playing the protaganist role:D)

In the words of Starsky and Hutch: "DO IT"

Woddle

Name|Last effort|rest between sets|This effort|Rest|Effort completed?
ecoli|3x20|1 min|3x21|1 min| Yes
bart simpson|n/a|1 min|3x5|1 min| Yes
menoscemo|n/a|1 min|3x20|1 min| Yes
Sugarhigh |n/a |1 min|3x25|1 min| Yes
misty floyd |3x8 |1 min|3x9|1 min| Yes
gerard65|n/a|1 min|3x1|1 min| Yes
Maddogcollins|n/a|1 min|3x6|1 min| Yes
donothoponpop|n/a|1 min|3x10|1 min| Yes
shotgunmcos|3x20|20sec|3x30|1 min|Aye
woddle|||3x7|1 min|yes

bart simpson

1. 1
   Place your hands at shoulder width apart with arms straight and head looking forward. Placing hands at shoulder length apart will enable an even ratio of resistance between the chest and triceps muscles. For a more focused workout on triceps place hands closer together and wider apart for a more intense chest workout.
2. 2
   Keep your back straight and butt up. Imagine your lower back has a string attached which is connected to the ceiling holding you up. By keeping your back straight and butt up you minimize your risk of injury to the lower back. Remember safety while exercising is your first priority.
3. 3
   The abdominal muscles should stay tight and hard throughout the motion. Do not suck in your stomach but rather squeeze the ab muscles including the oblique, the muscles on the side. This will help stabilize your core which will improve posture.
4. 4
   Place your feet together and stretch your legs as far back as possible. Keep your toes loose so your feet do not get sore. Putting your feet together will also increase the resistance placed on the abdominals. If your abdominals are not strong enough to keep your feet together, then simply widen your legs.
5. 5
   Now you're ready for what's called the negative portion of the exercise. Lower your body down to about ¼ of an inch from the ground. Make sure all the previous steps are being observed: back straight, abs tight, toes loose. Your arms should now be parallel with the ground.
6. 6
   Raise yourself back to starting position. At the top position you can either lock your elbows or not. If you don't lock your elbows the resistance will remain constant, however if you do lock them make sure not to apply too much force as this could damage the elbows.
7. 7
   Repeat many times.

p3-fitz

why was my reply deleted

shotgunmcos

bart simpson wrote: »

1. 1

1. Place your hands at shoulder width apart with arms straight and head looking forward. Placing hands at shoulder length apart will enable an even ratio of resistance between the chest and triceps muscles. For a more focused workout on triceps place hands closer together and wider apart for a more intense chest workout.
2. 2
   Keep your back straight and butt up. Imagine your lower back has a string attached which is connected to the ceiling holding you up. By keeping your back straight and butt up you minimize your risk of injury to the lower back. Remember safety while exercising is your first priority.
3. 3
   
   The abdominal muscles should stay tight and hard throughout the motion. Do not suck in your stomach but rather squeeze the ab muscles including the oblique, the muscles on the side. This will help stabilize your core which will improve posture.
4. 4
   Place your feet together and stretch your legs as far back as possible. Keep your toes loose so your feet do not get sore. Putting your feet together will also increase the resistance placed on the abdominals. If your abdominals are not strong enough to keep your feet together, then simply widen your legs.
5. 5
   Now you're ready for what's called the negative portion of the exercise. Lower your body down to about ¼ of an inch from the ground. Make sure all the previous steps are being observed: back straight, abs tight, toes loose. Your arms should now be parallel with the ground.
6. 6
   Raise yourself back to starting position. At the top position you can either lock your elbows or not. If you don't lock your elbows the resistance will remain constant, however if you do lock them make sure not to apply too much force as this could damage the elbows.
7. 7
   Repeat many times.

Missed a step there. Breathing. Lower, inhale, press up exhale Seems obvious but I bet some get it wrong or try to hold their breath.

tunney

bart simpson wrote: »

1. 1
   Place your hands at shoulder width apart with arms straight and head looking forward. Placing hands at shoulder length apart will enable an even ratio of resistance between the chest and triceps muscles. For a more focused workout on triceps place hands closer together and wider apart for a more intense chest workout.
2. 2
   Keep your back straight and butt up. Imagine your lower back has a string attached which is connected to the ceiling holding you up. By keeping your back straight and butt up you minimize your risk of injury to the lower back. Remember safety while exercising is your first priority.
3. 3
   The abdominal muscles should stay tight and hard throughout the motion. Do not suck in your stomach but rather squeeze the ab muscles including the oblique, the muscles on the side. This will help stabilize your core which will improve posture.
4. 4
   Place your feet together and stretch your legs as far back as possible. Keep your toes loose so your feet do not get sore. Putting your feet together will also increase the resistance placed on the abdominals. If your abdominals are not strong enough to keep your feet together, then simply widen your legs.
5. 5
   Now you're ready for what's called the negative portion of the exercise. Lower your body down to about ¼ of an inch from the ground. Make sure all the previous steps are being observed: back straight, abs tight, toes loose. Your arms should now be parallel with the ground.
6. 6
   Raise yourself back to starting position. At the top position you can either lock your elbows or not. If you don't lock your elbows the resistance will remain constant, however if you do lock them make sure not to apply too much force as this could damage the elbows.
7. 7
   Repeat many times.

Where is the c0ck swinging phase?

ecoli

tunney wrote: »

Where is the c0ck swinging phase?

Thats cock push ups that challenge starts in the new year;)

bart simpson

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Missed a step there. Breathing. Lower, inhale, press up exhale Seems obvious but I bet some get it wrong or try to hold their breath.

thanks, yeah this was just another one of the "how to" from the link above....what i find good about this one is that changing how far your hands are apart from each other will change the ratio between chest and triceps being used, that might be useful, in that if your chest starts getting sore you could adjust your position so that less of the weight is carried by them muscles

JosDel

Did anybody calculate how push ups you would have done after the 100 days ?

tHE vAGGABOND

great idea, will start this at gym later

t4k30

I sense a mod, abusing there powers in this thread.