Awesome Workout -- Mentally And Physically Challenging

by Erik Big

This is an awesome workout that is physically and mentally challenging. Here's how it goes:

First I ran 3 miles at a crisp pace for a warm up. Then I did 1 mile hard. Then I did 50 push ups (real push ups) and 100 crunches.

Then I jogged a half mile, then did one mile hard again. I did the same 50 push ups and 100 crunches, and then jogged a quarter mile.

One mile hard, then 70 push ups (in two sets of 35), then 200 crunches, followed by a quarter mile jog.

Then I did another mile hard, then did 50 push ups, 100 crunches, then a quarter mile jog.

Then I did one mile hard again, followed by 50 push ups, 100 crunches, a quarter mile jog.

Then I did 1 last mile hard, 25 push ups, 50 crunches and a 2 mile cool down. I finished up with some stretching.

I did this last spring in 2009. I was 19 at the time, now I’m 20. I’ve been running for almost my whole life and helping people train for about a year or so.

This workout was one that I came up with on my own. It took about 3 hours I think from start to finish (including warm up and cool down).

I was in fairly good shape at the time, but it was definitely challenging physically and mentally.

There were many points at which I wanted to stop and I kept asking myself why I was doing it. But afterward I felt great (mentally).

I did this on my own, with my ipod for some motivation. It was very difficult. I didn’t get injured from it although I felt like I was going to die after.

My muscles were very sore and tired. But I took an ice bath (just in cold water) when I got home so that helped a little.

This was just a one time workout but I would do it again if I had someone to do it with.

Erik

Note from Dr. Dan

Erik,

Tough, tough workout.

A workout like this is not something that you put in your routine on a regular basis. Your body would just start to break down.

But sometimes a super-challenge is just what you need. You might need to break out of a rut. Or to overcome a plateau.

Then you can use tricks like 50 rep sets and 100 rep sets. Or jumping rope, and instead of doing 100-200, do 3,000 jumps. Or marathon workouts like the one you outline here.

These kinds of workouts can really show you what you are made of. If you try it, you find you can do far more than you ever thought was possible.

Dr. Dan