Whoever said attitude was everything was right, trust me. I woke up with a 'can-do' attitude, and attacked the pushups 'like a problem.'
Set 1: 10 pushups, 19secs
Set 2: 13 pushups, 29secs
Set 3: 9 pushups, 19secs
Set 4: 9 pushups, 29secs
Final set: 17 pushups, 42secs
Total number of pushups: 58 pushups
Time taken: 13 minutes
The first set was a breeze. I felt like I was on diesel ... Perhaps the 10 pushups I did yesterday contributed to it, perhaps ... But after the third set, why lie, I 'saw' stars... for I got to experience that mocking phrase, 'until you can physically do no more' especially when I did the 'death' set.
I hadn't noted the number of pushups per set, especially the second set where I did 13 instead of 12. Just as well for the previous session I did a pushup less on the second set. The final set asked for a minimum of 13 pushups; I did 17. Excellent!.
Thirteen sessions to go.
I checked the website ... Week 2 day 2 has 1,873 participants ... so far so good.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
100 pushups, Week 2 Day 1
Down to Week 2. Took a break, sort of, for I travelled upcountry.
Set 1: 9 pushups, 33secs
Taken very well. Feeling good, but some fatigue/pain creeping in.
Set 2: 10 pushups, 27secs
Good enough but belaboured from the 8th pushup.
Set 3: 8 pushups, 20secs
The muscles are in the mood - sweat, strain and all. Thinking: 8 more to go and I'll be set for the death set.
Set 4: 8 pushups, 28s
Just 8 and I will be done so I psyche myself up and go for them but reaching the 5th, I can't lie, I'm struggling like crazy. I struggle through the last three but manage to finish decently.
At this point, I leave the bedrooom and walk to the sitting room, put on the TV, Kiss Tv to be precise, for some music and all I get is this weird rock music. I retreat to the bedroom for the final dose of pushups.
Final set: 13 pushups, 54 sec
This must be the longest 54 seconds of the morning. At pushup no. 8 am done so have to drag myself all the way to 13. The 13th I just get by and collapse on the floor - all sweaty and breathy like hell.
Total time taken including breaks: 9min, 40secs. Total pushups: 48 pushups.
Day 1 of Week 2 done. Fourteen sessions to go ... then I realise I was supposed to do 9-11-8-8 and a max of 11. I did 10 instead of the 11 required for the second set... aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
I wonder what I can do on the rest day to prepare the arms for the next day's cluster of pushups. Any idea?
Running beckons ...
Set 1: 9 pushups, 33secs
Taken very well. Feeling good, but some fatigue/pain creeping in.
Set 2: 10 pushups, 27secs
Good enough but belaboured from the 8th pushup.
Set 3: 8 pushups, 20secs
The muscles are in the mood - sweat, strain and all. Thinking: 8 more to go and I'll be set for the death set.
Set 4: 8 pushups, 28s
Just 8 and I will be done so I psyche myself up and go for them but reaching the 5th, I can't lie, I'm struggling like crazy. I struggle through the last three but manage to finish decently.
At this point, I leave the bedrooom and walk to the sitting room, put on the TV, Kiss Tv to be precise, for some music and all I get is this weird rock music. I retreat to the bedroom for the final dose of pushups.
Final set: 13 pushups, 54 sec
This must be the longest 54 seconds of the morning. At pushup no. 8 am done so have to drag myself all the way to 13. The 13th I just get by and collapse on the floor - all sweaty and breathy like hell.
Total time taken including breaks: 9min, 40secs. Total pushups: 48 pushups.
Day 1 of Week 2 done. Fourteen sessions to go ... then I realise I was supposed to do 9-11-8-8 and a max of 11. I did 10 instead of the 11 required for the second set... aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
I wonder what I can do on the rest day to prepare the arms for the next day's cluster of pushups. Any idea?
Running beckons ...
Thursday, November 5, 2009
100 pushups, Week 1, Day 3
So far so good: 8-10-7-7 pushups then a final set of 13 pushups. Total: 45 pushups in 11 min 26 sec. Not bad.
By the time I got through the second set - 10 pushups - I was feeling the 'wail' of the muscles but the thought of doing three less - 7 - put a smile on my face.
After the mandatory/scheduled pushups, I took like forever before I turned to the 'exhaustion' final lap where I did 13. I willed myself to do the 13... and it felt good after, much, much after.
Fifteen sessions to go. I'm not feeling as much pain in my arms ...
According to the website, there are 3,209 pushup-ers on week 1, day 3 - contrast that with 455 on week 6, day 3! We are talking 2,754 guys who have dropped out. Five weeks from now, I want to be among the 455 that saw the programme through.
Cheers fellas;
By the time I got through the second set - 10 pushups - I was feeling the 'wail' of the muscles but the thought of doing three less - 7 - put a smile on my face.
After the mandatory/scheduled pushups, I took like forever before I turned to the 'exhaustion' final lap where I did 13. I willed myself to do the 13... and it felt good after, much, much after.
Fifteen sessions to go. I'm not feeling as much pain in my arms ...
According to the website, there are 3,209 pushup-ers on week 1, day 3 - contrast that with 455 on week 6, day 3! We are talking 2,754 guys who have dropped out. Five weeks from now, I want to be among the 455 that saw the programme through.
Cheers fellas;
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
100 pushups Week 1 Day 2
I am on the second day of the first week of the 100 pushups programme.
I was up by 5.58am, stretched a bit to shake off the lethargy hthen got down to it.
I managed a total of 37 pushups in 10 minutes: 6, 8, 6, 6 then 11. For this day, the programme recommends a minimum 7 pushups after the mandatory four sets.
Whoever came up with the programme was right to recommend a day's rest. My arms, the upper part, were screaming but as one of the quotes in Jack's blog have it, 'Pain means weakness leaving the body.' I hope so.
(What have pushups got to do with stomach muscles? Mine are aching like crazy!)
But I'm with it.
A day off. Then day 3. Eighteen session to go. Boy!
Cheers
I was up by 5.58am, stretched a bit to shake off the lethargy hthen got down to it.
I managed a total of 37 pushups in 10 minutes: 6, 8, 6, 6 then 11. For this day, the programme recommends a minimum 7 pushups after the mandatory four sets.
Whoever came up with the programme was right to recommend a day's rest. My arms, the upper part, were screaming but as one of the quotes in Jack's blog have it, 'Pain means weakness leaving the body.' I hope so.
(What have pushups got to do with stomach muscles? Mine are aching like crazy!)
But I'm with it.
A day off. Then day 3. Eighteen session to go. Boy!
Cheers
Sunday, November 1, 2009
100 pushups, Day 1, Week 1
I started the 100 pushups in 6 weeks programme today (http://hundredpushups.com).
The aim is to build on my strength, or something!
I did 30 pushups: 6-6-4-4-10. Between the sets, I rested for about 60 seconds.
According to the programme, you rest for a day before you do the next day's challenge.
Each week has three sessions. Today's was just a breeze... see you on Tuesday for day 2 where I have to do at least 42 pushups ... see ya on Tuesday.
Cheers
The aim is to build on my strength, or something!
I did 30 pushups: 6-6-4-4-10. Between the sets, I rested for about 60 seconds.
According to the programme, you rest for a day before you do the next day's challenge.
Each week has three sessions. Today's was just a breeze... see you on Tuesday for day 2 where I have to do at least 42 pushups ... see ya on Tuesday.
Cheers
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Stanchart certificates are out
The Standard Chartyered 2009 certificates are finally here. My official time is given as 2:25:56 (as opposed to my watch's 2:25:13.83).
Equally, they got my names right including the elusive 'Otsieno.' Last year I was referred to as Otieno. The two are different: Otsieno is derived from Otieno. I can't get a matching pronunciation for 'ts' offhead but it is softer than 'th' in 'thing.' Most non Luo and Non-Luyia speakers can't tell the difference or they just don't give a damn.
Anyway, I downloaded my certificate yesterday and should print it out on good quality paper tomorrow or Monday.
Whatever else you may say about the race organisers - like: 'What the heck were they thinking not to place those distance markers on the course?' - they did an awesome job on certificates.
No queues, no faulty printers, no countless helps etc.
They saved on money - all that printing, personnel, paper etc (not that I care!) - and put technology to good use.
Equally, they got my names right including the elusive 'Otsieno.' Last year I was referred to as Otieno. The two are different: Otsieno is derived from Otieno. I can't get a matching pronunciation for 'ts' offhead but it is softer than 'th' in 'thing.' Most non Luo and Non-Luyia speakers can't tell the difference or they just don't give a damn.
Anyway, I downloaded my certificate yesterday and should print it out on good quality paper tomorrow or Monday.
Whatever else you may say about the race organisers - like: 'What the heck were they thinking not to place those distance markers on the course?' - they did an awesome job on certificates.
No queues, no faulty printers, no countless helps etc.
They saved on money - all that printing, personnel, paper etc (not that I care!) - and put technology to good use.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Just a break
The Stanchart 2009 race is behind us now. Training takes on a different meaning, a different pace, a different style but the end is more or less the same: cut some weight, increase speed, cover more distance.
I'm taking two weeks off to rest, somehow. There won't be any running during that break. But I will do the usual walking home from work and take up that 50 pushups in 6 weeks programme. The latter I start off on Sunday, November 1.
Keep well people.
I'm taking two weeks off to rest, somehow. There won't be any running during that break. But I will do the usual walking home from work and take up that 50 pushups in 6 weeks programme. The latter I start off on Sunday, November 1.
Keep well people.
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