100 Push-Ups

I'm sure most of you have heard of the one hundred push ups training program. They have other options too, including 200 squats, 200 sit-ups and 25 pull-ups. Since I'm not in training mode for any kind of upcoming run (the only races I'm signed up for in the near future are three 5K's), I thought now might be a good time to follow the push-up training schedule, so I can focus on that 3 times per week. Then, I thought, why not take it a step further and turn it into a group fitness class here at work?

As it turns out, a member here already had the book that the one hundred push ups program is based off of, "7 Weeks to 100 Push-Ups" by Steve Speirs. Speirs created a 7-week training schedule on M/W/F, doing anywhere from 5-8 sets of push-ups each time. For our "100 Push-Ups Challenge" class, we will be doing the Wednesday training together in class with some added upper body strength/endurance exercises, then participants will be asked to complete the Monday and Friday trainings on their own.

While I'm excited myself and eager to push our members in a different, short-term, specific goal-oriented class, I'm also nervous!! Can I build up to doing 100 push-ups?? Each person has to do their initial test to see how many consecutive push-ups they can currently do, in order to determine what level of the program you should follow (although in our class we're doing Intermediate 1). I did my initial test about a month ago when I first looked into the program-- my number was 44. Almost halfway...but the second half will by far be the hardest. It's not like running where you get this sudden burst of energy in the second half of the race. With push-ups, your muscles slowly fatigue from number one on.

We kick off class on July 11 and it lasts for 8 weeks (we built in one extra week so that everyone can show off their 100 push-ups on the last day!). I'll keep updates on the training schedule each week!