Building Endurance: Week 5, Day 3

I'm finally learning to look ahead. I was surprised by the eight-set workout last time, so I decided to see what's up for next week, and we'll be mixing it up some more. No need to cross that bridge until we come to it, however. For now, it's eight sets again, 20, 20, 24, 24, 20, 20, 22 and then a set of at least 50 push-ups.  We're moving out of strength training into endurance work. Let's get started...

Easy, but cracking in the left shoulder. Rest between sets is still just 45 seconds. Time for the next set...

Easy again, but I'm breathing hard. Keeping to the short rest and quick recovery is going to be key at this point in the workout to build the endurance that's going to let me do 100 push-ups in a single set in just 10 days from now. Set of 24...

Did it, and the second set of 24, too. It wasn't easy. No time to write a comments...

Just finished the third set of 20, but I had to take extra rest before I could, and I'll be taking more right now, too. The instructions actually say "longer if required," and it's required if I'm going to finish the smaller sets, much less do a set of at least 50.

The fourth and last set of 20 is done. My shoulders are not happy, especially my upper back. Just need to get these last two done, and then I think I'll take an extra day off before returning. For now, it's time for a set of 22...

It's dangerous to think any further ahead than the push-up you're doing. Focusing on the moment is the perfect approach here. More rest then a set of at least 50...

I'm glad I'm alone when I'm doing these. I did those 50, but they weren't pretty. I didn't have to stop on the way to 50, but pushing past that was more punishment than I could dish out for myself. Now that I think about it, I had a good reason to push myself to 52: It would have been the 200th push-up of the workout. I can live with just 198 on the day. Total on the week is 558 push-ups.

And, no that isn't me in the picture. ;)