Nearing the Home-Stretch: Week 6, Day 2

It's been four days since my last session, more rest than I intended, but not more than I needed, I think. Building muscle takes a lot of energy and time, and I've been using up a whole lot of both on this project. It's worth it, yes, and it's challenging my self-discipline, but all for the better. Here I am, still doing this after a month and a half, and I'm seeing the results I was after, more strength, better endurance, and now after a bit of extra rest, I'm ready for the home stretch.

Today, we're going a lot of smaller sets, eight altogether in denominations of 20, 20, 23, 23, 20, 20, 18, 18 and at least 53. That's a minimum of 215 push-ups. It seems more daunting when they're added up like that, so I won't add them up again until after they're done. Let's get started...

Four days is too long. Or maybe it's not if that's what left me feeling good about working out again. Short rest again, just 45 seconds. Time for set two...

I was struggling to come up with the word that describes how I felt after that first set. "Weak" is the word I want. Maybe "depleted" is more accurate, like I don't have enough gas in my tank. Next set...

The short rest makes the pace of the workout seem faster. One of the reasons I'm feeling so spent on four days' rest is the four-mile run I took last night. I'm trying to sync these so I'm not too tired from one to do well with the other. It's a work in progress. And now more workout...

I love the way my body ramps up its performance to meet my demands. We really are incredibly efficient bits of machinery. Next set, please...

The shorter sets are improving my form vastly. I'm not giving up correct form just to make the quota now, and there's time now to remind myself to pay attention to it. And it's time for the next set, the last short one...

Deeper dip and a quicker, stronger snap-back. Not feeling like I'm spent at all, which is an excellent place to be when you're about to attempt a set of at least 53 push-ups...

 I'm hitting my limit before I hit my goal. I made it to 53, struggling once I got past 45 or so. I had to push those last few out with a pause or two. Never broke form. I'm on the cusp, and maybe I should have gone done one more step, but here I am and here I'll stay. And I'm over the 200-push-up mark!