PUSH UP DAYS 304 and 305

290 Push ups

• 260 as follows:   30, 30, 30, 30, 35, 35, 30, 40
• Streak extender + 5

Cumulative total:     23,342

PUSH UP DAYS 299-303

680 Push ups

• Thursday:      200 in 8 sets of 25
• Friday:           Streak extender
• Saturday:       Streak extender
• Sunday:         405 in following sets:   35, 35, 35, 40, 40, 35, 40, 35, 30, 50, 30
• Monday:        Streak extender

Need to get back into doing additional exercises other than just push ups, running and leg stuff specifically as I have a ski weekend coming up in about 6 weeks...

Cumulative total:   23,052

PUSH UP DAYS 294-298

525 Push ups

• Saturday:                200:   (25, 35, 30, 30, 30, 30, 20)
• Sunday:                   Streak extender
• Monday:                  Streak extender
• Tuesday:                 250:    (30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 10)
• Wednesday:            Streak extender

Cumulative total:    22, 372      Now averaging 75 per day overall, which I'm happy with. 

PUSH UP DAYS 291-293

326 Push ups

• Wednesday:   Streak extender +10
• Thursday:    256 push ups in following sets:   25, 25, 25, 25, 22, 31, 28, 10, 15, 25, 25
• Friday:         Streak extender +10

Cumulative total:   21,847

PUSH UP DAY 290

207 Push ups

• Sets of 27, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30

Cumulative total:   21,521


Answering faithful reader JEC's question regarding total number of push ups completed in various airports since start of my push up streak, here are those standings as of mid-Dec. 2015:

• 533 Total
• OMA    15
• HOU     25
• MOB     65
• IAH       140
• DFW     25
• EWR     79
• CLT       109
• ROC      25
• ORD      25
• ATL       25

In addition to the above I have also completed 1 set of 25 in Penn Station, so my public transportation total is 558 and counting.

The above airport totals seem easily surpassed by anyone wishing to do so...this is oddly concerning as I thought I was on my way to being special for this at least.   The issue is that I can't do more than about 30 push ups before sweating and I generally don't wish to break a sweat just before boarding a flight....if I have a significant layover I can do multiple sets spread by cool down time, but I try to schedule such that I don't have too much lay over time.   Hmmm, perhaps persistence over a lifetime will win the day?   That and taking advantage of the opportunities as they arise -- I feel confident that if I traveled as often as I did with my former job that I would have a much more impressive total, but I am quite glad I no longer do.

PUSH UP DAYS 285-289

341 Push ups

• Thursday:    Streak extender
• Friday:     216 via the following sets:
• 27 Hotel room
• 2 x 27 EWR
• 3 x 27 CLT
• 2 x 27 Home
• Saturday:    Streak extender +10
• Sunday:      Streak extender +10
• Monday:     Streak extender +5

Cumulative total:    21, 314

PUSH UP DAYS 282-284

421 Push ups

• Monday:     Streak extender
• Tuesday:    Streak extender
• Wednesday:   371 as follows:   
• 25 pre-shower
• 25 in MOB airport
• 28 in CLT
• 25 EWR
• 25 in Penn Station, NY
• 27, 27, 28, 25, 27, 27, 27, 28, 27 in hotel room

Note:   Becca thinks my practices are gross and she also refuses to be near me for fear of attention, but really most people just quickly register and move on.   One guy in Charlotte did jokingly ask "is that all?" after I finished my set, to which I stated factually "for now."

Cumulative total:   20,973

 

PUSH UP DAYS 278-281

330 Push ups

• Thurs.  Streak extender
• Fri.        205:   Sets of 30 (one was 35) on the Brays Bayou Hike and Bike trail in Houston, TX.  Some exercise equipment on the trail near corner of Braeswood Blvd. and Buffalo Speedway allowed me to also do pull ups, which was nice -- specifically the pull up bars were immediately West of Lookout Ct. half a mile West of Buffalo Speedway on Brays Bayou Hike and Bike trail, in case any of my many readers has ever been there?--south of the water) plus additional sets of 25 on IAH airport grounds and Atlanta Hartsfield Airport grounds...I say "grounds" because each time these push ups were completed inside the air walk immediately before boarding planes departing each. 
• Sat.       Streak extender
• Sun.      25, + 25 in Rochester, NY airport and 25 in ORD airport

Cumulative total:   20,552

PUSH UP DAYS 276 and 277

300 Push ups

• Streak extender
• 275 in sets of 30, 25, 30, 30, 30, 30, 35, 30, 35  (second set completed in Mobile Regional Airport food court area)

Ran on treadmill for 34 minutes today as well.  

Cumulative total:  20,222

PUSH UP DAYS 271-275

522 Push ups

• 35 Thanksgiving day
• 205 Friday in sets of 30 after initial set of 25
• Streak extender Saturday
• Streak extender Sunday just after midnight
• 232 in sets of 31, with final set being 15 just before showering.

Also ran on Thursday because it was Thanksgiving and did some pull ups both Friday and today.   Need to get back on the running routine as last week and this week I've fallen off the wagon a bit.  

Cumulative total:   19,922  

PUSH UP DAYS 269 and 270

240 Push ups

• Streak extender plus 10
• 235 in sets of:   30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 20, 10

Ran with boys both yesterday and today -- Case did a .37 mile run each day:   First day at 11:30/mi pace and second day at 10:30 /mi pace, which was pretty strong.   Finn just runs about 100 yards down the hill, screams, "I won!" then turns around and runs back up, making certain I can't draw even with him by boxing me out and then says more calmly "I won" again when reaching our mailbox.   Trying to ramp Case up to 3 miles a week so he can log 25 miles total before January 10 when he has been signed up to run a 1.2 mile race thus completing the 26.2 mile marathon distance over a 6 week period.  

Cumulative push up total:    19,400

PUSH UP DAYS 266-268

350 Push ups

• Streak extender
• Streak extender
• 300 push ups via following sets:   30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 35, 40, 15 

Ran for 33 minutes this morning and did a few sets of pull ups between middle sets of push ups.   Today was the first coldish run in quite some time, I left gloves on for first 24 minutes, may have to find my tights if it stays cold.

Cumulative push up total:   19,160

PUSH UP DAYS 264 and 265

310 Push ups

• Streak extender + 5
• 280 in the following sets:  30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 10, 30

Ran for 40 minutes yesterday in Jacksonville, FL -- it is warm there.   Did 72 pull ups in sets of 10, 10, 10, 10, 7, 8, 7 between push up sets this morning...it was room temperature.

Cumulative push up total:   18,810

PUSH UP DAYS 262 and 263

180 Push ups

• Streak extender+5
• 150 Push ups in sets of 30

Also ran yesterday and felt reasonably good about it...fearing I may have left my wheels in AZ 3 years ago, but whatever, glad I can run.  

Cumulative total:   18,500

PUSH UP DAYS 259-261

390 Push ups

• Streak extender plus 5
• Streak extender plus 5
• 330 in sets of 25 with final set of 30+

Felt stronger today most likely as a result of taking it easy this weekend -- no running or other physically taxing activity as I simply tried to survive the weekend without Becca.  Boys and I did well, but super SUPER glad she returns today!   We did go play putt putt, but most of the rest of the weekend was spent eating Waffle House, McDonald's and sugar sandwiches.  

Cumulative push up total:    18,320   (pending my ability to maintain consistency of 3 volume days per week I should now be over the "ave. 70/day" hump, but as always, time will tell)

PUSH UP DAYS 257 and 258

260 Push ups

• Streak extender + 5
• 230 in these sets:   25, 50, 50, 30, 30, 45

Didn't run today because Becca is off to get into trouble with her renegade AZ friends...or maybe it was because I ran yesterday?   Anyway, big accomplishment for this morning was getting both boys dressed, fed and off to school with lunches and hair combed.  Can't believe Becca manages that mission impossible episode every single day?!   I have to pull it off again Monday, sigh...

Cumulative total:   17,930

PUSH UP DAYS 255 and 256

255 Push ups

• Streak extender + 5
• 225 in sets of:   35, 40, 40, 40, 35, 35

Happy Veteran's day to all the Veteran's who don't read this blog...I am not aware of any that do, but if there are any, happy Veteran's day to you too.

Cumulative total:   17,670   (Hoping to average 70/day by end of next week)

PUSH UP DAYS 252-254

300 Push ups

• Saturday:   Streak extender + 5
• Sunday:     Streak extender + 5
• Monday:    240 in 8 sets of 30 reps

Also ran on Saturday for 1 hour and today for 35 minutes...really not feeling the motivation to run longer or harder, kinda strange since usually after running for a few weeks/months I get excited about it.  Maybe this is what 43 means.  

Cumulative total:    17,415

PUSH UP DAYS 250 and 251

275 Push ups

• Streak extender plus 20
• 235 in following sets:  30, 30, 30, 30, 25, 30, 25, 25, 10

Ran 5 miles and did some pull ups today as well...have been meaning to start doing some handstands and walking on hands again as I used to really enjoy that, but haven't been able to remember to start doing them, probably because I know I will struggle and that isn't usually very fun.  

Cumulative push up total:   17,115

PUSH UP DAYS 248 and 249

225 Push ups

• Streak extender made more difficult by Finny who laid down on my back for the final 15.  I have to admit that I do really like it when he does that.
• 200 in sets of 25.

Ran today as well...39 minutes-ish and yesterday I decided to see how long I could "plank."   So, using the elbows and forearms supporting position I gave it a go...3 minutes was all I could tolerate, though I guess I didn't go to complete failure, but rather failure to continue to want to endure the mounting pain.   I may never try that again, not because it was that bad, but because I'm not sure I believe in it as an exercise, that stated, I would like to see if I could continue to improve the time with practice.  I guess we'll see if I ever go that route or not.

Cumulative total:    16,840

PUSH UP DAYS 245-247

300 Push ups

• Saturday:  Streak extender just after midnight simply because I was awake at that time for the first time in months and perhaps longer.   I hope not to do it again anytime soon.
• Sunday:    Streak extender
• Monday:   250 push ups in following sets:   25, 25, 35, 35, 30, 25, 25, 25, 25

Did not run over the weekend other than some sprints and skipping/bounding exercises on the hill in front of our house because that's what I could get the boys motivated to do while Becca went for a run between rain showers Sunday afternoon.  I did run this morning for about 40 minutes.

Cumulative total:   16,615

PUSH UP DAY 244

185 Push ups

• Sets of 25 with last set being 35

Didn't run this morning due to time constraints, though I should have as I plan to wear a midrift exposing Halloween costume tonight...I did do some pull ups though, so proud of that, not that I'll be showing off my 9" pythons, but whatever.

Cumulative total:   16,315

PUSH UP DAY 243

30 Push ups

• 1 set

Ran for 28 minutes as well. 

Cumulative total:     16,130

PUSH UP DAY 242

175 Push ups

• Sets of 25

Ran 5.1 miles today and played some "Bo Over the Top" with Case and Finn...a game involving a football, a stack of couch cushins, bean bags, running and jumping.

Cumulative total:    16,100

PUSH UP DAYS 238-241

325 Push ups

• Saturday:   Streak extender
• Sunday:     Streak extender
• Monday:    225 in sets of 25
• Tuesday:    50 in sets of 25

Also ran on Saturday, 6.4 miles and realized on Sunday that push ups are harder after sleeping in a tent with a 7 and 4 year old.  

Cumulative total:    15,925

PUSH UP DAYS 236 and 237

125 Push ups

• Thursday:   Streak Extender
• Friday:       100 in sets of 25

Ran a little over 5 miles yesterday, which, again, is quite high for me on a work day and I did a few pull ups today between push ups.

Cumulative total:   15,600

PUSH UP DAYS 234 and 235

175 Push ups

• Streak extender
• 150 in sets of 30

Also ran today and kinda ran hard, which I haven't done in a while, though many of my short slow runs have been hard if that makes any sense.  Not sure how many miles, or feet I covered, but still happy with the effort.

Cumulative push up total:   15,475

PUSH UP DAYS 230-233

427 Push ups

• Friday:       127 in sets of, 25, 27, 25, 25, 25
• Saturday:   Streak extender
• Sunday:     Streak extender
• Monday:    250 in sets of 30, 30, 35, 35, 25, 40, 30, 25

I was thinking about my blog post when doing Friday's push ups, so I did 27 more than I otherwise would have just so I would be able to post a cumulative total of 15,000...then I failed to post that day, weak.   In other news I ran on Friday, Saturday and this morning, plus I did some pull ups on Friday and again this morning, Becca's Ironman is having even longer motivational impact that I would've imagined.   Eyeing the 2016 LMI...

Cumulative total:     15,300

PUSH UP DAYS 227-229

190 Push ups

• Tuesday -- streak extender
• Wednesday 135 total in following sets:   25, 25, 25, 30, 30
• Thursday -- streak extender extended by 5 reps

I did a short run on Wednesday as well, plan to run 2 more times this week as I ramp up the regularity if not much on mileage.   In other news, I don't use the push up app much, I should, I guess, but, well...the formatting on email took wind out of its sails I guess.

Cumulative total:   14,873

PUSH UP DAYS 225-226

305 Push ups

• Saturday Streak extender
• Sunday Streak extender
• Monday sets of:   30, 30, 40, 40, 35, 25, 25, 5, 10, 15

Also happy to report that I ran on Saturday and also today (Monday)...neither was especially noteworthy, but as one was 5+ miles and the other was 4+ miles that is pretty good for me lately.   I'm no Laura Brandenburg, but I'm trying.

Cumulative total:    14,683

PUSH UP DAYS 223 and 224

135 Push ups

• Streak extender then ten additional reps in IAH
• 100 in sets of 25 alternating with short sets of pull ups, look at Mr. Motivated guy!

Ran Thursday as well, decided to run around downtown Houston this time, like all big cities it was noticeable for its homeless population and smell of urine.   Also somewhat shocked at the amount of traffic at 6am, but yeah, it's a big city.

Cumulative total:    14,378

PUSH UP DAY 222

150 Push ups

• 6 sets of 25 reps each

Ran 4.65 miles on Leeland St. starting from Chenevert St. to Monroe St. and back, here in Houston, TX.   I passed this place, which had a line out the door at 6 something in the morning.... http://www.brotherstacohouse.com/BrothersTacoHouse/home.html
I may need to check it out as a place to eat before it is sold.  

Cumulative total:   14,243

PUSH UP DAY 221

25 Push ups

• Streak extender

I feel like I should do 43 push ups today, or 10, then 6, the 72...or would that need to be 10 then 6 the 1,972?  Yikes, we'll stick with the streak extender today as I have much to do as I am back in Houston for another conference, which means I have to get all regular work done before and after work hours each day.   Anyway, all is well on my end, carry on.

Cumulative total:   14,093

PUSH UP DAYS 217-220

357 Push ups

• Friday, streak extender
• Saturday, 100 in sets of 25 after running
• Sunday, streak extender
• Monday, 207 in sets of 25 with an extra set of 7 for no explainable reason.   I also ran today and did some lunges.

Cumulative total:   14,068

PUSH UP DAYS 215-216

150 Push ups

• Streak Extender
• 125 in sets of 25

Also ran again today, yeah for me, I like having run.

Cumulative total:    13,711


And now how 'bout 7,000 words-ish about Becca's Ironman...

Fueling up at 4:30am

Body marked

Thinly nervous

Look, there she is...thankfully didn't need services of business pictured

Flowing like a river...

Done

Yeah

PUSH UP DAYS 212-214

284 Push Ups

• 26 Sunday, showing my brother-in-law my new push up app...he wasn't really interested, but he's my brother in law so I figured he had to watch.  The boys (his and mine) were interested in me doing push ups in the middle of a closed road awaiting Ironman competitors, one of which was Becca, because they thought it was fun to sit on me while doing push ups, thankfully they only did so for 7 or 8 of the set.
• 30 Monday, felt like I had been hit by a truck...Ironman spectating ain't for the weak, like me.
• 228 Tuesday, well, the export log feature I was excited about isn't quite as user friendly as I had hoped...it exports a .csv file and today's effort looked like this:
• 41 34004 169649 1 2795 648 15 12564 1617 15 18531 148485 29 26115 134398 20 21271 164244 26 24042 234537 31 25302 190480 25 23909   
• Yeah, well, when I look at the log on my phone it is much easier to read, so still helpful, but...

I also ran today...actually I have been running 2-3 times a week for a while now, just short runs, but after being inspired over the weekend I've decided I actually want to start running again, so I figure I'll mention runs on this push up blog as a way to create some level of accountability, so, NEL, please chime in when you see me go too many days without logging a run.   Thank you.

Cumulative total:   13,561

PUSH UP DAYS 207-211

352 Push ups

• 25 Tuesday Streak extender
• 135 Wednesday sets of 25, 35, 35, 25, 20
• 25 Thursday Streak extender
• 141 Friday sets of 25, 30, 30, 30, 26 (downloaded a push up app that counts my reps for me, so now I guess my "one or 2 extra in case I mis-counted" will actually be counted)
• 26 Saturday (the app counter robot lady actually stuttered, seriously...maybe I was doing them too fast?   Anyway, that meant she was a rep behind and then caught up by counting one more after I had finished, it was strange, which isn't hard to believe when realizing I'm using an app on a phone to count push up reps)

Becca's Ironman tomorrow.

Cumulative total:  13,277

PUSH UP DAYS 202-206

420 Push Ups

• 50 -- 25 in IAH at gateA26
• 25
• 100 -- sets of 25
• 25
• 220 -- sets of 25, 25, 25, 25, 35, 35, 25, 25

Day 206 reminds me of my freshman year room number -- F206.   It was a suite of sorts shared with a guy from outside the Atlanta perimeter, a guy from Louisville, KY and my great roommate from Milwaukee, WI, Mr. Jon Paul Kuelz.   I could tell amazing stories about Jon for hours, but related to this post I'll just share that he also educated me of the meaning-of/connotations-associated-with the number 420.   I plan to see him this weekend and am really looking forward to it, though not for any reason associated with the number or time of 4-2-0.  

Cumulative total:   12,925

PUSH UP DAYS 200-201

150 Push ups

• Streak extender
• 125 push ups in sets of 25 before, during and after morning run on the "beach" at Galveston Island, TX.  

Cumulative total:    12,505

PUSH UP DAYS 197-199

300 Push ups

• Saturday:     Streak extender
• Sunday:       Streak extender
• Monday:      250
• 125 at home, 25 in Dallas airport, 25 in IAH (extending my lead over faithful reader and possibly still a hiker, Mr. JEC) and 25 in Galveston, TX

Cumulative total:    12,355

PUSH UP DAYS 194-196

200 Push ups

• 25 streak extender
• 150 broken into 6 sets of 25 standard push ups -- realized slope of my back+legs may be a bit steep, so altered by rising rear end slightly to maintain straightest possible lines...would write more about this, but in order to feel justified in my claim as having the most boring blog in existence it is best for me to stop there
• 25 streak extender

Cumulative total:   12,055

PUSH UP DAYS 192-193

250 Push ups

• 25
• 225 (25, 30, 35, 30, 30, 25, 25, 25)

On day 192 I had intention to do push ups on a paddle board, which I actually had access to and everything...but I slept in, so I just decided on a streak extender.

Cumulative total:    11,855

PUSH UP DAYS 190-191

50 Push ups

• 25
• 25

Do you think anyone is willing to pay me to advertise on this blog simply because it is the most boring blog on the internet right now?   That makes it pretty special and someday that has to catch on and blow up readership, right?

Cumulative total:   11,605

PUSH UP DAY 189

102 Push ups

4 Sets

• 50
• 31   Case on my back for final 2 of this set
• 16   Finn on back for 10 of these then Case got on his back and mayhem ensued
• 5

Cumulative total:   11,555

PUSH UP DAY 180-188

675 Push ups

By day it went like this:

• 125
• 25
• 100
• 25
• 25
• 200
• 25
• 125
• 25

Can't accurately recall all details of each, just have my single number per day hand written notes to go by...I've definitely fallen off the wagon as a detailed blogger and actually as a motivated push up guy too, but I don't dread them so hoping I may get motivated again at some point.   Saw a 100 push ups a day for 30 day challenge that I might try, but my body seems to tell me I'm a bit old to not have very light days...eh...I guess we'll see if I try that or not.

Cumulative total:   11,453

PUSH UP DAY 179

25 Push ups

• On fists

Cumulative total:  10,778

PUSH UP DAYS 173-178

445 Push ups

Sets per day:

• 1 = 25 reps
• 1 = 30 reps
• 5 = 155 reps   (30, 40, 30, 30, 25)
• 1 = 25 reps
• 1 = 25 reps
• 6 = 185 reps   (25, 55, 30, 30, 20, 25)     

Fairly pleased with the single set effort of 55 knowing that I didn't go to failure...right now it makes me think I should restart serious efforts/volume, but right now doesn't seem to matter nearly as much as first thing each morning.  

Cumulative total:   10,753

PUSH UP DAYS 165-172

350 Push ups

• 25
• 100
• 25
• 25
• 25
• 25
• 25
• 100

So...I guess 10,000 reps is not a magic number.   I will say that push ups are much easier now than when I started this streak, but I cannot consider myself anywhere near a master of them.   Probably need to increase effort again, but, we'll see.

Cumulative total:    10,308

PUSH UP DAYS 155-164

475 Push ups

• 50
• 25
• 75
• 25
• 100
• 25
• 25
• 25
• 25
• 100

Above represents total reps per day for last 10 days.   Started a slow build to additional reps with an every other day kinda thing, kinda.

Cumulative total:    9958

PUSH UP DAY 154

25 Push ups

• Streak extender

Starting new push up routine tomorrow...haven't decided what it may entail, but thinking a very slow build up of volume.

Cumulative total:   9483

PUSH UP DAYS 151-153

75 Push ups

• Streak extenders all.

Cumulative total:    9458

PUSH UP DAYS 109-150

1025 Push ups

• 41 straight days of streak extenders.   Yeah, seriously.   The number of places, forms, sets, etc. are to voluminous to recap here, but that's mostly because I just don't remember them all.  I only know that the streak continues even though my posting has not been as consistent.   I keep thinking I'm going to get back into doing actual workouts involving push ups, but so far I just keep thinking that.   The streak extenders only streak started as a way to hopefully heal some right wrist issues I was having...the right wrist seems to be better now, but more recently I've been motivated to delay resuming actual workouts until my right shoulder heals.   I hurt it throwing baseballs, whiffle balls and footballs all in close succession when playing with a friends kids -- they're into throwing stuff and I enjoyed it, but now know that I overdid it.   Anyway, maybe I'll restart in August.   For now I have to hope that I continue to remember to do my push ups as many times I have thought of the streak as I laid down to sleep for the night, meaning I had to get up, get down and reel off 25 push ups.  

Cumulative total:      9383

PUSH UP DAY 108

25 Push ups

• Streak extender on fists

I actually want to resume heavy volume, but now it is a mental test to see if I can wait until next week to do so.

Cumulative total:   8358

PUSH UP DAY 107

25 Push ups

• Streak extender on fists

Ran 24 minutes slowly.

Cumulative total:   8333

PUSH UP DAY 106

25 Push ups

• Streak extender

Also ran for 60 minutes, or an hour...it's hard to remember.  

Cumulative total:   8308

PUSH UP DAY 105

25 Push ups

• Streak extender

Yes, another one...thinking I may keep up this pace for another 7-10 days then restart.

Cumulative total:   8283

PUSH UP DAYS 102, 103 and 104

75 Push ups

• All streak extenders on fists

Trying to get right wrist back to 100%.   Thinking now it may just be a than I've bruised it as I did the max set on a wooden deck and all weight was on that specific point due to the spacing between boards.   Not sure, but it is feeling a little better I think?  

Cumulative total:   8258

PUSH UP DAYS 100 and 101

50 total push ups

• 2 streak extender days

Cumulative total:   8208

So, I guess I've averaged just under 81 per day since starting...seems significant on total volume side, but the only people I ever hear about doing push ups every day are Herschel Walker and Gary Player, both of whom claim to do 500 per day.  FIVE HUNDRED.   Herschel, yeah, that seems like something he could do, though dedicating the mental effort to always doing them is shockingly impressive.   Gary Player, well, he's insane, in the best possible way, so maybe, but still, 500?   Anyway, I would like to up my average to 100, that would seem really good, but I don't want to increase the minimum streak extender and I also think I'm going to reduce volume for rest of the month to see if I can get wrist 100%.   Again, we shall see.

PUSH UP DAY 99

108 Push ups

• 3 Sets
• 10 standard followed by a few mins rest
• 10 standard followed by a few mins rest
• 78 standard to failure followed by a while
• 10 standard just because

So, 78 is my current number I guess.  
Positives:   First 50 went by easier than I thought, my total is significantly higher after 99 days than prior to, 78 makes me think of my wife as she was born in 1978, I don't think I did any lasting damage to myself during the effort.   Some of the lead up days I would've been surprised and happy by 78.
Negatives:   WHAT?!  I can't even get 80?   After nearly 100 days of serious effort?   Man, I suck.   Right wrist hurts, but that did not affect the total as that wasn't what gave out...believe my chest gave out first, though arms and posture were vying for the title of first quitter.  The hundredpushups.com program is overly optimistic in thinking that in 6 weeks people can reach 100.   I really thought I'd get between 81-87.   Those 3 more it would've taken to get to 81 were Avagadro's number away.   Questioning whether my warm up was sound?   Should I have tapered more?  Less?  

So, now what?   Still thinking about that.   Until I figure that out I'd like to at least continue the streak and hopefully have my wrist return to a no concern status....maybe it's just a stretching thing?  Though stretching it hurts, maybe that's good?   Whatever, I'll continue to post and we'll all see...all 2 of us, Craig.

Cumulative total:   8158

PUSH UP DAY 98

Saturday June 6, 2015

25 Push ups

• Streak extender on fists, last taper day

Cumulative total:     8050

PUSH UP DAY 97

25 Push ups

• Streak extender -- wrist concern returned...not a sharp or bad pain, just dull as if bottom of right wrist where wrist meets start of palm is bruised.  Odd.

Also ran for 33 minutes and while doing so saw a large dog laying between sidewalk and road dead.   The dog was clearly someone's pet as it looked very expensive, well groomed etc.   I just thought it was odd that no one had done anything about it yet, but then, it was still early morning so maybe it had just happened?   Anyway, nothing else noteworthy on the run or the push ups today.

Cumulative total:   8025

PUSH UP DAY 96

25 Push ups

• Streak extender on fists, wrist if feeling better reach day, I probably need to look up some stretches and such.

Separately I ran on Monday and Wednesday without reporting them, so in a catch up effort I now wish to include the following:   31 minute run, 28 minute run.

Cumulative total:    8000

PUSH UP DAY 95

25 Push ups

• Streak extender, performed in one set here, basically right in the middle of this photo...between the non-runner-looking-guy who is wearing Nike running shoes and the guy with the poorly sized back pack straps.  Name the specific airport and I will think up some prize for the first correct responder:

Cumulative total:   7975

PUSH UP DAY 94

25 Push ups

• Streak extender

Cumulative total:   7950

PUSH UP DAY 93

100 Push ups

• 7 Sets
• 25 standard
• 10 slow
• 10 military
• 10 wide
• 10 staggered hands
• 10 plyo
• 25 on fists

Right wrist is hurting, guess is probably over use, but it is time to start tapering for the single set max effort promised anyway...so, streak extenders are expected for the next few days with a chance of odd locations.

Cumulative total:   7925

PUSH UP DAY 92

25 Push ups

• Streak extender in 5 sets, performed in the following locations:   Airport parking lot, Mobile Airport, Houston Rental car center, Wildcat Golf Club locker room, Holiday Inn Express in downtown Houston.

Cumulative total:   7825

PUSH UP DAY 91

331 Push ups

17 Sets

• 20 forty five seconds
• 20 forty five seconds
• 23 forty five seconds
• 23 forty five seconds
• 20 forty five seconds
• 20 forty five seconds 
• 18 forty five seconds
• 18 forty five seconds
• 41 thirty seconds
• 20

Remainder within p90x3 "Incinerator DVD"

• 2 
• 25
• 15 mil
• 21
• 10  last 8 on fists split up
• 10 diamond
• 25

Today was a new high for total in a day...probably not a high in my life as I believe I recall doing an absurd amount one day after a poor round of golf back when that mattered a bit more to me than it reasonably should have.   Speaking of punishment, I ran for 53 minutes after the above, a new 2015 longest run for me.

Cumulative total:   7800 push ups

PUSH UP DAY 90

25 Push ups

• Streak extender

Also ran for 27 minutes making this, I believe the 5th or 6th week in a row having run at least 3 times a week...if I run tomorrow it'll be 3 weeks in a row running 4 times each week. 

Cumulative total:   7469

PUSH UP DAY 89

25 Push ups

• Streak extender

Cumulative total:   7444       The number 4 when said in Mandarin Chinese rhymes with the word death when that word is said in Mandarin Chinese.   As a result the #4 is considered unlucky and or taboo in that culture.  

PUSH UP DAY 88

245 Push ups

• 8 Sets
• 40 standard then sixty seconds rest
• 50 then sixty seconds rest
• 25 sixty seconds rest
• 25 three hundred thirty seconds rest
• 55 as fast as possible...probably to the detriment of form, sixty seconds rest
• 15 on fists as punishment for poor form -- then perhaps 20 minutes rest
• 10 dynamic (meaning a standard push up into a stand up jump), then a few minutes rest
• 25 standard

Cumulative total:    7419 -- this seems like a tremendous volume of push ups to me.   I feel I should be better than I am after that many, though I am pleased enough with progress for now.   10,000 seems like a point at which I should maybe be a master of them, based on the 10,000 hour theory populated by Malcolm Gladwell...or maybe I need to do 10,000 HOURS of push ups, which will take a long long time.

PUSH UP DAYS 86 and 87

May 25, 2015

87 Push ups

• 9 Sets
• 2 standard
• 10 standard slow
• 10 military slow
• 10 wide slow
• 10 staggered slow
• 10 plyo
• 10 military
• 10 fists
• 15 hands on free weights

May 26, 2015

25 Push ups

• Streak extender

Cumulative total:    7174  

PUSH UP DAY 85

25 Push ups

• Streak extender, 5 sets, standard form

Cumulative total:    7062

PUSH UP DAY 84

110 Push ups

• 11 sets
• 10 military
• 10 diamond
• 10 staggered hands
• 10 on fingers
• 10 decline
• 10 clapping
• 10 reverse hands (fingers point towards feet -- note: think these might be bad for wrists)
• 10 side to side (weight over one hand then over the other through motion)
• 10 slow
• 10 wall push ups

Strayed from the hundredpushup.com regimen that I have been loosely following because, well mostly just because.   Also wanted to try some new forms and give my shoulders a bit of a break from the standard form I had been doing probably too frequently. Additionally ran for 47 minutes today, marking the 2nd week in a row having logged 4 runs during a 7 day period.

Cumulative total:   7037

PUSH UP DAY 83

52 Push ups

• 5 Sets
• 2 standard
• 25 fists
• 10 military
• 10 standard
• 5 standard

Also ran 24 minutes this morning.   Continue to be surprised at how slowly running is coming back to me, if at all.  On a positive note, at one point within the p90x3 dvd I followed along with this morning I managed a max set of 15 dead hang pull ups.   Considering limited rest and not having focused on them that is a very good number for me, well, it's a good number for me even if I had been focusing on them and been well rested.  I credit the push ups. 

Off subject, today is Case's last day of 1st grade...his summer will consist of flag football practices and games, swim team, other swimming, vacations, travel and lots of other fun stuff.  I can already hear him whining.   Finn has been out of school since Wednesday, he'll be following his brother around for the next few months, which means nothing really changes for him except his hair will be blonder with each passing day.  

Cumulative push up total:   6927

 

PUSH UP DAY 82

247 Push ups

• 10 sets all standard:
• 22 then 45 seconds rest
• 22 then 45 seconds rest
• 30 then 45 seconds rest
• 30 then 45 seconds rest
• 25 then 75 seconds rest
• 25 then 75 seconds rest
• 18 then 75 seconds rest
• 18 then 120 seconds rest
• 40* then 30 seconds rest
• 17*

* Final 2 sets = max efforts

Cumulative total:    6875

PUSH UP DAY 81

25 Push ups

• Streak extender in 5 sets of standard form push ups.

Also ran 34 minutes this morning, a 2015 long for a school morning I believe.

Cumulative push up total:   6628

PUSH UP DAY 80

217 Push ups

• 10 Sets all standard with 45 seconds rest between, except the intended final set having to be split into two resulted in 30 seconds before the final set.
• 20, 20, 23, 23, 20, 20, 18, 18, 35, 20

Cumulative total:   6603

PUSH UP DAY 79

70 Push ups (too many for a down day...schedule is a bit off)

• 7 Sets within P90X3 "Eccentric Upper" DVD
• 2 standard within warm up
• 10 standard slow
• 10 military slow
• 10 staggered hands
• 10 plyo
• 10 standard
• 18 various

Also ran for 29 minutes today, intended to do 30, but was at home and needing to get inside at 29 minutes so justified shortening.  

Cumulative total:    6386

PUSH UP DAY 78

191 Push ups

• 5 Sets all standard
• 40 -- sixty seconds rest
• 50 -- sixty seconds rest
• 25 -- one hundred twenty seconds rest
• 25 -- three hundred second rest
• 51 -- five hours and counting rest

Cumulative total:     6316

PUSH UP DAY 77

25 Push ups

• Streak extender on fists

Also ran for 42 minutes, a new modern day record for me.

Cumulative total:   6125

PUSH UP DAYS 75 & 76

May 14, 2015

 

25 Push ups

 

• 4 Sets
• 10, 5, 5, 5 all standard

May 15, 2015

177 Push ups

• 8 Sets all standard and all 45 seconds apart:  18, 18, 20, 20, 17, 17, 20, 47

Also ran today 25 minutes...if I run tomorrow it will be 4 times in the same week, something I haven't done in over a year, probably over 2 years.

Cumulative total:        6100

PUSH UP DAYS 70-74

May 9, 2015

25 Push ups

• Streak extender on fists

May 10, 2015

25 Push ups

• Streak extender on fists for first 20, then Case sat on my back which made me switch to standard to finish

May 11, 2015

171 Push ups

• 7 Sets
• 32, 35, 25, 22, 20, 20, 17   Forty five seconds between first five sets, 20 seconds before final 2

I also ran this day, for 23 minutes.

May 12, 2015

25 Push ups

• 3 sets
• 10 pre-run twenty three minute run, 3 standard push ups mid-run (biting bugs made me resume running almost immediately), 12 on fists post-run

May 13, 2015

170 Push ups

• 8 Sets
• 18, 18, 20, 20, 14, 14, 16, 50  all forty five seconds apart.

Then volume of push ups  is improving endurance as I'm now able to push out as many as 5-10 more push ups when I feel as though I'm done whereas when this streak started I could only grind out perhaps 1 or 2 more once I was truly hurting.  

PUSH UP DAY 69

277 Push ups

• 13 sets
• 18, 18, 20, 20 17 17 20, 40 with 45 seconds rest between, then 20 seconds rest before 15 -- all standard
• 2 during p90x warm up
• 15 standard
• 15 military
• 20 standard

Very proud of this effort, though goal was to reach minimum of 45 during set 8, there was just no way, so I took 20 seconds and then did another max set, which turned out to be 15.   Anyway, felt motivated this morning, which made it easier...and harder.

Cumulative total:       5482

PUSH UP DAY 68

25 Push ups

• 3 sets, standard:   5, 10, 10

Ran short today, did last 10 push ups at 11 minute turn around point.

Cumulative total:   5205

PUSH UP DAY 67

176 Push ups

• 9 sets
• 18, 18, 20, 20, 14, 14, 16 standard with 45 seconds between.   Then 5 minutes before max set of 45
• 11 standard within p90x yoga video...have I mentioned how much I dislike yoga?   I feel certain I will again.

Ran this morning as well, 30 minutes, a new high for the year.

Cumulative total:      5180

PUSH UP DAY 66

25 Push ups

Streak extender

Cumulative total:   5004

PUSH UP DAY 65

227 Push ups

• 14 sets
• 28, 35, 25, 22 standard with 1 minute between followed by 5 mins and then a max set of 50
• 2 during warm up for DVD
• 10 standard
• 10 military
• 10 wide
• 10 staggered
• 10 clap push ups
• 3 sets of 5 military reps

I think I need to do my push ups before running because push ups, while tiring, act as a warm up and result in improved running speed, if not endurance.   Whereas, when running first push ups seem exceptionally difficult.   Ran for 29 minutes preceding the above, longest run of the year thus far.

Cumulative total:   4979

PUSH UP DAY 64

25 Push ups

• Streak extender, fists due to palms or rather what I call thumb pad abrasions.  

Cumulative total:   4752

PUSH UP DAY 63

25 Push ups

• 3 sets on fists randomly throughout the day in the house

Streak extender, overall body aches from yesterdays tumble.

Cumulative total:   4727

PUSH UP DAY 62

50 Push ups

• 4 sets
• 25 on flattened fingers and upright thumbs
• 8 side arm balance
• 15 plyo
• 2 standard

OK, so, maybe I shouldn't run after all.  This morning I woke up earlier than usual in an effort to complete my run before Becca started her 1:45 minute ride.   She was meeting people at 5:15 a few miles away, which meant I had to be back before 5am.  Well, the timing proved to be no issue, but as a partial result of the darkness, I stepped in an unseen hole (see below) and went down hard skinning my left knee, left shoulder and gashing the palms of my hands as all who have tripped on a sidewalk are familiar with.   That's when I remembered why I should run in the road and not on the sidewalk.

 

Photo is not the actual hole I stepped in, but an example of the one I stepped in.  I should probably feel more fortunate that I didn't break anything than I do -- I mostly just feel old right now.   Oh and how this all relates to push ups, not that it has to, I had to find a place that was very flat so that I could do them without my palms touching the ground, ya know, since they were covered with open wounds.   I did the 25 on the railroad crossing, which was nice enough.

 

Anyway, that's the idiot Bob story of the day, keep tuning in as I'm bound to follow up my getting pooped on, nearly losing a leg in a hole antics with something else bizarre.

 

Cumulative total:      4702

PUSH UP DAY 61

157 Push ups

• 5 Sets all standard, supposed to be 60 seconds between them, but I didn't manage that very well at all.
• 28, then 1 min
• 35, then 1:10
• 25, then 1:30
• 22, then 5 minutes
• 47

I have a college buddy also trying to follow this program and I consider him on the physically gifted side.  He too is having difficulty following the program perfectly, which makes me feel somewhat better, but not necessarily good. 

Cumulative total:   4652

PUSH UP DAY 60

25 Push ups

• 4 sets
• 5 military, pre-shoes
• 5 standard, pre-run
• 10 standard, mid-run
• 5 standard, post run

Cumulative total:    4495

PUSH UP DAY 59

203 Push ups

• 9 Sets all standard
• 29, 33, 29, 29, 45 (2 min rest, then 4:30 before final max set)
• 15
• 8
• 10
• 5

Cumulative total:   4470

PUSH UP DAY 58

25 Push ups

• 1 set

I also ran today and roughly halfway through I found a new reason not to be enthused about running...a bird got me with a direct hit to my forehead just over my right eye.  Big splash covering from my eyebrow up close to my greatly receding hairline.   Nice.   It was white, not the bird.   I only add this last little fact as for some reason that was one of Becca's first thoughts when I told her because that was her first question.   I do not expect it will actually prevent me from running, but who knows, it might...seems like a better reason than many others I have used.  

Cumulative total:   4267

PUSH UP DAY 57

287 Push ups

• 18 sets
• 25, 29, 25, 25, 45 standard, with 90 seconds rest between...actually did it as prescribed today
• 12 standard
• 12 standard
• 12 military
• 12 military
• 12 wide 
• 12 wide
• 12 staggered
• 12 staggered
• 10 standard
• 10 fists
• 7 military
• 13 standard
• 2 diamond

Doing "The Challenge" p90x DVD is...a challenge.   I feel I am cheating the pull up aspect of it by doing the hundredpushups routine before it, but life is filled with choices and I concentrated on pull ups for 3 or 4 months a number of years ago, so...

Cumulative total:    4242 (my age, written twice)

PUSH UP DAY 56

Saturday April 25, 2015

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard

Cumulative total:    3955

PUSH UP DAY 55

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard, at turn around point within run.

3 runs in one week...that hasn't happened since the original "streak" ended years ago.  

Cumulative total:    3930

PUSH UP DAY 54

165 Push Ups

• 7 Sets
• 21 standard
• 25 standard, last 5 with Case laying on my back = max set
• 21 standard, last 10 with Finn laying on my back
• 21 standard, last 5 with Finn sitting on my back
• 50 standard, last 1 with Finn on my back causing collapse
• 10 "jump gap" within P90x
• 17 jump push ups...hands leave ground a few inches (also within p90x)

I also ran today, I'm not very good at running these days, but that's twice this week so hopefully on track to improving...or at least being able to easily button my suit pants, which is most important.

Cumulative total:    3905

PUSH UP DAY 53

33 Push ups

• 2 sets
• 25 on fists
• 8 one arm raised after each rep

Tired muscles this morning, wondering if it was the push ups or the running...I did not run this morning, I just wore bigger pants.

Cumulative total:   3740

PUSH UP DAY 52

190 Push Ups

• 9 Sets all standard
• 25 in hotel room before short run
• 25 outside hotel before short run
• 25 at turn around point of run
• 25 upon return from run
• 25 in hotel room
• 25 in hotel room
• 15 in Omaha Airport
• 15 in Houston Hobby
• 10 in Mobile Regional Airport

Seriously struggled to button my suit pants yesterday and today, thus the running.  It is my skinniest suit, which I'm not sure ever really fit, but the button concern was severe and since buying a new suit is more horrific than starting to run with regularity again I ran today for the first time in forever. 

Cumulative total:   3707

PUSH UP DAY 51

25 Push ups

• 3 sets all standard
• 10 done one bathroom floor at home
• 10 done in Houston Hobby Airport
• 5 done in parking lot of Hector's Mexican Food Cuisine in Omaha, NE

Push ups in 3 states is a fete for me...I enjoyed it and wondered while doing them with what I hoped to be perfect form and cadence, because people were watching, that maybe someone will mention me to a friend along the lines of "I saw some strange guy doing push ups in the airport this morning...no, like right in middle of the walk way, very weird."   I think I may try to do push ups in every airport I go though forevermore, sounds like something I'd say huh?   Doubtful I'll make good on this either, but oh well, it won't haunt me like the time I had to back out on a commitment to go to Havasupai Falls with great friends because I was a slave to my old job.

Cumulative total:    3517

PUSH UP DAY 50

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard

Cumulative total:   3492 -- averaging just under 70 per day seems a shockingly high number to me.

PUSH UP DAY 49

278 Push ups

• 18 sets
• 3 standard, warm up
• 23, 28, 23, 23, 45 (2 mins between each set)
• 12 standard
• 12 standard
• 12 military
• 12 military
• 12 wide
• 12 wide
• 20 staggered
• 20 staggered
• 5 fists
• 5 diamond
• 5 fingers
• 5 standard
• 1 standard

New daily volume high.

Cumulative total:   3467

PUSH UP DAY 48

25 Push ups

• 1 set:   15 standard, 10 diamond

Cumulative total:   3189

PUSH UP DAY 47

175 Push ups

• 8 Sets all standard, with 45 seconds rest between 18, 18, 20, 20, 14, 14, 16 and then 7 minutes rest before max set of 55

Decided I'd do one more day my way...following some random day on hundredpushups.com plan and then taking long rest before final-max set.

Cumulative total:   3164

PUSH UP DAY 46

34 Push Ups

• 25 single set on fists
• 9 within p90x Yoga video, which I hate

Cumulative total:   2989

PUSH UP DAY 45

177 Push ups

• 7 Sets
• 28, 35, 25, 22 one minute between each set, then five mins before last set, 47
• 10 within p90x dvd
• 10 jump style within p90x dvd (think hope half an inch off the ground at top)

 

SOOOoooo, I've proven to myself once again that I am an idiot.  Somehow I have managed to incorrectly follow the hundredpushup.com instructions.  Yeah, they're simple and yes they're all right there on the website in plain text...I just didn't read it.   I looked only at the columns and assumed that since the initial instruction, which I did read, said to use column 3 on week three as a starting point that whenever I moved to the next week I should continue use the 3rd column for that new week as well.  That is not correct.  There seems to actually be design within the program than I gave it credit for.  

 

As it turns out, each week is used as a measuring point that guides where (which column) you start the next week on...this makes sense, but of course I made it 45 sporadic days before realizing that's what the text states to do.   So, I think/hope that my jacked up version explains why I couldn't come close to following the program without inserting considerably more time before the final-max set for each day.   I like to think that anyway.

 

Now I need to figure out where I think I should start over...today I just dropped back a column because it looked potentially do-able, but then I still needed more time, so considering dropping back 2 weeks and doing it as close to exactly like the program outlines as possible.   The good news is that a) I'm fairly used to realizing that I'm an idiot b) the push ups done to date, while not properly on the program, are unlikely to have set me back and most probably helped and c) I never set a completion date goal for myself so I can just continue on.   Anyway, all this is long winded and can be summarized by saying, I'm a moron so I'm starting the program over again either Thursday or next Monday...until then I'll endeavor to continue the streak of 25 per day minimum.

 

Cumulative total:    2955

 

PUSH UP DAY 44

49 Push ups

• 3 sets
• 25 standard
• 14 side
• 10 plyo jumpy things

Decided to get back on the Tony Horton train starting this week, we'll see how long it lasts...sets 2 and 3 were within that workout routine.   See:  PUSH UP DAY 2 for explanation of form used for sets two and three.

Cumulative total:   2778

PUSH UP DAY 43

Sunday, April 12, 2015

165 Push ups

• 5 Sets all standard:    29 with 2 min rest, 33 with 1:30 rest, 29 with 2:15 rest, 29 with 5 minute rest, 45

Cumulative total:     2729

PUSH UP DAY 42

25 Push ups

• 1 set on fists

Cumulative total:   2564

PUSH UP DAY 41

154 Push ups

• 5 sets
• 25 standard, 1 min rest
• 29 standard, 1 min rest
• 25 standard, 1 min rest
• 25 slightly narrowed hands, 4:30 rest
• 50 slightly widened hands

New high, though the last 2 reps were a bit sketchy.   I should have done this routine yesterday, but I just wimped out.

Cumulative total:   2539

PUSH UP DAY 40

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard

Cumulative total:   2385

PUSH UP DAY 39

32 Push ups

• 3 sets
• 15 standard (13 with Finn on my back)
• 15 standard (all with Finn on my back, but thankfully he was on my lower back, which is much easier)
• 2 standard with Case on my upper back, brutal

Of note, these were completed on a hotel floor in New Orleans, LA.   This is the first time either of our children have been to Louisiana, which seems odd to me, but it's true.

Cumulative total:    2360

PUSH UP DAY 38

225 Push ups

• 10 sets
• 25, 29, 25, 25 standard with 1 min rest between
• 47 standard after 5 min rest
• 10 on fists after 2 min rest
• 10 diamond after 1 min rest
• 15 wide after 1 min rest
• 14 feet up on couch after 1 min rest
• 25 standard after 5 min rest

Interesting to me that after 5 minutes rest, still feeling some fatigue, that I could match my "initial" test reps.   I like to think this means I am getting better at them, but I guess it could mean that 47 remains my max, I can just duplicate it using various warm up routines.

Cumulative total:   2328

PUSH UP DAY 37

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard

Cumulative total:   2103

PUSH UP DAY 36

Sunday April 5, 2015

25 Push ups

• 2 sets
• 20 standard, 5 diamond in immediate succession

Cumulative total:   2078

PUSH UP DAY 35

Saturday April 4, 2015

25 Push ups

• 1 set on fists

Cumulative total:    2053

PUSH UP DAY 34

Friday April 3, 2015

149 Push ups

• 5 Sets, all standard.   25, 29, 25, 25, 45 -- 1 min rest, except last one I had 4 mins rest prior to

Hiked up Stone Mountain prior to this effort, I should've done these at the top of the mountain, but didn't.  I really enjoy hiking Stone Mountain and wonder why the only time I think I've ever done it is on Good Friday...of course we did it that day perhaps 20 years in a row, so I've done it many times, just not often.

Cumulative total:    2028

PUSH UP DAY 33

25 Push ups

• 1 set (5 x standard, 5 x fists, 5 x diamond, 5 x military, 5 x wide)

Cumulative total:    1879

PUSH UP DAY 32

133 Push ups

• 5 sets
• 21
• 25
• 21
• 21
• 45

Really exhausted me.   1 min between first four sets and then I took about 3 minutes before last set.   Max sets are truly a difference maker.   This was my restart of week 4 of the infamous program I have concerns I may never complete.   What kind of person can follow the program perfectly the first time?   One stronger than me, that's for sure.  

Cumulative total:   1854   

PUSH UP DAY 31

25 Push ups

• 3 sets (15 on fists, final rep with Finn -- 2 sets of 5 with Finn, going to hands and knees for breaks between)

Dude weighs 32 pounds now...he weighed 33 last night at the doctor with clothes on, so I assume he weighs 32 in just his pajamas.  He had some eye infection that we're thrilled to learn was probably not pink eye, thought my eyes still itch thinking about it.   This morning he looks and feels much better.   The sick all the time part of having little kids is awesome.   Really.  

Cumulative total:   1721

Oh and yeah, I'm totally back off the hundredpushups.com wagon...I don't like to do much of anything when I don't feel well and I've been congested and achy for the past 5 days or so -- probably just allergies, but still enough to derail me because I'm mentally feeble. 

PUSH UP DAY 30

25 Push ups

• 1 set standard

Cumulative total:   1696

PUSH UP DAY 29

Sunday March 29, 2015

25 Push ups

• 5 sets, standard

Cumulative total:   1671

PUSH UP DAY 28

25 Push ups

• 1 set, military 

Cumulative total:  1646

PUSH UP DAY 27

25 Push ups

• 1 set on fists (CMB style)

Cumulative total:        1621

PUSH UP DAY 26

228 Push ups

• 16 sets
• 2 standard
• 1 standard
• 25 standard
• 29 standard
• 25 standard
• 41 standard
• 10 standard
• 10 standard
• 10 military
• 10 military
• 10 wide (3 with Finn added)
• 10 wide
• 10 staggered hands rt high
• 10 staggered hands lf high
• 10 staggered hands alternating
• 15 various (5 sets of 3, standard, wide, military, fists, standard)

I woke up worried about the scheduled push up session labeled Week 4 day 2.   It called for 25, 29, 25, 25 then max (minimum on max set = 36).   I was concerned about being able to even get to the max set without coming up short.   Well, turns out that my brain has a safety feature built in, which is pretty remarkable I think, but let me explain so you can make your own assessment:  

Set one went fine, I had done the 3 minute warm up at the start of a P90X DVD I intended to do after the push ups, so I felt I was ready.   25, no sweat.  Not that I wasn't tired, I just didn't yet break a sweat.   Set 2 went OK, but my concern grew as the 29 didn't come off as easily as I had hoped.   Set 3, 25 were not bad, but I wasn't overly encouraged as they got tough after 20 due to the 90 second breaks/recovery between sets.   I felt confident I could knock out the next set of 25, but equally as confident that the minimum of 36 on the last set would require a miracle.   So, 90 seconds go by and I start that 4th set...I made a split decision to try to do them as fast as I could in hopes that doing so would help.   It usually does, which makes me wonder why I don't always do them as fast as I can, but anyway.   It helped!   20 were done before I knew it, I wasn't yet fatigued really...bam, 25, I might be able to get this 36!  30 now slowing down, but still feeling strong enough,...35!...yes, this is Awesome, I don't get it, but it's awesome!!!   40...41!   DONE.  Like really done.   Can't believe I was able to do that, what go into me?   I'll start P90x in a minute, but wow, still surprised.  

Well, as you've probably already figured out what took me another 10 minutes to realize...I never did the actual 4th set, I just turned the 4th set into the 5th set because mid-effort I lost track.   I think this is a rather handy safety feature my brain has.   Disappointing?   Well, I guess it would be if I thought there was any chance I could've done it right and accomplished today's goals -- I am certain I could not have, so I'll just be pleased about the safety mode feature I have.   It makes much more sense than the fact that my TV has a screen saver mode that I don't know how to cut off.   This is not a "if TV is paused or screen is constant screen saver, it just goes to screen saver every 30 minutes or so.  WTF?   Anyway, back to push ups...I need to read what to do when I can't do what is prescribed, do I just stay on that week until I can do it?   Do I drop back a week on the schedule?   Do I quit and be content with 25 push ups per day until my streak ends in some pathetic manner?   Stay tuned!  Exciting, I know.

Cumulative total:     1596

PS Looking back at my previous effort to do 25 push ups every day for a while I can see that today marks a new record for me, 26 straight days!!!   WOOHOO!, who cares that I'll never get to 100 in a single set?   Ya know, I mean, other than me.

PUSH UP DAY 25

27 Push ups

• 6 sets
• 5 on fists
• 5 diamond
• 5 wall
• 5 military
• 5 feet on couch
• 2 on extended fingers

Man, I used to be much better at wall push ups than I am now.  Just throwing my feet up on the wall to get into starting position was a shock.  I have flexibility issues due to my lack thereof.   I guess I could and should do something about that, but as bothersome and concerning as it is, it hasn't been enough of either to result in my doing anything about it.  

Cumulative total:   1368 

PUSH UP DAY 24

142 Push ups

• 7 Sets
• 10 x balance push ups (push up then balance on one arm, then alternate)
• 10 x jump push ups (horizontal traveling via push up hops in each direction)
• 21, 25, 21, 21, 34 standard

The hundredpushups.com challenge is now challenging me.  Significantly.   Following the suggested rest interval periods makes it serious...thinking I should've started on week 1 instead of week 3 as the program instructed.   Above standard push ups were todays challenge, with 1 minute rest between...after the 3rd set I knew I was in trouble.   During the final set, which was to be maximum reps, reaching 32 at least, I had to stop and rest in the up/arms-extended plank position to catch my breath and give my shoulder girdle/chest/arms a rest...brutal, remaining push ups were quite sloppy and exhausting.   I guess if it were easy then everyone would do it?  

Cumulative total:    1341 push ups

PUSH UP DAY 23

25 Push Ups

• 1 set, on fists

Cumulative total: 1299

On Saturday I thought it would be a good idea to do sets of 5 with an hour or longer between each set...after two sets I realized I almost completely forgot to do any further sets, which gave me pause.  I decided I probably need to make the streak extender days of only 25 push ups single set efforts, or perhaps 2 set efforts as doing so will help make sure I don't kill the streak via easily avoidable stupidity.   Hopefully I'll soon be comfortable enough doing push ups that 25 seems easy?   We shall see.

PUSH UP DAY 22

March 22, 2015

132 Push ups

• 5 sets
• 22, 30, 20, 20, 40 (all standard)

Program called for 22, 30, 20, 40, max (at least 28) with 2 minutes rest between...paying attention to the prescribed rest between sets increases the difficulty considerably.   I gave myself about 2.5 minutes between the 4th and 5th set because Finn wanted me to help him with something and that seemed like a good enough excuse at the time. 

Cumulative total:   1274  -- I lived at 1274 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306 with my maternal Grandparents, my Great Aunt, my parents, my big brother and little sister for 14 years or so, which means I lived there for longer than I have lived anywhere.   Here's a street view courtesy of Google:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1274+Ponce+De+Leon+Ave+NE,+Atlanta,+GA+30306/@33.774631,-84.345674,3a,75y,350.24h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sNwS8vwiJiezg8f0jvwaiiw!2e0!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x88f506a30e424573:0x6f718df6f6e4f76d!2s1274+Ponce+De+Leon+Ave+NE,+Atlanta,+GA+30306!3b1!3m1!1s0x88f506a30e424573:0x6f718df6f6e4f76d!6m1!1e1?hl=en

The school that now owns the house has planted many small trees on the extreme right and left of the street view accessed via above link -- that's a shame because those areas were home to majority of our games growing up.   We played some in the front too, but more often on the sides of the house.   Surprisingly this house is located less than 3 miles from what I would consider the dead center of downtown Atlanta...when my great great grandmother bought the house it was considered a "country house" because it was so far from the city.

PUSH UP DAY 21

25 Push ups

• 3 sets, 5, 5, 15 all standard 

I'll figure out running total on Monday

PUSH UP DAY 20

117 Push ups

• 5 sets
• 20, 25, 15, 15, 42 all standard  

Program called for 20, 25, 15, 15 and max set, above is resulting effort.

Running total that has nothing to do with running, though I really should start running again:  1117

PUSH UP DAY 19

March 19, 2015

30 Push ups

• 2 sets
• 15 standard
• 15 on fists

Cumulative total:    1000  deja vu all over again

PUSH UP DAY 18

113 Push ups

6 sets all standard form:

• 14
• 14
• 18
• 14
• 38   (max set and it was either 43 or 38 because for some unexplainable reason I started counting in sets of 5 and then got confused...thinking it must have been 38...???)
• 10

Back on the hundredpushups.com schedule, starting again at day one (of week 3).   I did one extra set just focusing on perfect form and to make sure I did 100+ total for the day, just because.

Cumulative total:
970
  

PUSH UP DAY 17

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard

Cumulative total:   25 more than whatever yesterday's total was...I'll figure it out tomorrow.

PUSH UP DAY 16

100 Push ups

• 3 Sets (34, 33, 33 all standard)

On-going total:    837

PUSH UP DAY 15

26 Push ups

• 1 x 25 Standard
• 1 x 1 on fists

Case and I played disc golf with a friend today on an actual disc golf course.  It was not very much like the frisbee golf my brother and I played in our yard growing up at all.  I used to enjoy frisbee golf with the wham-o frisbees and made up holes/trees/whatever's, but as a game I think I appreciate this formal disc golf more.  Probably because it is more like golf.  Anyway, perhaps I'll do some push ups on a disc golf course someday and as a result update my two faithful readers on any additional disc golf comments I may have.  Until then I'll keep considering getting serious about push ups again...I do feel better, but not quite 100%....can a 42 year old ever feel 100% again?  I seriously felt like I pulled some muscles flinging the "driver."  Thankfully this did not affect my low volume push up streak extender effort today.

Soaring total:   737

PUSH UP DAY 14

111 Push ups

• 3 x 14 standard
• 1 wide hands
• 5 military
• 9 on fists
• 2 wide
• 6 military
• 5 on extended fingers (thumbs seem to take most weight)
• 3 standard
• 5 -- 3 standard, pause to remember, 2 pointer fingers and thumbs touching each other centered below chest...these go by many names (heart to hearts, diamonds, circles, etc.)
• 8 fists
• 9 standard
• 7 wide
• 9 circle 

Running total:    711

PUSH UP DAY 13

25 Push ups

• 3 sets (5, 10, 10)

Have grand plans for tomorrow...

Grand total:   600

PUSH UP DAY 12

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard

I did some simple arm circles (arms straight out elbows locked hands making 12 inchish circles, forward and the backward with fingers in karate chop form...Tony Horton taught me these via DVD) before and believe they helped as I did not experience the sharp pain felt during yesterdays 1st set.  Yes this is another low volume day, but I've decided I'll keep volume low until I'm past my ever so slight cold.  

Cumulative total:    550

PUSH UP DAY 11

25 Push ups

• 3 sets (5, 10 and 10 -- final set military)

Still sore, this is concerning as I am simply not bouncing back as I'd hoped to.  Might just be a warm up issue as the first few are actually painful, but then that might be due to body aches brought on by a cold I seem to have.   Better than having food poisoning or the flu at least!

Cumulative total:   525

PUSH UP DAY 10

58 Push ups

• 6 sets
• 3 x 15 standard, then 2 short sets totaling 5 while creating the below links and 1 final set of 8 just seconds ago when realizing my cumulative total was 8 reps short of 500.

Example showing form used when I am doing what I consider "Standard" push ups:

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/casewein/16588790219/   This websites videographer had better things to do so we had to do the two takes, showing multiple angles, in different locations

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/casewein/16587545720/     I really am going bald, I'm glad I can't see that part of my head or it may bother me.

Cumulative total:  
500

PS I am still much more sore than I think I should be, so today was going to be a  "streak extender" only day, until I saw that it was Chuck Norris' birthday at which point I doubled the minimum and should've done more.   Enjoy.   http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/  Many are weak, but some are worth it -- my favorite is "Chuck Norris can unscramble an egg."

PUSH UP DAY 9

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard

If you knew how sore I am you'd be more impressed....or less.   I have now decided that I will restart the 100 push up challenge schedule later this week...I think.

Cumulative total:   442

PUSH UP DAY 8

30 Push ups

• 2 sets of 15 a few minutes apart, standard push ups

Significantly sore from yesterday.

Cumulative total:  417

PUSH UP DAY 7

March 7, 2015

25 Push ups

• 1 set, standard push ups

I think three straight streak extender days of minimum volume is fairly weak, but this one was out of fear and exhaustion.   I feared this rather ridiculous event that I commitment myself to:

https://toughmudder.com/events/2015-gulf-coast

and then I was completely exhausted after finishing it.   I did my streak extension effort next to my car, in muddy boxers only, before driving home.

Cumulative total:   387

PUSH UP DAY 6

25 Push ups

Streak extender.   3 sets (10, 10, 5 all standard)

Cumulative total:   362

PUSH UP DAY 5

25 Push ups

Streak extender.   Technically I did another 4 or 5 within the P90x3 Yoga DVD, but I'm not counting those as a means of creating a buffer in the event that I miss count a rep at some point someday.  Yeah, over thinking this so I am.

• One set of 15 prior to yoga DVD -- standard push ups
• One set of 10 following yoga DVD -- standard push ups

Oh and I was/am quite tight in the shoulders, chest and back this morning.  I've decided to blame it on the pull ups because that will help prevent push up hatred and in doing so help this streak to continue. 

Cumulative total:
337 (I just dropped down and did one more because 337 is a cooler number than its predecessor)

Question:   Does doing floor based exercise on the floor of a hotel gross you out?   I have a friend who won't ever walk in her hotel room barefoot...this kinda makes sense I guess, especially considering that one day I was doing sit ups in a hotel years ago and came up with a toe nail in my hair, but I continue to go barefoot and regularly find myself on the floor doing some sort of exercise or stretch. 

PUSH UP DAY 4

187 push ups

Today I started the 100 push ups challenge program -- I started on week 3 as that was suggested by the website based on the initial test.   It called for 5 sets, 1 minute apart ("or longer if needed") with the following reps per set:   14, 18, 14, 14 and then max.   Here is how it played out for me:

• 14 standard push ups
• 18 standard push ups
• 14
• 14
• 25 (18 standard and then the last 7 were with Finn on my back because he thinks it is funny to lay on my back when I do push ups -- I try to finish before the boys wake up, but they wake up extra early sometimes -- the only complaint I have about him jumping on is that he doesn't balance himself perfectly so I worry about over working one side, but this morning he kept one foot on the ground, so it wasn't all his weight, which I appreciated)

After doing the prescribed sets it was time to do the P90X3 video of the day called "The Challenge," which is just push ups and pull ups of varying types totaling to about 20 sets of each.   The idea is to pick a number you can (or maybe can) do for each and hit that number each set.    Today I picked 10 and 8....10 push ups and 8 pull ups.   Here is how all that played out:

• 2 warm up (Yes I was warmed up, but Tony told me to so I did)
• 10 standard
• 10 standard
• 10 military push ups
• 10 military
• 10 wide hands
• 10 wide hands
• 10 staggered hands
• 10 staggered hands
• 5 standard
• 5 military
• 5 wide
• 5 standard

Above were alternating with pull-ups and chin-ups of various types, but this is a push up blog now so I won't detail all of that.   In hindsight the one "max" effort I was to do today was actually assisted by Finn due to the fact that I stopped short of complete muscle out failure since he was on my back...not that it would've bothered him, it just gave me an excuse.   I'm OK with that though, even though I shouldn't be, because I seem to still be short of mentally prepared to go completely to failure.  

Spoiler alert!   Tomorrow will be a streak extender only...I might do my 25 reps in 25 sets :).  

Oh and as additional unnecessary info, I no longer allow Case to get on my back during push ups, dude weighs 65 pounds, which I'm pretty sure is what I weighed my first year of Mighty Might (under 80 pound) Football.   I was in the fourth grade.   Case just turned 7 and is in the first grade.

PUSH UP DAY 3

45 Push ups

The 100 push up challenge introduction says to take one or 2 days off after the initial test before starting the program, so I'll start tomorrow, which I think is a smart way to help continue this streak.  Or it's a cop out, either way I happy with it.   Anyway, today broke down like this:

• 15 standard push ups (warm up prior to P90X3 Agility X)
• 10 side arm balance push ups alternating sides
• 20 plyo push ups -- miserable efforts that result in hopping lateral movement

Running total, which has nothing to do with running:
124

PUSH UP DAY 2

31 Push ups

Today's push ups were at the behest of the great Tony Horton as I did Disc 1 of P90X3 -- a DVD based exercise program that is much less miserable than his famous P90X, but still grueling for its sheer relentlessness.   Anyway, that means the push up volume breakdown was as follows:

• 11 side arm balance push  ups (do a push up and then balance on one hand while turning to the side and pointing the off ground arm plus hand into the air -- picture 1 below, sans pony tail)
• 20 Strange ab working push ups (like picture 2 below, but imagine that guys left hand being perhaps a bit above his head from this angle?   When doing them you switch hands and feet position by doing push up jumps between them if that makes sense.  Whatever they suck, Tony is a machine.)

 

 

No, I don't know how to eliminate the space between above text and the first picture, I'm going to be surprised if anyone ever sees these posts anyway so I have decided not to care...one of the things that will keep this blog going is simplicity related to the act of posting, so...

 

Running total, which has nothing to do with running:

79

 



PUSH UP DAY 1

March 1, 2015
Referencing this:   http://www.hundredpushups.com/ Day 1 was the "initial" test.   

I managed 48 perfect form push ups prior to failure.   Probably more mental failure than physical as physically I may have been able to do ONE more, but having not done anything to physical failure in a long time it was hard to make myself do it, so I quit at 48.   Pathetic?   Sure.   But whatever. 

Running total that doesn't relate to running at all:
48

PUSH UPS STREAK

OK, I'm trying again!   This may last 3 days, it may end at 2, but hopefully it'll go for a while and the simple act of posting will provide some helpful accountability to myself...we'll see.

Here were the original rules I made for myself regarding a streak of consecutive days doing push ups:

• Do 25 push ups

That's it, I didn't make any more rules for myself thank goodness, so I guess I can do those in however many sets I choose or all at once.   And I can do them in whatever form I desire.   Huh, I really should be able to do this for a while right?   Well, I didn't even make it a month last time, so I guess we'll see.

Goals:

• Do the streak for a while
• Complete this 100 push up challenge thing because I've never done 100 push ups in a row before (http://www.hundredpushups.com/)
• Get back into the habit of posting things because then maybe I'll update my canoe blog and my Presidents blog--I have, after I think 2 years off, restarted reading about Presidents, though I'm horribly behind on posting about the ones I have read too.