This link will take you to the rationale of the push up challenge, and this link will take you back to the results of day 6 of the challenge
The first week done. Is it getting easier? Read on.
Day 7 Figures
I’ve noticed the size of my ‘Day in Figures’ image keeps changing. At least the height does. It’s because each of these figures is a cut and paste of a row on my spreadsheet. The spreadsheet keeps all of the daily, to-date, to reach target, and stretch target figures. There is another column that contains all of my comtemporaneous notes. That differs in length depending on how many thoughts/observations I have each day.
The notes I take form the basis of the comments I include below.
Day 7 Progress
One week into the challenge and I would have expected things to have started to feel easier.
First set of the day still seems a bit tough. I’m sure I could have done my basic 25 but the mind wasn’t willing. Maybe it is an age thing but I find I am returning to the mental aspect of the trial every time I reflect on progress.
It is kind of strange. For much of my life I have been super fit. My body shape has not been perfect – I have carried a bit of a belly since being very young. In general this doesn’t show as my posture and bearing has been good. It certainly hasn’t been allowed to affect my fitness as a runner, racket sports player, walker, and golfer.
Minds are funny things. We only have one brain but I am sure we have different layers of thinking. Not layers of consciousness. The layers of thinking are always there. They facilitate our ongoing, continuous internal dialogue.
“Internal dialogue,” “the voice inside your head,” or an “inner voice,” your internal monologue is the result of certain brain mechanisms that cause you to “hear” yourself talk in your head without actually speaking and forming sounds.
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/internal-monologue?c=49491219098
Some people experience this as an independent running commentary on daily events in their life. To me it is definitely a dialogue in which parts of my mind can analyse and discuss what is happening.
This morning, my worker layer felt tired and didn’t want to commit to delivering the target number of pushups. My command layer observed and, having sympathy for the worker layer, allowed me to stop at 20 Push Ups.
There is no doubt that we command layer could have forced me to go on. 25 – 30 was readily achievable but I let myself duck out. For all top class athletes they must have a command layer that is absolutely committed to achieving their objectives. They will not listen to the whining and whinging from the layers of their mind that are trying to look after the body.
If you are going to complete any physical challenge that puts previously unheralded demands on the body, you need to make sure your command layer is absolutely committed.
Today I was able to achieve my targets by adding in an additonal set pretty late at night. Adding an additional late night set allows the daily target to be readily beaten.
