Reflection on 'The Sissy Test'

Yesterday I completed 'The Sissy Test.' Here it is again for those not familiar.

Burpees / Swings
1 / 25
2 / 24
3 / 23
4 / 22
5 / 21
6 / 20
7 / 19
8 / 18
9 / 17
10 / 16
11 / 15
12 / 14
13 / 13
14 / 12
15 / 11
16 / 10
17 / 9
18 / 8
19 / 7
20 / 6
21 / 5
22 / 4
23 / 3
24 / 2
25 / 1

*Done for TIME with as little rest as possible.

I completed it in 45:39 which was a two-headed dragon for me(Swings done with the 28kg). One head is that this is pathetic as an instructor at the standard I want to be held to. The other head is that anything over 10 reps is reaching max cardio/anaerobic threshhold for me. I dislike (rather 'hate') anything other than lifting heavy objects or punching/kicking things or choking things. That is the way I roll now. 13 years ago was a different story when I ran 6-8 miles daily and was very competive in track 1600m and 3200m and 5K cross country. No more.

2 Lessons in this:
#1 I must do what I don't like to do once in a while because I know it is relatively good for me as I evolve as a person

#2 Mental Toughness. These types of sessions test your mettle more than the physical. It brings everything together and to see what you're made of.

Amazing what putting a CLOCK to it will do. Add in a couple of friends--preferrably next to you competing & also some friendly competition nationwide--and you now have a great recipe for some Humble Pie.

By the way, my heart rate 2 minutes after completion was still 144 BPM. And one more thing, I had one of my clients try this right after me with a 12kg and she BEAT me by 9 seconds. Her only goal was to beat me (that goes back to the friendly competition thing and having something to reach for). Good for you Jill! We will revisit this one again.

This particular 'Test' spurred some sadistic dreams of coming up with more 'tests.'

Stay tuned for "The Baker's Dozen" ;)