The 2009 One Hundred Day Burpee Challenge

Where we've done burpees!

2010-05-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

People are still adding to the list of fun or unusual places we've done burpees! Check out the current list:

1/20/2009 16:48:01 Big Sur, California

1/20/2009 16:48:26 The Subway (N train)

1/20/2009 17:51:25 Kalahari Water Park

1/21/2009 4:54:57 Basketball court after pick-up

1/21/2009 4:55:36 A bar! (Dram Shop)

1/22/2009 13:06:34 in the bedroom with booty shorts on

1/23/2009 7:37:09 outside when it was 55 cloudy

1/23/2009 13:09:29 hockey rink press box

1/23/2009 19:07:11 Parking Garage

1/24/2009 10:16:35 Webster hall lobby (1 set) and then dancefloor (1 set)

1/26/2009 1:47:39 Amsterdam - my new old apartment

1/26/2009 1:48:07 at my friend's dinner party, with the dog diving down with me each time

1/27/2009 19:34:40 Bronxville Fitness Club

1/27/2009 19:34:57 The Frick Collection (shhhh)

1/27/2009 19:36:49 Murray Bergtraum Gym, near brooklyn bridge/city hall

1/28/2009 17:41:51 my classroom in front of my students

1/29/2009 20:53:28 In a McDonalds parking lot while waiting for jumper cables... :)

1/29/2009 20:56:50 Another Bar! (Draft Barn)

1/30/2009 8:36:11 Innauguration, Washington DC

1/30/2009 8:37:46 Bathroom at my office - I hava a feeling I will be doing many here...

1/20/2009 22:30:00 Shanghai - Big Bamboo Bar

2/3/2009 13:12:36 Fernbank Museum of Natural History

2/3/2009 16:47:46 in graduate class in Cleveland, OH

2/3/2009 After teaching a geology class yesterday at William and Mary.. and a student came back when I was in pushup position. I think he thought I had fallen and couldn't get up because it was burpee 31 by then..

2/11/2009 7:49:21 The Heineman Room at The Morgan Library & Museum

2/13/2009 9:31:44 In front of various casinos Las Vegas, NV

2/13/2009 10:38:47 boss's office

2/18/2009 13:37:36 Doctor's office

2/19/2009 10:51:51 Del Mar Polo Grounds, CA

2/20/2009 7:42:23 My boss's office

2/21/2009 15:05:43 Jamaica, overlooking the ocean!

2/23/2009 6:00:18 In the sauna at 130 degrees...

2/23/2009 9:01:02 Bathroom of Sheep Station bar in Brooklyn, NY

Holuba Hall, Penn State

Not for this challenge, but The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

JFK airport

2/28/2009 12:57:19 Boston, MA

3/3/2009 5:39:15 Finnerty's (a bar)

3/3/2009 5:39:46 14th Street Y - Hall Star's basketball game (Time Out Burpees)

3/3/2009 5:39:59 the Q train while going over the Manhattan Bridge

3/4/2009 13:12:26 Camelback Ski Area Tannersville, PA

3/16/2009 11:14:34 Cattyshack dance floor!

3/16/2009 11:15:19 Loki Lounge while one friend threw darts and the other explained my "crazy jumping" to onlookers

3/16/2009 20:44:18 in the bathroom from a customer´s office (im a IT technician)

3/17/2009 16:49:37 In front of a 400 year old tapestry during it's restoration.

3/17/2009 16:53:26 basement

3/17/2009 18:26:12 in a vestibule

3/17/2009 20:57:34 elevator

3/17/2009 23:17:33 bar

3/18/2009 0:13:26 counter top

3/18/2009 1:48:36 University Library... after realising I forgot to do them in the gym 10 minutes before

3/18/2009 7:03:13 At a hotel in Doha, Qatar

3/18/2009 7:21:19 Sheep Station Bar - Brooklyn, NY

3/18/2009 7:21:21 Sheep Station Bar - Brooklyn, NY

3/18/2009 9:53:55 Nanaimo, BC, Canada

3/18/2009 10:16:59 On my honeymoon, I had to do burpees in the airports in Amsterdam, Athens and Detroit.

3/18/2009 16:21:11 trampoline

3/23/2009 6:16:28 at a truck stop

3/30/2009 13:32:02 the "clients and upper management only" meeting room

4/9/2009 11:02:30 Hooters in St. Louis, MO

4/9/2009 11:02:47 The Arch - St. Louis, MO

4/9/2009 11:03:24 The Aneheuser-Busch brewing facility - St. Louis, MO

4/9/2009 11:03:49 Roadside rest area - somewhere in Ohio

4/9/2009 18:25:06 airport parking lot waiting to pick someone up

6/17/2009 20:15:00 public restroom

7/25/2009 5:17:15 on top on Mount Monadnock NH

10/28/2009 15:54:41 Carnival Legend cruise ship

11/11/2009 22:49:12 in the restaurant where i work

3/9/2010 20:50:42 Parking Lot

4/24/2010 12:11:17 on the bed ... haha

4/24/2010 12:13:44 in the lavatory in between my toilet sessions!!

4/24/2010 12:14:19 at a job interview while waiting to be called in for the interview

4/24/2010 12:15:19 inside a meat shop waiting for the meat to be sliced

4/24/2010 12:15:45 while taking a shower!! lol

4/24/2010 12:16:28 on my wedding night before walking the carpet, warms you up like anything

4/24/2010 12:17:25 inside the sauna room, best experience

Burpees in 2010?!

2009-12-21T19:09:00.000-08:00

Thoughts?

40 A Day in the month of May!

2009-05-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this is happening. Dare I even say it? I MISS YOU BURPEES!! I miss the challenge, I miss the benefits and I miss having something to do at work!! I know you were abusive in the past, but I want to give it another go. Maybe we establish new ground rules this time....

Just 40 a day for the month of May! 40 measly burpees. Each day. Just to get my fix.

How do we all feel about this? Is anyone with me?

Today is May 1st. Ready? Go!

Life after burpees...

2009-04-12T17:38:00.000-07:00

...is not something that currently applies to me. Sure, it was nice to wake up on Saturday and think "I can do whatever workout I want! OR not workout at all!" (I was brutally hungover from Friday's celebration so I opted for the latter.) But then, Sunday, I sat down at my parent's kitchen table to enjoy some comfort food and I felt an itch. My body wanted me to do something with it. At first, I told my body to shut up. I was feeding it, wasn't I? Isn't that enough? No, it wanted activity. Too cold to run around the lake, too many dogs to ward off to do planks. Let's be real, my body wanted burpees. And a set of ten it got.

And ten was enough!

Congrats to everyone who participated in the challenge, whether it was until day 20 or until day 100. It was a pleasure undertaking it with you all!

100th Burpee!

2009-04-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

Last 10 of the 100 day Burpee from Joke and Anuj in Amsterdam!

Day 100 and beyond!

2009-04-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yay for day 100! I can't believe it is here. While many of you might stop checking this burpee blog it will continue. I know that I am going to finish the challenge (one week) once I am healed up. I also know that many new people joined us after the posting on lifehacker.com

If anyone new would like to be a contributer to the blog please comment here or email me at u19rugby@gmail.com -- that way we can keep supporting each other!

Also anyone with celebratory videos send them on and I will post them!

Day 100: Congrats from the person who kicked this challenge off but was herself not able to finish!

2009-04-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Burpee-ites,

I never actually wrote in to say that I broke up with with the Burpee Challenge. My wrist couldn't stand the Burpees anymore and they had to be thrown out. It was... gosh, all the way back on Day 50. I fell really hard on my wrist during a basketball game. I thought I'd just take a break for a while and the Burpees and I could work out our differences (of backlogged burpees) when I felt fresh again. Turns out my wrist could no longer stand to coexist with Burpees, or at least the wrist wouldn't really tolerate more than 10 a day. Whatever. Day 100 is not about my sob story. Its to say Thanks & Congrats

1. Thanks for being the kinds of friends who would join a challenge with a friend even though they thought it was nuts.
2. Thanks for proving that communities are hugely important to our individual endeavors and supportive communities are once that carry us farther than we ever thought we could on our own.
3. Thanks to the strangers (strangers no more!) who joined and proved that technology today is enormously capable of bringing people together.
4. Thanks to all for always remaining supportive and never judgmental.
5. Thanks for those who wrote posts and comments. It helped!

Congrats
1. To the few, the proud who gutted it out. You have inspired me beyond words.
2. To those who tried but were deterred by injury. Especially you day 90 plussers. My heart goes out to you. You deserved to finish this challenge.
3. To those who did Burpees Every. Single. Day.
4. To those who actually made up all the Burpees when a day (or days) was skipped.
5. To all the fans and supporters. You made the world a better place by inspiring others to do difficult things.

Love,
Hedwig

DAY 100!

2009-04-10T07:33:00.001-07:00

At long last--it's Day 100!

Congratulations to all burpeers! Do you have a permit for those guns?

(shamelessly stolen from alonzoh on flickr)

99+1/2 just won't do!

2009-04-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is our final day together! For me this is kind of like a first date, I am nervous, excited and scared, and wish it would happen now! Can I start my burpees today? I plan to see you all tomorrow at Professor Thom's, 219 2nd Ave (between 13th & 14th), for the FINAL BURPEE (I am sure closely proceeded by a raucous chorus of Europe’s THE FINAL COUNTDOWN).
We have been through injuries and dispassion, disillusionment, aches and pains on our burpee journey, and coming upon the final day I’m in a retrospective mood.
I remember getting a congratulatory message via facebook on January 1, at 11:47, “Great job on day 1!” Only then, being reminded, I did my one burpee a bit shamefaced, and pat myself on the back.
I lost the thread while in San Diego, did 70 bupees over three days (though I did get roundly mocked for doing drunken burpees at a party with Hoop in front of my teammates). Pretty good for a normal human, but 70/3 is not good enough for the elite company I currently keep.
I’ve showed burpees to my friends, forced them upon my students, tried to explain them to my mom (Is a burpee something that happens to you when you eat too many cherries?). My roommate even commended me on my kinky personal habits from all the thumping and panting he’s heard coming from my room at all hours of the day and night (occasionally burpees related!).
This has been part challenge, part journey. I have better arms and chest, more core strength and more of a gleam in my eye. The muscles I can explain, but the gleam I can’t. It comes from knowing that I have gotten more out of myself over the past 99 days than I knew the challenge would demand, it comes from overcoming the sense of dread I feel before EVERY set of burpees I do (especially when cold!). Also, it comes going to work with all of you bloggers every day; y’all have kept me in it at various points. Thanks for being part of this with me, and I will see you all tomorrow!

Day 99 - Burpees are great

2009-04-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

Since it is day 99 (enter huge smiley face here) and since we are now in the final stretch and the work is that much harder, I figured I'd put a post out to state all of the great things about burpees. We have had PLENTY of posts on why we hate them - but I'm going to restrict comments to this post to ONLY GOOD THINGS...here is what I like about burpees, and the effects from them that I've seen in the last 99 days that I've been doing them:

1. Muscle tone (yeah!)
2. Significant increase strength (arms, shoulders, quads)
3. The ability to walk up the numerous stairs in my subway station without becoming winded
4. Form has become crisper/easier. eg: The jump out, the jump in, the push-up and jump up all actually flow together.
5. Shoulder pain from nagging rugby injury has for the most part subsided
6. Having a consistent (and "never gets old") conversation topic amongst my group of friends
7. Completing something that on the first day, I never thought I would complete. I have this huge sense of accomplishment that I never anticipated having
8. Doing burpees everywhere and getting strange looks for it - I love the list that this group has created!!
9. Having a great wake up call in the morning. After doing 4 sets of ten as soon as I get out of bed, the level of energy I have for the day has increased significantly
10. That they are (almost) OVER!!!!!!!

What do you like/love about burpees??

So close, yet so far away

2009-04-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

If the burpee challenge were a marathon, it'd be safe to say that we are now in the last mile. Unfortunately for me, I hit the proverbial wall on day 97 doing deadlifts at the gym. After way too many exercises, including 150+ burpees, I decided to ignore that tiny little voice in the back of my head and do deadlifts. Next thing I know, I feel that lightnight bolt through my back that those who have back troubles know too well. Dropped the weight, but alas, it was too late.

So now I'm stuck with 297 burpees left to do by friday and a back so stiff and painful I can barely walk. I'm doing my best to ice/naproxen/muscle relax/stretch it and have made progress, but still, that's a lot of burpees to do. To be honest, it's only 257 now because I've managed to inch worm my way through 40 since Wednesday, but considering it takes me 4 mins to do 10, I'm not looking forward to this, at all.

Good luck to all who are still in it. The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight. I'm making it, even if i have to crawl.

Day 98 - post break up

2009-04-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Burpees,

As much as I hate to admit this I have been thinking about you constantly the last five days. I knew it would be hard to end things cleanly, but I did not anticipate the emptiness that your absence would create. Every day I try to go about my daily routine without you and it doesn't feel right. I mean for 92 days you were a huge part of my life - that just doesn't go away.

Little things remind me of you. People still ask about you constantly - and I have to awkwardly explain our break-up. Today I thought about getting back together, but it is just too painful right now. I wish it could be different. Maybe with some more time we can work things out. Until then I am going to take care of myself as it will be a slow healing process.

Rachel

Day 98 - Get ready to Party!

2009-04-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Folks, final stretch! Only 297 burpees remain (for most) between us and the end of the challenge. So, to celebrate the 100th Day, we will be gathering at Professor Thom's in the East Village in NYC for all those in the area who can make it.

PLEASE SAVE YOUR FINAL BURPEE FOR AT THE PARTY!! FINAL BURPEE WILL TAKE PLACE AROUND 8 PM

WHAT: 100 Day Burpee Challenge Finish Celebration
WHEN: Friday, April 10th, 7:30 PM
WHERE: Professor Thom's, 219 2nd Ave (between 13th & 14th)
WHY: You just completed 5050 burpees, or came close, or supported someone who did, or hate burpees and need to drink to wash away your anger, or just because its Friday!

There will also be some fellow challengers and supporters gathering at Professor Thom's for some birthday and going away festivities and then who knows where the night will take us!

For those challengers in other parts of the world - how will you celebrate?

Day 96--Burpee Fame!

2009-04-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

Fellow Burpee-ites (and friends, and fans),

As I perused my google reader tonight before bed, a Cranky Fitness post caught my eye. I won't lie, it was partly because of the big photo of the Slanket (evil cousin of the beloved Snuggie). But imagine my surprise to learn that our challenge was featured in the post!

Check it out!

Apparently I'm an internet temptress. My parents will be so proud...

Day 96 - Burpee Hiatus

2009-04-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

So I sprained my ankle on Saturday. That wasn't cool.
It's healing. I'm taking care of it. I'm not doing burpees, yet.
There are 679 burpees (days 94-100) standing between me and challenge completion. If I start again on Wednesday and do 226 a day (+1), I'll finish.
That'll be fun.

Day 93 - Not looking good

2009-04-03T16:25:00.001-07:00

After struggling through the last few days in pain -- though getting them done -- I decided to go to the doctor this morning.

Last night I took a light run at rugby practice - not doing any contact - and it seemed okay. That I guess wasn't the smartest thing as woke up barely able to move with shooting low back pain that extended into my upper hip. Four 200mg tylenol and ice didn't even put a dent in the pain. Stretching was unproductive. Since this was the 4th day of a lot of pain I knew it was time.

I told the doctor I hurt myself doing burpees. Then asked if she knew what those were. Instead of responding she dropped and did one!

First, they discovered that my resting heart rate was 90. Crazy it is usually in the low 60s. They said that pain will raise it up. After a few basic tests they determined I couldn't leave without x-rays....

So the result is that my pelvis and low back are completely out of alignment because of muscle spasms. I have to rest and take pain killer. She said no burpees (unless I am 100% pain free). If its not better in 10 days its an MRI and orthopedic.

So with exactly a week left to finish I am pretty much out. It is incredibly disappointing considering I've been diligent the whole challenge. The most I've ever carried over was 30 burpees on a weekend where I played two days of rugby. In fact I've only carried burpees over 4 times total. The other 3 days were because I had a neck injury and couldn't get them done in a day.

So to have an injury that takes me out totally blows besides the fact that now I can't play rugby on Sunday.

I'll cheer you all on though -- hoping to be pain free before the end so maybe I can finish....but considering the fact that I can barely walk and can't sit through class without pain...I am not going to get my hopes too high!

Day 93 - 'tude relief

2009-04-03T07:05:00.000-07:00

I was in a terrible mood when I got home last night and the last thing I wanted to do was my remaining 24 burpees. If it had been any other (non-challenge related) exercise, I would have beelined to my bed, pissy mood in tow, and not bothered. Instead, some small, rational part of me understood that waking up with 24 extra burpees of debt would have me in a worse mood the next day. So I burpeed. And I went to bed significantly less grouchy, knowing I'd accomplished something, however small, in the course of the day.

That being said: I'm sick of burpees. I'm sick of doing them with a cautious landing in the morning so I don't wake up the neighbors (even though these neighbors host my nemesis, the evil, loud, and mostly talentless band down the hall, until midnight on weekdays--another issue altogether). I'm sick of doing them in my socks at work so museum-goers below my office don't mistake the thump.. thump.. of burpees for the ghost of my institution's namesake. And I'm sick of the 2 lb. weight-toting girls with their hair down at the gym gawking at me while I turn red, sweat all over everything, and, in my final sets, make noises similar to those of a cow dying in labor.

Maybe that's all talk as a result of the 'tude creeping back in, but knowing that the challenge is over in one week and that future burpees (no, i can't cut them out entirely; yes, i may have an addiction) will be done out of my own desire is a relief.

One week! We can do one more week.

Day 91 - low returns

2009-04-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling through these last few days. I have quite a bit of low back/hip pain, which seems to be better after fully warming up and stretching out. However, that means I am doing sets of 5 fairly slowly concentrating on the push-up and jump at the end. I can't jump my feet all the way up to my hands from plank right now because of the stiffness.

It makes wonder at what point I am not getting any benefit from doing burpees. Over time I've been trying to make sure that each set is quick and dynamic to get the full benefit -- but now with so few days left and so many each day there is a lot at stake missing a day....

I also sometimes wonder that for those of you making up 100s. Does your body truly get any benefit from not building up daily?

At what point is it just to do the challenge? as opposed to fitness benefit?

right now for me I am just trying to finish and then heal...but I am beginning to wonder if the toll these high numbers are having on my body are worth it

Day 90 - In it to finish it??

2009-03-31T05:59:00.000-07:00

Day 1 - 65 participants
Day 30 - 50 participants
Day 62 - 20 participants (based on commenters)
Day 90 - How many are there of us??

Please comment so we know how many of us there are left!!

Only 10 days left - WOOHOO!!

On an up note - I've committed myself to now doing 4 sets of 10 in the morning - what a great start to the day!!

Don't forget - we will be having a burpee party on April 10th here in NYC, we encourage everyone else in the challenge to take a picture/document your Day 100 celebration - please send/post you doing your last burpee and/or your celebration!!

Day 89: Happy Thoughts on a Monday

2009-03-30T05:46:00.001-07:00

So this morning I tried to get to work a bit early. I left early on Friday to get out of town for the weekend so I figured I'd get a mini head start to the week. Well, after waiting for the subway for an unusually long time, a crowded R train approached the station. It was pretty packed as others were waiting, and on top of that, stubborn people would not give up their precious standing space right by the door (most of us know this situation all too well - there's PLENTY of space in the middle of the car, but everyone crowds around the door).

Well I pushed through and got a decent space to stand. I thought to myself, what a great way to start the week - I'm not going to be early anymore, these subway riders are obnoxious, AND I HAVE 89 BURPEES TO DO TODAY!!

Now, I'm sure at this point you are saying "I thought you posted 'Happy Thoughts on a Monday'??" and I did. I made the decision at that moment to not worry about the minor bumps with my subway commute and relish in the positive.

So, here goes:

1. Its a beautiful day (in NY at least)
2. I'm wearing good burpee jeans so I can tackle my burpees throughout the day today
3. JLB and Jayne pushed me through my burpees yesterday and were so supportive - thanks again :)
4. I'm OBSESSED with Passion Pit (I downloaded the whole album) after Kelly posted her awesome burpee video!
5. Next Friday is not only day 100 but a day off for me!
6. I finally made good french press coffee this morning (finally!)
7. Burpee spelled backwards is Eeprub, pronounced "eeeep - rub" ha.
8. I know that I can finish this challenge (even though I'm still in the hole and making them up every day) and SO CAN YOU!!

Enjoy your Monday, folks, and keep on burpeeing!

Day 88 - Burpees, I hate you.

2009-03-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

Today is day 88. Today sucks. I must admit that I like doing burpees on the weekend better than during the week because I have more freedom throughout the day to complete them and don't have to do them in the bathroom at my office. The way that I'm getting through day 88 is to do them in sets of 5 while watching March Madness. TV timeouts, player interviews and half times are great opportunities to crank out sets of 5 or 10.

This challenge is almost done and I CANNOT wait for it to be over. I must admit that I'm so happy that there are still other people in this challenge with me and that there are people who are no longer in the challenge who are still supporting us...

April 10th - here we come!!

Frustration of a Different sort...

2009-03-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

So...some of you might want to smack me after this post - but I just want to share some frustrations from the other side...
I am SO DAMN FRUSTRATED that i can't be SUFFERING with all of you still in this challenge! I know that sounds crazy, but it is really how I feel. I know burpees stink. I know they are hard. I know they are killing your arms, legs, backs, wrists...name it and I bet someone in this challenge is having difficulty with it. I know they are time consuming, and I know that they are creating anxiety for a lot of you. And so you would think, that any normal person, knowing all the difficulty that everyone is having with them, might be a bit happy to not have to do burpees. Might be a bit happy to be let off the hook and have a "free excuse" to walk away.

But not me.
No.
I want to be a part of the challenge. I want to feel the pain. I want to have the chance to prove that I can do it.

And I am in no way writing this as a "poor Hobs" post or a "feel bad for me" thing. I am not looking for sympathy, I am simply venting my own frustrations.
I know several people have been forced to quit this challenge due to injury and I can't speak for all of them here, but from my perspective it is extremely maddening to not be able to continue. To not have the chance to prove whether or not I could complete the challenge. The competitor in myself is ticked! If I had gotten injured from the burpees then I just might be able to let it go and say to myself that my body couldn't handle the challenge and the burpees won. Maybe that would have worked... :) However, getting injured through a different means has only added to my frustration as I feel like I will never know if I would have made it. I would like to believe I could tough it out...but I really would have liked the chance to prove it.
And sure - when I am better I could start over again, or I could even start from day 55, where I left off. But I won't be doing it with all of you. I am a team player. And there has been post after post after post stating how meaningful and important the group dynamic has been in all of this. I signed up to be challenged with everyone...I really am not sure I would be tough enough to do it alone.
I guess along with me venting my frustration I am also writing to admit that I am out. I am done. I will not be able to finish the challenge with the rest of you. And I am damn pissed about it.
I do wish you all luck, and I will be cheering with you all along the way. :)
Beat the damn burpees.

Day 86 - Frustrated

2009-03-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

Somehow, between work, rugby practice, basketball playoffs, and god knows what else, I managed to do only 35 burpees yesterday. When I woke up this morning, it was to sun, birds chirping, and 136 burpees that cast a cloud over the spring weather.
While I did 26 this morning, I have no idea where I'm going to fit the rest in, as today is fairly unconducive to burpees. My office is busy, I'm wearing a shirt that isn't burpee friendly, I'm forgoing the gym, where I do most of my burpees, to see a friend after work. Tomorrow our team has a big rugby tournament, so it's going to be a struggle just to do Saturday's burpees between games and then Sunday's burpees with extreme muscle soreness. If I don't catch up today and then for some reason have to roll over Saturday and Sunday, that's 374 burpees by Monday! CRAP!
I'll make every attempt to have a clean burpee slate by the end of the day, but at this point I doubt that's going to happen. A severe case of burpee anxiety is overtaking me. How did I let this happen?! Dumb! Dumb, dumb, dumb....

Day 84 Video Inspiration

2009-03-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks Kelly for sending this inspirational and professional video of a set of 20 from yesterday!! Kelly joined the challenge through the rugby grapevine, linked this blog to lifehacker.com and loves this challenge!

Nice form Kelly! Send your video to u19rugby@gmail.com

Day 83: We're breaking up!!

2009-03-24T10:27:00.001-07:00

I hate you right now. I feel like you have taken over my life and my body and my mind. You are a life-sucking alien that is out to get me. Slowly but surely. I'm losing interest in working out because of you; you leave me bruised and battered.

I made a "PROS" and "CONS" list to see if we should stay together.

PROS
1. You give me great arms
2. You give me better core strength
3. We can do it anywhere
4. You increase my heart rate and cardiovascular health
5. Rugby teaches this well, but you're teaching me a new tolerance for pain

CONS
1. You hurt my shoulders
2. I am constantly worrying about you
3. You hurt my hip flexors
4. I have given up other workouts for you
5. We've done it in places we probably shouldn't (subway floor!??!)
6. I have rescheduled my life for you
7. You are emotionally abusive
8. You are physically abusive
9. I think you are cheating on me with many other men AND women
10. You don't cook or clean or tell me I look beautiful after we've done it

As of April 10th, we're through!!

Day 81

2009-03-22T18:23:00.001-07:00

Day 81. 9:23 pm. And I still have 75 burpees to do.

I'm tired. I'm full. My abs are still sore from Friday.

Around this time yesterday, I was down 60 burpees. And I was tired. And sore.

And I burpeed.

If I did it yesterday, I can do it today.

I can do it for 19 more days.

Day 78 video inspiration

2009-03-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

Joke got inspired by my video post the other day and did her own. She has been doing the challenge since Day 1 (Jan 1) from Amsterdam with her husband Anuj and friend Tom. As far as I can tell from her comments none of them have gotten too far behind!

This was both of our first time EVER posting a video to youtube. If you are inspired to do your own set of 10 send me the link at u19rugby@gmail.com

A day in the life of a burpee addict

2009-03-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
I am so excited to be part of the new enthusiasm around the burpee challenge! I am about 30 behind in the grand scheme, and think I might get current (or closer) today.
With all the discussion of what this challenge is and how we survive and are we crazy etc, I thought I'd give a sidelong view into my burpee day.
7:00 AM, WNYC on my alarm; get up, regret my decisions.
7:15, set of 15 burpees, a moment to get in touch with my body. Feel the physical aches and pains from practice last night, the psychic aches and pains of being human.
7:30 breakfast is cooling, another set of 15 burpees. Now that I am waking up, I am start to remember why I love this challenge; I get to be in touch with my body at all moments of the day. My frontal quad and pecs are sore, and I love that. I feel stronger for being sore, and healthier for having committed to this.
7:50 one set of ten before I leave the house, heading to the train with almost a full work out done.
8:10 Awkward stares from downstairs neighbors who I pass on the way to the train, their eyes ask "Who or What are you doing up there?" My smug reply, "If I told you I'd have to invite you, and this is mine. See you in the blogosphere, losers."
Throughout the day, I'll do a set of ten burpees in-between periods at the school where I teach. "Mr. Diesel is doing the farting thing again." "When you gonna stop that and join a gym?" etc. Love the high school kids.
4:00 pm, get home, finish off with a few sets of ten in between emails and other paperwork. By practice time, I am already fully in touch with my body and have revved up my muscles, not to mention have something to be proud of. Insofar as this is instructive, I enjoy burpees not only because of the challenge, but they also get me in touch with the best gift I can give myself, health and fitness.
I hope you find the time to do a set of 10-20 burpees today and experience the joy and regret we have all become intimate with!

Michelle Obama does burpees

2009-03-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Albeit, "no-jump" burpees....but burpees nonetheless. Do I believe this website, I'm not sure...I think they are just trying to sell their arm workout. However, if Michelle Obama does actually do burpees, I think the whole world is seeing their effect.

http://flabfreearms.blogspot.com/2009/02/michelle-obamas-arms-workout.html

Day 77 - comments from lifehacker

2009-03-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

It's exciting to have lots of visitors and more commenters on this blog! All motivation helps at this point. Please continue to comment!!

I also wanted to address the question that someone in the comments yesterday raised about why we'd do this challenge in the first place. Here is there comment:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Half Way Point!!! - Day 71":
"I caught this from lifehacker.com and I feel compelled to comment. I don't quite understand the challenge and I don't understand why you would put such stress on your body. Working out is a key function of a healthy life style. However, doing so in a manner that allows for no real rest is just a bad idea. What will you do at the end of it? It'll probably take some time for your body to heal... anyway, maybe I just don't understand, but I think the best results with a workout come from rest. Resting is where all the 'magic' happens and your fitness increases and your muscles strengthen. That's all, don't mean to rain on your parade. I just hope you don't cause yourself permanent damage to your wrists or backs or other areas you're over stressing."
Posted by Anonymous to The 2009 One Hundred Day Burpee Challenge at March 17, 2009 9:39 PM

I don't actually have the answer that addresses all the fitness parts of this because sometime I ask myself the same thing and maybe someone else (ahem, Hedwig) will do a full post on this.

However....why do people do any endurance fitness challenge? run marathons? hike the Appalachian trail? Free Dive? Climb Mt. Everest?

I think its a combination of mental and physical challenge. Also most people (that I know of) that entered this challenge are athletes and workout in some way on a regular basis. Part of being an athlete is being in tune with your body's needs. You certainly can't complete your goal if you injure yourself or deplete all your resources. From what I know of the challengers we are all being pretty smart about it. Taking a day off (and making it up later) when we need to, breaking it into smaller sets, modifying for injury or taking certain parts slow.

If you are starting this challenge and need advice on how to get through this safely please read through our old posts as there are lots of suggestions that we have shared along the way and also ask anything in the comments!

I know for me that I complain that my low back is cranky and sore. Well to tell the whole story it is cranky and sore because I have terrible posture (which I am trying to help by sitting on a swiss ball at my desk). This challenge is strengthening my core and helping align my spine and pelvis -- this causes some soreness. I counter it with lots of yoga & these days I am doing sets of 10 throughout the day because I can't handle one sitting.

Day 77 - Burpee Benefits

2009-03-18T06:38:00.001-07:00

Though this was discussed somewhat by Rachel in the Day 76 comments, I think this topic warrants its own post.

I do my burpees in sets of ten to twenty throughout the day, rather than trying to bang out the entire total in one sitting. While I'd definitely see more cardiovascular improvement if I did them all at once, I'm still getting serious benefits. The muscles in my arms, abs, and shoulders are more defined. My pull ups are improving drastically. I'm able to bench press more weight than I was when I first started, even though I trained in the gym regularly before the challenge. Also, at rugby practice yesterday we did a drill where we sprinted to the edge of the field, hit the deck, and got back up and sprinted back. The sprinting part still wasn't so fun, but I'm getting off the ground much faster and with (seemingly) less effort than I have in past seasons.

So ultimately, though the burpee challenge may be labor-intensive and neurosis-inducing, it produces results. How is everyone else feeling? Any noticeable/interesting/unexpected burpee benefits (or detriments)?

Day 76 - Big Pimpin'

2009-03-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kelly, we have many new friends from lifehacker.com! Welcome! (For anyone confused, read yesterday's comments)

Today is Day 76 for us, meaning 76 burpees today, 77 tomorrow.... But today can be day 1 for anyone.

Do we have any new burpee challengers who are going to start their own? What are your goals? Do you have friends you can burpee with? Let us know!!

Frankie, I am going to add to your post:
I've been meaning to put this video clip up - and since we have new people in the challenge today is a good day for that. This video is from Day 60 when I did a timed challenge (meaning no rest between sets). I wanted to see how my form fell apart. The whole thing took me 5 min 50sec - but this clip is just 10 somewhere in the beginning and already I creak back into my squat.

If other people have video clips and aren't a contributor send them to me (Rachel) at u19rugby@gmail.com to be posted!

Day 75

2009-03-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Three quarters of the way there, at least time wise! I'm currently in the process of catching up for most of yesterday and today (80 down, 60 to go). Right elbow is a bit sore in the pushup, something that isn't helped by sleeping with my arm bent over my head, but so far it's just a minor annoyance.

Also, I'd like to commend Sarah Litt for doing burpees in the back of the Budget moving truck yesterday.

Happy burpee-ing!

Half Way Point!!! - Day 71

2009-03-12T06:02:00.000-07:00

Hello all...I just finished my third set of today - which means since January 1, I've completed 2525 burpees...exactly half of the total number of burpees that we will do by April 10th. If you think about it, today is a HUGE accomplishment. I'm still doing all of them every day. I've been playing sports/been active my whole life. I constantly figure how "how much do I have left?". When running, I say to myself - I have done 75%, only 25% left. In a rugby match, I break the minutes down into quarters or eighths even. Now that we are 71% done with the days and 50% done with the burpees, I'm feeling accomplished.

PS: Is anyone else's lower back starting to hurt??

30 days and counting!

2009-03-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

APRIL 10th is the big day. Day 100. 30 days away!

SAVE THE DATE!

WHAT: Burpee Celebration (and final chance to get em' done!)
WHERE: TBD
WHEN: Friday, April 10, Time TBD
WHY: Come on, do I really need to go there? A celebration to pat ourselves and each other on the back for completing this grueling challenge!

Any suggestions as to a location? As the majority of burpeers are in the NYC area, I'm suggesting a NYC/BK location. Obviously, everyone is encouraged and welcome to join!

Day 70 - Why burpee?

2009-03-11T08:47:00.001-07:00

Rachel's post made me wonder: Why did I start burpee-ing? And why do I continue to do so?

Besides the appeal of taking on a challenge with a group of my friends and teammates, I started because I really hated burpees. A workout philosophy that I picked up from Kelly McMahon is that the harder something is, the more often you should do it. I think edging towards a total of 5050 burpees within 100 days qualifies as "often." And unlike trying to take yoga classes multiple times a week, burpees required no financial investment and a minimal (or so I thought) time investment. I also underestimated how much burpee catch-up days would suck and the toll burpee-ing takes on the body in conjunction with a workout; in light of these details I still would have joined the challenge, but probably with much less enthusiasm.

I continue to burpee for a few reasons. Burpees have become part of my routine. I'm kind of starting to enjoy them now that I'm getting better at them. (OK, maybe "enjoy" is the wrong word. Or maybe I just enjoy the feeling of them being completed.) Post-challenge, they'll be working their way into my warmups and workouts, though probably in maximum quantities of 50.

Mostly, though, I continue because I decided in the beginning that the only way out was to finish on Day 100. I have enough time to burpee, since I'm lucky to have coworkers, roommates, and teammates that think nothing of me dropping to the ground and pushing out a burpee or ten, regardless of the setting. My body is healthy enough and physically capable of finishing, though sometimes it tries very hard to convince me otherwise. And, while people have dropped since day 1, there are still 20+ other people doing burpees, too. I have more reasons to continue burpee-ing than I have reasons to quit.

Plus I'd be plain pissed at myself if I stopped now. 30 more days of burpees are worth the satisfaction (and the massive reward cupcake) on day 100.

Day 69 Burpees are making me crazy

2009-03-10T12:03:00.001-07:00

This challenge is offically making me crazy and neurotic. I can't stop thinking about burpees - especially now that I am running a deficit. I talk about them all the time. I blog about them all the time! I worry about getting them done. I am doing them in short sets right now because my body is still so sore. Therefore I feel like I am doing them all the time. I constantly wonder how I even got involved in this crazy challenge, especially as people drop out left and right.

I need burpee therapy.

Day 66 & 67

2009-03-08T17:28:00.001-07:00

This weekend has proved to be stressful on the burpee front, but all in all it's worked out pretty well. Yesterday we (Belmont Shore) had 4 (yes FOUR) rugby games. I found that burpees are a great way to stay warm while waiting to go in. So I did them throughout the day and ended up with just 10 to do at the end of the night. I banged those out before my ice bath and started today with no rollovers.

This morning at 10 am we played Berkley in the semi-final (30 min halves). I couldn't bring myself to do any pre-game burpees. I played the entire game and feel pretty banged up now. My entire left arm hurts and I have a huge bruise on the top of my foot and ankle. Since the game ended I've done 22 - every single one of them hurts a lot so I plan on carrying over into tomorrow. It will be the first rollover burpees I've had, but I think at this point it is better for my body.

day 65

2009-03-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

It is way harder to do 65 burpees when you are sore from rugby practice. I am trying to figure out a good strategy for getting through the weekend without having to make up too many. I am thinking that I'll do 10 (which is easy at this point) for warm up for each game and then do whatever I can at the end of the day leaving the rest as make up. I am nervous as I haven't had to keep track of owed burpees before....

Day 63

2009-03-04T11:18:00.001-08:00

2016. That's how many burpees we've done so far, though the number may be a little lower for those who have some in the bank. (I caught up on 177 yesterday, but still owe 50 of today's 63.)
2016 is a big number.
If burpees were inches, that would be 168 feet.
If they were years, starting at 0 a.d., we'd be anticipating the next batch of the summer olympics (maybe with sevens rugby involved!)
If they were grains of sand....well... that probably wouldn't be that impressive.
If you did one of these burpees a minute, it would take you 33 hours and 36 minutes to complete them.
If they were miles, they'd get you from LA to Chicago, or from New York to Albuquerque.

Bottom line: That's a lot of burpees. 37 days (and a bunch more burpees) left.

Keep it up/make it up/heal up so you can come back!

Day 62: How many of are still in the challenge

2009-03-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

Probably should have done this at day 60 since that would have been 30 days after our first check in. At Day 30 there were 52 people who left a comment that they were still in the challenge - and a few on facebook who couldn't get on the blog for some reason. There are still over 200 people in the facebook group, but many never started the challenge.

So if you are still in the challenge leave a shout in the comment section - feel free to include where you are from, how many burpees you are in debt, etc.

Day 61: The Plan

2009-03-02T03:46:00.000-08:00

So, I am one of those unfortunates with 100's of banked burpees. This weekend, as I saw them keep piling up, I had to make a plan. I REALLY want to make it to the end of this challenge. My wrist is actually injured and I am trying to rest it to complete healing before I strain it with burpees.
So, yesterday, I did some calculations. If I rest my wrist for 5 more days I will be down... 807 burpees. That seems like an astronomical number. Rather than have an entire day where I try to make up tons and tons of them and have my arms and legs turn into jello puddin' I thought, what if I spread them out over the remaining days? So, I rejoin on day 65. I have 35 days left of the challenge to complete all my burpees. I have 807 to make up. 807 divided by 35 is 23. 23 additional burpees every day. So, on day 65, I hope to come in with 88 burpees, which will be plenty challenging but then I just have to bump it up to 89, 90 and so on.
THAT is the plan. I hope my wrist is up to it. It will be a huge accomplishment if I do it so please help keep me in it. For those of you who have never missed a day, I confess, you are my true idols.

Day 60--The best laid plans...

2009-03-01T16:32:00.001-08:00

Last week, while brainstorming ideas for what to give up during Lent, I came up with the idea of giving up banking burpees. No more would I add to that large number I owe to the burpee gods! I was very excited about this plan, as my burpee bank was in the red by 451 at that point.

I hoped to use this plan to not only complete my daily burpees, but to begin to repay my burpee debts, and this weekend seemed the perfect starting point, as a few other burpee challengers and I were at a rugby coaching clinic. Our early attempts to surreptitiously complete sets of 10-15 burpees after practical gym sessions and to warm up for tackling drills became more noticeable after we explained the burpee challenge to a few other coaches; people began cheering for us to perform sets of 10 at the post-clinic social on Saturday night, and even began rating our form!

It was a great weekend for burpeeing--we even convinced two other coaches to start their own challenge as of today, March 1st--until the last practical coaching session today. During a fun game of Jackpot, I jumped up to catch the ball and landed funny on my ankle, spraining my left foot. I was disappointed, not only because I missed the rest of the session, but because I'd only completed 30 of today's 60 burpees! Only 5 days into Lent and I've missed my goal already. It looks like ice, advil, and more banked burpees are in my future. So...do I need to pick a new challenge for Lent?

Day 60 from California. ARGH!!

2009-03-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

After procrastinating by stretching for a good 20 minutes I did my 60 timed burpees. It sucked I took a breather at 30 and at 50, however still managed 5.45. This is only 25 seconds more than my 50 time. I think I was much faster in the beginning. My pushups from 40-50 weren't full, but my form held the rest of the time.

Anyone else time today?

Could Be Worse...I Guess

2009-02-27T04:47:00.000-08:00

Now that I have slid from perfect, daily-bread burpee citizen to less-than-perfect, binge-and-purge, perpetually-playing-catch-up delinquent, motivation has become a serious issue. If I dare say, almost an art. And while you all provide me with a bottomless well of positive support - doing burpees with me at basketball, practice and even virtually over gchat, I realized a long time ago that, for me, a little negativity goes a long way. (This became painfully obvious when I used to ask my dad to come to my soccer games and yell "you suck" and other discouragements at me from the sidelines). Through countless teammate interventions during HS and more than a few dirty looks on the rugby pitch, I now understand that most women, and men, but especially women, respond much better to Hob's brand of encouragement than my Hobbesian (nasty, brutish and short) philosophy. Thus, I will refrain from that type of thing on this forum.

However, fellow burpee-ites, I will not let you off that easily. Instead I, plan to pick on your American insecurities and post photos from my time in Vietnam, and tell you how much worse things could be. Without further ado...

Photo of my guesthouse in Ho Chi Minh City. See that small space between the beds? Yea? That's where I had to do my burpees and other workouts since there aren't fancy gyms or even many parks in HCMC. Oh and look how small that TV is and how hideous that green. Life is really hard there, I can't believe I survived.

And look at the view out the window. How did I even muster the courage to go outside? I mean there used to be warplanes in that very sky! (Mom, for the last time, the war is OVER!)

And just look at those floating houses behind the floating bodega! Clearly, the floating grocery woman gets her exercise from rowing, but what about the others? Do you think they have the luxury of being able to do burpees? I mean can you imagine all the upset stomachs and complaints from other floating villagers about the mini tidal waves? Anyway, instead of complaining, maybe you should just be thankful you have solid ground to burpee on!

The word for the day: KUDOS

2009-02-26T16:33:00.000-08:00

Hi! I have several shout-outs to give to burpee challengers!

#1 - KUDOS to anyone who has ever fallen behind in their burpees and either caught up or is still working to and has not given up! You all rock! I fell behind when I was sick and found out that catching up is TOUGH! Especially now that the burpee numbers are getting so high... But it wasn't until i was behind and had to experience the challenge of catching up that i realized how difficult it really is to be in that situation. so KUDOS to all of you that get behind and DON"T GIVE UP!

#2 - That being said, even more KUDOS to everyone in this challenge that hasn't ever fallen behind!!! THAT is awesome! I am curious - how many of you are out there? If you are one of those amazing people that hasn't missed a day since January 1st will you write in and let us know? I am impressed by you and your dedication!

#3 - KUDOS to everyone that is trying to do this without any direct support network. I could NEVER have gotten this far without the support of others...without the texts, emails or blogs.- it would not have happened. Reading Katie Mac's blog about pulling out made me realize how important it really is and how lucky I am to have it. A short story... When I was home recently my mom was all over my case about not taking my vitamins on a daily basis. She finally said "well - i just don't understand how you can manage to do all those burpees on a daily basis but yet not manage to take vitamins." I promptly told her that if there were people texting me and emailing me on a daily basis about taking my vitamins...if there was a blog where i could express my own experiences and read about others' experiences taking vitamins...if there were people saying "i'll wait" every day until i finished swallowing those vitamins - i am SURE that i would have no problem taking my vitamins on a daily basis! Saying that out loud to her really made me realize how important all of the support is! So KUDOS to those of you that have made it that far without it. I am extremely impressed by you! (btw...start looking for a new blog about taking vitamins as i'm sure my mother is home creating one right now... :) )

For those of you that don't have a direct support network and feel like you need some more feel free to give a shout out to get it. We are here! we can text...we can email...we can blog...we can get through this! i have no problem "waiting" while you finish your burpees for the day! :)

KUDOS to all...
still in it or not...
kudos to all :)

Day 57: Making Them Harder Makes It Easier

2009-02-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

Since the numbers have increased and my number in the hole has remained pretty high (I'm now down to 90 in the hole - almost a record low!) I've found that the harder I make doing them (7 rounds of set of 10 with another exercise in between, or sets of 25 for time) the more I am getting out of them and the easier it is to knock off larger numbers.

I still enjoy doing 5 here or 10 there to keep knocking them off, but weaving 50 or so into my workout for the day has been helping me. And leaves me looking like this.

Day 55: Injured and racking up the make-up burpees

2009-02-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

I hurt my wrist last week Thursday, while losing a basketball game to some 8th graders :). A wrist injury is kind of hard to work through for Burpees because you're catching yourself and bending it back all the time. Someone told me to go ahead and use dumbells for the pushup part so that I don't bend my wrists but that would actually involve me going to the gym! The beauty of burpees to me is that I could exercise outside of the gym. Still, I'm only now going to calculate the damage: I was down 29 burpees, last Thursday was day 50, Today is day 54.
29+50+51+52+53+54 - 2 (I tried to demo two burpees in two separate cases)=257. Good lord. I better get to the gym. I have to say, though, that having been in the hole before, I am confident I can get out. I am NOT giving up.

Day 54

2009-02-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

It's Day 54 and, excluding my burpees for the present day, I've hacked my owed total down to 100. Rather than doing sets of 10, which is my normal burpee routine, I've been doing sets of 11 for my owed burpees. Having 9 remaining as opposed to 10 seems just a little bit easier, and then I'm motivated to finish them up so I have a nice round (and easy to remember) number left.
Keep it up, everybody! Only 46 days left!

Not just Down…I’m Out.

2009-02-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I put in a request to be removed as an contributor here ….as I was no longer in the challenge. The response came back that I should blog about quitting ….because I couldn’t just leave silently out the backdoor.

To be honest, I’ve held off because I feel like that would be a total downer here – when there is and needs to be so much more motivation and positivity. I certainly don’t want to take anyone out with me….. And then there was a few brief moments where I thought I could stage a comeback…I was mistaken. 1004 is a big number…..and so… ladies and gents…. here we go…..

There are lots of specific reasons I could give you as to why I am no longer burpee-ing, non of them are good ones, I assure you. Instead I will tell you what I think one needs to complete this challenge…and it’s not time, it’s not strength, it’s not socks or a place to do burpees. Two very basic things …and you don’t necessarily need them both I guess...…but they are internal motivation and external support.

At the bottom of one of our friend’s email’s there is a tag that reads – The body will go wherever the mind takes it. In my case, my mind has taken me to work, to bed and maybe a few times to the bar. It has not taken me to burpee, nor to any other type of exercise in the past two months.

The other…the support part…well, I do not live or work with or near anyone else in the challenge… To those of you Burpee-ing alone around the world with no friends in the challenege…this seems like a very lame excuse…but then you clearly have more of #1 than I. I would do better if there was someone to burpee with…it became apparent to me this weekend, when Hedwig took me with her for 5 sets of 10. It was all #2!

So, it’s not that I can’t Burpee…it’s just that I won’t. And while it’s never easy to admit being a quitter, I wanted to let you all know that I respectfully excuse myself from the burpee table.

I applaud you for continuing and being so steadfast in your challenge. You are inspiring!

Burpee Burnout

2009-02-20T06:48:00.000-08:00

It's day 51 and my body is burpeed out. I'm still in the challenge, but after slacking in San Diego and then trying to make up and keep up and lift and do cardio this week, my body refused to burpee at a decent rate yesterday (I'll be timing my 50 upon recovery) and it didn't want to burpee at all this morning. My chest is sore, my back hurts, and my hips are tight, all of which are my own fault for being a bit overzealous at the gym. Part of me thinks I should just push through so I don't fall further behind, since as of today I owe 130 burpees. But my body is clearly unhappy with me and I'm concerned that pushing it now will mean increasing the amount of recovery time I need (and now that we're in the big numbers, that means tacking on 100, 200 burpees). Is anyone else too beat to burpee? Has anyone pushed their extremely grumpy bodies forth into burpees without irreparably damaging themselves? What's the difference between a yam and a sweet potato?

Day 50 Challenge

2009-02-19T08:42:00.000-08:00

Can you believe we are at DAY 5-0!?

If you want the extra challenge time your 50 burpees and report in the comments how it went!

still in it

2009-02-18T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hello all...I'm still in it, FOR SURE!! I've maintained doing all of mine every day (broken down into sets of 10). I was talking with another burpee participant last night and we both decided that if we fall behind, there is no way we could make them up. Surprisingly, I even maintained my burpees while spending 4 days in Las Vegas!! I've added a few places to the list of where I've done my burpees. I will try to be better at blogging as well.

Not sure if I will do the timed challenge tomorrow - I don't think I can, but I will do all fifty!!

Day 49 from California

2009-02-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

The last two days my burpees have really sucked. I feel tired the whole time and they are not as dynamic. I am really forcing myself to do them and taking more breaks than usual. I am trying to never miss a day as I saw friends trying to make them up and they were burpeeing all day long. Tomorrow's Day 50 timed challenge is going to be very difficult.

Several of the other bloggers have fallen off the challenge or are in the process of falling off. SO less of us to contribute - those contributors who are still going please try to get on and blog every week. AND if you haven't been a blog contributor, but would like to post your burpee stories here every once and awhile please email me at u19rugby@gmail.com.

My legs, my legs!

2009-02-16T11:21:00.000-08:00

As the numbers have grown in our burpee challenge, I have noticed a few things. My arms and shoulders seem to hold up pretty well, it is my legs that start to ache. How do you think you would feel if you did them like this?

Yikes.

Also, I seem to hit my wall of "perfect" burpees at around 15, so I stop and rest. I want to get full benefit from each and every one, and it doesn't make too much sense to do a bunch of half assed ones.

slackers

2009-02-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

We have been slacking on the blog posting. I think mostly because a lot of the rugby players participating are out in San Diego for the USA 7s (usasevens.com). This is great for me because I am now surrounded by people who are in the challenge and doing burpees. There is a lot of catching up happening around here - so at any given moment at the field or at the bar someone drops and does a burpee.

While it would be fun to do my daily burpees with a group I am sticking to doing them all first thing in the morning. 45 was rough today.

(frankie, on the other hand, is one of the "slackers" and has 10 left for today - plus 60 back burpees that will be done throughout the weekend with friends!)

A burpee, by any other name...

2009-02-11T07:10:00.001-08:00

When I explained to my roommate that I was doing the burpee challenge, her response was "What's a burpee? It sounds gross." Since then, I've had the same reaction from two others. It really isn't the most pleasant sounding word, which made me wonder if there were any nicer names for it. At the gym, after demonstrating a burpee for my lifting buddy, his response was, "Oh, you mean a squat thrust with a jump." Then, the other day, I was speaking with my mom on the phone and she asked, "So are you still doing your burples?" Rachel noted in an earlier post that her friend refers to them as "Thunk, thunk, pant pant pant, thunk." While none of these have the same ring as "burpee," which I've finally come to appreciate and accept as the true name for the exercise, I'm interested in how many alternate names a burpee could have.
Even on this blog there is a differentiation in spelling, burpee vs burpie, and I've seen it spelled burpy in other places. Has anyone heard, or come up with, any new names for our loved (or loathed) pasttime?

Burce Willis, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood are doing Burpees in a bar...

2009-02-11T06:56:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone_
It's day 42!
If your burpee journey were an action movie, what would the title be?
Mine is The Bad, The Worse and The Sloppy.
Thoughts?

Day 50 Challenge Anyone?

2009-02-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

I was talking with some fellow burpeers yesterday and present a challenge for anyone interested. Dan R seems to have already taken the challenge, buying in with 820 burpees and doing sets of 50 at a time! (Crazy!!!)

The Challenge: On day 50, do all 50 burpees at once, as fast as you can, and time it. Make this your workout for the day, or part of it, etc. See how fast you can crank through them. I will post the challenge on day 50 and you should add your time to the comments. Even if it takes you longer than you thought, try it! We will repeat the challenge at days 75 and 100 to see if you can improve your overall time! Nothing like adding a challenge to a challenge!

Who's in?

Hardcore, Serious Business

2009-02-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

Day 40.
Guys, this is flying by for me. I took this as sort of a lark, something that would add fun to my workouts, to see if I could survive etc, but now this is reaching Daft Punk proportions in my life (IE I have to put on a dedicated Daft Punk song when it is burpee time. Harder, Better, Faster STRONGER).
Now that we are in the HSB (Hardcore Serious Business) phase of the challenge, I wanted to share this thought;
Those who were going to drop out by now have. Because we are mostly athletes in this Burpee Community, I believe the harder the challenge becomes, the more motivate we are. I am super excited for the remaining 60 days! Thank you allowing me to be part of this with you all.
Lastly, are any of you still doing this continuously?

Day 39: Only 100 in the hole

2009-02-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

I'm back from a week of intensive school time in Cleveland. I went there with 126 burpees down I caught up a little, but essentially came out of there with 126 down.
So, today I started catching up. Did 75 post basketball game with fellow burpee-ites. So, now I'm only down 100!! I vow to catch up by the end of the week. I think its incredible that my body is already capable of doing 75 decent burpees in a relatively short amount of time, though my arms are still trembling an hour and half later and I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow.
Hang in there everyone!!!

from my inbox!!

2009-02-07T12:40:00.000-08:00

Another fun inspirational email from a fellow-burpee challenger

i tried to quit the burpee challenge but i could not

Thanks for maintaining this blog. Last week I was hit with cold/flu type thing-my body was worn down and all my training caught up to me I think- and I basically said to myself, 'forget it, I can live with out the burpees'. On 1/26 I went to a U19 coaches meeting and although people were burpee'ing here and there. I mentioned that I stopped doing the challenge and was pleased with my decision.

No joke, Monday morning I went to the gym, ignored the burpees.

Tuesday I bucked up and assessed the damage: 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. 141 in all.

I did a Colgan lift and started banging them out in between my sets, 66 by the end of the work out. Tuesday night I had a sports conditioning class-I was able to turn the thrusters into 10 burpees (why not, right?). Checked 90 off the list.

More catch up burpees on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday plus 27, 28, 29. So, long story short, thus far I can't even quit at quitting. It's day 30 and while I'm not caught up I'm only about a day off and still have another gym session where I hope to finish up tonight.

Day 37 from California

2009-02-06T08:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who is still leaving a comment that they are still in the challenge on Day 30 - we have counted well over 50 people - AMAZING!!

Yesterday 36 felt like a lot. I am still doing all of my Burpees all at once in the morning as opposed to breaking them into sets throughout the day. Today I decided to count differently though. I did the first 20 (which now seem easy!) quickly. Then I paused for a few seconds and started over with my counting thinking of it as a set of 10 - which weirdly worked in tricking my mind into thinking 10 is easy. The last 7 still sucked regardless of how I counted them.

I am really excited that in the beginning I could only do 5 full pushups and now I am doing 30 full pushups!!

Someone asked me yesterday if I was just going to stop when I got to 100....right now I can't really imagine 100, but I also can't imagine not starting my day out with burpees!!

Day 35 - Broomball Burpees

2009-02-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

These pics are from last week's post broomball game burpee bash. Hoop (still with helmet on - burpees can be dangerous!), Hobs, Buss, Slitty and myself in the foreground did the remainder of our day 28 burpees outdoors after our game. We may have lost the game, but we were all burpee winners (wow, can anyone smell cheese?)

Tonight will be day 35 burpees - for me at least split up into pregame and then post game burpees!

Day 34: Burpees with my MPODS

2009-02-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

I'm in Cleveland, Ohio, working on my master's program. Its called an MPOD because its a Master's in Positive Organizational Development, a mouthful, and that's why we call it MPOD for short. People who are in the MPOD program? MPODS.
I was down 120 burpees when I got here due to an unfortunate run in with a flu virus for a couple of days. Now I'm in class from 9 to 6, every day. What better way to stay energized than do some burpees throughout the day? However, I didn't want to completely alienate my fellow students and decided to adopt the same strategy as when I embarked on this challenge: recruit support! I have sold burpees to the class as a fun (and funny) activity to do on breaks. Also, I told them that I could really use their help. If they ask me to do a burpee with them, I'll do more.
End result: I've done all my burpees for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (the 3 days I've been in class) and I've caught up on 59 more than that. Also at least 12 out of 42 MPODS have also gotten some healthy exercise. Yeah yah!!

Keep Checking in on Day 30

2009-02-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

According to the comments there are over 52 people doing burpees around the world (Belgium and Shanghai) and all over the USA. Bunches of rugby players but lots of non-rugby players too! I think there are lots of people participating out there that haven't had a chance to comment yet - so if you haven't left a comment on Day 30 please do! We are proud you've made it this far and I know I feel better knowing that there are so many other people struggling through as well!

A friend described my burpees this weekend as "Thunk, thunk, pant pant pant, thunk"

Day 31 & Day 32

2009-02-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

I guess Super Bowl weekend got in the way of any posting! But, at least for me, it was a burpee weekend. I cranked out day 31 and 32 burpees + the remaining 80 i had to make up. I'm all caught up!

I just read through all the comments from Friday's post - I didn't have any idea there were SO many people involved! We all made it to Day 30, now lets keep each other going as we get to days 40, 50, 60....

Lastly, a picture of Slitty (this is back from Day 11) doing some outdoor burpees!

HOW MANY OF US ARE THERE ON DAY 30

2009-01-30T08:31:00.000-08:00

Here it is DAY30. However you reached it. Please Please put a comment here - you can stay anonymous letting us know you are still going. Feel free to include how you are getting them done too! add a +1 or +2 if anyone is doing them with you who won't be able to comment on the blog

day 29 prepping for day 30

2009-01-29T17:59:00.000-08:00

For some reason Day 30 had been set as a mile marker - several people had planned on only doing the challenge until Day 30, etc....

So tomorrow's post is going to be a tally of people still participating in the challenge. It doesn't matter whether you are behind, doing a modified challenge etc we want you to comment on tomorrows post. Could just be a Hello from Ohio! Or if you want to include your modification of the challenge...whatever.

If you know a friend or family member won't be able to log in then put a +1 or +2 in your comment.

We just want to get a COUNT of all the people Burpeeing around the world in connection with this challenge.

A message will be sent to the facebook group to remind you - to comment HERE!!

Ok that is your warning. Check back tomorrow and make sure you COMMENT. ALL of you!!

This is going to be HUGE!

Day 28 from Califonria

2009-01-27T13:03:00.000-08:00

In reading Hedwig's post and talking to other fellow burpeers having low back problems I thought I would share some advice.
I have been combining this challenge with lots of yoga - good for the low back and stretching out all the muscles that the burpee uses. Also good practice for push-up form.

If you don't have time to do full yoga try at least 4 cycles of the sun salutation series: standing forward bend, jump back to plank, push-up position, upward dog, downward dog, up to standing. Take your time if you are tight.

Here is a video explaining how to do it. In two parts

Day 27: Caught up from being down 87

2009-01-27T10:42:00.000-08:00

It wasn't a number that Frankie is wrestling with, but it weighed on me all the same. AT some point I was down 124 burpees. Today, I only had to do 87 to start back at 28 tomorrow. I was sidelined by a lower back injury for 4 days and was feeling a bit tentative about getting back into the swing of things. Ways I got back into the game:
1. Did make-up burpees with fellow burpee-ites when I saw them. Just sets of 10 here and there.
2. Kept track.
3. Allowed myself to step back and step up into and from the extended pushup position in order to make them up. So, the focus was on just doing what I could, instead of using my injury as a reason to stop doing them. I'm back to jumping form now.
4. Talked about it positively the whole time: I WILL come back.
5. Broke it down into sets of 10
6. Embraced the fact that this challenge is going to require more of me than just doing the burpees. For example, I'm also going to have to stretch :).

Feels like a good victory for the day to be back!!!!

Hedwig

Crossing them off, little by little

2009-01-27T06:31:00.000-08:00

not sure how clear this picture is going to look, but here is my burpee log. as the numbers get bigger (and in particular my number to make up stays large) its worth logging burpees. especially if you are like me and break them down quite a bit (as shown) and are forgetful!

this morning i did all of day 27s first thing, then did an extra 13 to get me down to 122 to make up. i'm hoping to do an extra 30 today, getting me to under 100 to make up.

side note - i attempted to try what i call an advanced burpee today: instead of the squatting down, kicking back, push up progression i did more of an up-down and threw my body down and out at the same time, then pushed up, back to squat, jump. some things that i learned: in the short term, they are easier, wasting less effort on the squat down, kicking out and downward component of the push up. at the same time - be careful! i noticed there is a lot of weight resting on the wrists if you don't get into a good rhythm and don't let your arms give on the way down. i did the first 5 of my set of 13 this way and will continue to try more in small amounts.

Better late than never...

2009-01-26T19:13:00.000-08:00

Below are pictures of the burpees that JLW and I did as we toured the eastern seaboard last weekend...

New Haven, CT

Waltham, MA - we recruited one of JLW's friends to join in on a burpee - she did *one* and promptly said, "thanks, but no thanks" to the rest of the challenge...though her living room was a perfect place for me to do mine!

Silver Spring, MD - "Babysitting Burpees" - note to all- burpees are extremely entertaining to 11mo olds!!

Washington, DC - Obama Burpees!! Note two women in the above picture, one is laughing at me - the other doesn't see me as I'm about to get trampled - I could only manage to get two in before the crowd took over...additionally I was ABSOLUTELY freezing and the ground was GROSS as so many people had been standing on it for hours.

I was not able to get them done in NJ or Delaware - the bus ride home was 6.5hrs (2.5hrs from DC to Baltimore) and I couldn't muster the strength through my frustration with traffic...I did complete those days' burpees at Broomball with my fellow Janitors!!

I also want to note that when Hedwig recruited me, I committed to having a goal of making it to day 30 of the challenge - as we are now at day 26 and I'm feeling great, I've adjusted my goal upwards...my new goal is day 60. I'm happy to have not missed a day thus far and know myself well enough to know that if I end up "playing catch up", it could go downhill quickly. Call it self awareness, but hearing about the people who are catching up (so proud of you guys!!) is providing me inspiration to not miss a day!!

Happy Burpee-ing!!

Happy 25th Day of Burpees!

2009-01-25T12:55:00.001-08:00

Milestones (even minor ones) make what once seemed daunting seem a bit more possible.

We're a quarter of the way there! Keep up the great work everybody!

Day 24 from California

2009-01-24T18:53:00.000-08:00

My new attitude about thinking about how much I am improving (instead of sucking) is really helping me. Today I realized I did 15 with good push-up form and it wasn't until about 19 that my form got worse. Also still trying to do them all at once instead of sets. Also thanks to everyone who is adding locations. In case the whole multi-step google doc is too complicated I've posted the list here:

1/20/2009 16:48:01 Big Sur, California
1/20/2009 16:48:26 The Subway (N train)
1/20/2009 17:51:25 Kalahari Water Park
1/20/2009 20:14:04 Broomball rink
1/21/2009 4:54:57 Basketball court after pick-up
1/21/2009 4:55:36 A bar! (Dram Shop)
1/22/2009 13:06:34 in the bedroom with booty shorts on
1/23/2009 7:37:09 Parking Garage
1/23/2009 13:09:29 hockey rink press box
1/23/2009 19:07:11 I was in bed, falling into dreamland and I realized I did not do my burpees for the day. So I got out of bed and busted out 20 burpees! Why is this unusual? Well, I sleep in the nude and it was dark so I didn't bother to put my shorts on. Naked burpees - I don't recommend them.
1/24/2009 10:16:35 Webster hall lobby (1 set) and then dancefloor (1 set)

Dirty, Filthy Cheat

2009-01-23T14:57:00.000-08:00

Unsurprisingly, burpies have started to creep and scratch their way into my life. For example, when I have been pressed for a work out in the past few days, I have done a series of body circuits (think core work, wall sits, jumping jacks etc) that have included 50+ burpies IN ADDITION to the burpies I am doing for the challenge.
So here is the philosophical/ ethical question; Can I count these 150+ burpies towards my challenge total (and take a few days off? The idea of Catching Up indicates you can bank burpies as well) Or would this break the spirit of the challenge? Also, what if I really just need an off day?
ARGH Psychic Dissonance! Help!

21 in a row

2009-01-23T06:02:00.001-08:00

Somewhat hazardous to your health. I will be breaking them up in the future, but wanted to see if I could do these in a row. My jumps at the end are barely high enough to slip a dollar bill under.

Ode to Sibling Rivalry

2009-01-22T06:48:00.001-08:00

Pained at 6, gasping at 15, persevering to a continuous 21.

A determination almost forgotten,

Filled with awareness my closest blood is already done.

Both "bless-ed" with short limbs, and "cheating" physics;

You disobeying friction with socks and wood,

I relying on equal and opposite force of floor to chest.

Each day - Have you done yours? Yes. In a row? Yes.

O Brother, how long (for mother's love) shall we do this?

Burpies do not equal Joy

2009-01-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

When I took on the Burpie Challenge, it was with a bit of nonchalance. The Burpie was the primary exercise of the crew teams I was on in High School, a hallmark of the sport that got me into college. Though I have not been on the water since 2004, muscle memory dies hard and I figured I had this monster slayed.
Until, that is, we got beyond day 10. The first six or so burpies always seem so easy, but after that my gorge starts to rise and I wonder, Why? Why did I do this? Why am I not as fit as I was when I was a long-haired 18 year old lad? How could this possibly hurt so much?
As we have gone forward with the challenge, I notice myself getting measurably stronger. I don't feel like dieing until the 9th or 10th burpie now, but that is cold comfort when we go to 22 tomorrow. However, motivation is not my problem, so I am current on my burpie count, and look forward to the rest of the challenge.
Other Thoughts-
I have been doing my Burpies in the morning, a few moments after getting out of bed. I realize this represents poor judgement on my part, and my misery would be lessened if I burped at the end of the day.
Also, I have been doing my burpies in socks, which requires more control during the push up. The slipperiness of the socks demands more isometric force from the frontal quad, which sucks on sprint days.
That is all for now, thanks for reading, keep up the good work~B.

On the road again...

2009-01-21T07:19:00.000-08:00

Hello all...this is the first time I've been able to access a computer in the last 6 days (which in itself has been completely healthy and refreshing). I'm taking a quick minute to blog before I head out to come home. I've completed burpees in CT, MA, MD, DC and will attempt to do burpees in Delaware and New Jersey on the bus ride home. I think the most dangerous burpee that I did was on the Mall at the innauguration...I did two (tried to get pics with the Capitol in the background but it was a little challenging) and had many comments by passers-by and was almost trampled. Pictures to follow, but I love all the enthusiasm here. I too find myself talking about burpees all the time. I will try to post pics of my adventures in burpee-ing tomorrow!!

12+13+14+15+16-10+17-7+18+19+20-4+21=144

2009-01-21T05:23:00.000-08:00

Since day 12 I have been fighting some crazy shoulder pain. In an attempt to let my shoulder get better, I took some days off. Well, as you can see from the title of this post, I'm still fighting the pain. I have tried some burpees here and there to see how I feel, but the overall consensus is that they just aren't a good idea.

I've been told by other challengers to modify my burpees to keep up. That to me is defeat. I value that everyone can burpee based on their limitations - whether that be push ups on your knees (regardless of gender), push ups with one arm against a wall, etc. The list of modifications is endless. However, I started this challenge with regular burpees and that's how I'm going to finish it. I was side challenged to keep up - to not lose track or throw in the towel when the number gets too high. I'm hoping that with some additional rest I will be back in the swing of things by next week. With each day that goes by, that will put me up to well over 260 burpees to make up - but I will do them, I will catch up.

I'm going to keep track of my count, and when I'm back in the game I may need to solicit your help to get 'em done.

ADD the fun places to our Blog!

2009-01-20T16:56:00.000-08:00

Okay all! Today is busy for posting!! I have done my best to figure out a way that people can add the places they have Burpeed. Right now it is a several step process.

First enter the fun or unusual places you have done burpees into the form on the sidebar. They will be entered into a Google Doc (so far I entered the Subway and Big Sur). To see the list that people have entered click the link above that says 'click here for the list'. That will bring you directly to the Google Doc.

I know people posted other great places, but I didn't have time to add them.

I am going to try to find a better gadget that will show the list directly in the blog, but at least we can get started. If anyone knows a better way or has an idea of how to improve it please comment here or email me at u19rugby@gmail.com

Meeting boring? Conference Room Burpees!

2009-01-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

Russ, shown here, does his burpees in the office conference room! Definitely one for the blog sidebar! Keep sending in your burpee photos to shpaddock at gmail dot com.

Noob!

2009-01-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

The more the merrier, I always say.

I took Rachel up on her offer of blogging here and she was gracious enough to let me. I think that the group support thing will help immensely as this thing wears forward.

I started just a day after all of you. Here is my 100 burpee challenge blog. I call it the world's second dullest blog (here is the first) since I just write a small note every day about my burpees.

I also blog, here, here, and this is my homebase. I think I might blog at one or two other places, but can't remember. So I am representing Wisco in this thing, and plan on doing some farm burpees when things start to thaw out a bit, later in the spring.

I already did a burpee in a giant waterpark called the Kalahari. My wife was super not impressed by the scene I made in the kiddy pool doing that burpee. But oh well. Speaking of the wife, she joined me in this quest and is doing wonderfully.

I am not a rugger like you folks (I think that is what brings you together, yes?) but I do distance running, strength training (like crossfit), distance cycling and Muay Thai kickboxing. Oh yea, I am a dad of two and own my own business.

So what I am trying to say is that I have a MILLION reasons not to do the burpees, but only one to do them - my health. And the satisfaction of knowing I conquered the challenge. So hello to all of you - I look forward to contributing here and giving you folks support if/when you need it.

Mass Burpees with help from the family

2009-01-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

In the beginning of the challenge I had done some Burpees in Western Masschusetts. It'd been a couple of weeks and I realized there is more of the state of Mass to cover, so I returned this past weekend to the South Shore of Mass to do some more. Home to the Pilgrims, I went to Plymouth, Ma to Burpee. There were some perks - My mother, deciding to come with, makes a mean onion, feta and spinach omelet - and the shower up there has a Rubber Ducky Fireman on the shower faucet!! These two things are enough to make the trip.

The Burpee Show was about to begin - fun for the whole family. My two year old nephew conducted the warm-up ceremony. It consisted of him bouncing on an ten ft squared indoor bouncy castle. After the Castle was removed - it was show time. I began by showing my dad what a burpee was, and then rather than stop I just jumped into doing the 17..... After a handful, I asked if anyone was counting, as I wasn't...whoops! And my mother began to help me along with...eight...nine. Now this was the funny part - My nephew, Christian, knows numbers, usually not in order... So, upon hearing my mother counting and seeing the spectacle before him, he began to help. The number he chose was two. Which he repeated all through 15, 16, and 17....which made it really hard to finish while laughing at how cute he is.

What this taught me was that I may be embarrassed to Burpee at work in front of my co-workers but I'm not embarrassed in front of my family...and everyone should Burpee with small children around!!!

Anyone up for a sidebar list of all the places we've Burpeed?

Day 20: but its retroactively about Day 19

2009-01-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

I should have blogged yesterday as that is the day I stalled out at 10 burpees. My lower back has tightened up incredibly and I think the burpees are one of the factors going into that. Usually I can get nice and loose in the morning by stepping back into my first few pushups and sometimes even stepping up into a squat position before jumping (instead of jumping into an extension and back into the squat). By 3 or 4 it feels fine to jump back, but yesterday my lower back was unhappy and when I finally jumped on my 10th burpee it got very unhappy. So I stopped. And I had to skip this morning.
I am now down 9 + 20. I take heart in that my sister Joke made up 81 burpees in one day and we have another member who is keeping track of all the burpees she can't do while her shoulder is hurting (more than a 100 last we spoke).
I agree with Rachel, if it weren't for the ability to talk about this thing it would be much more tempting to give up.

Day 20 from California

2009-01-20T08:06:00.000-08:00

Looks like we lost Day 19 on this blog - though the daily blogging challenge is still going!!
Because of this I want to remind anyone that if they would like to be a contributor to the blog send me an email at u19rugby@gmail.com and I will add you as an author. Everyone is welcome! Also a reminder that if you don't want to be an author please feel free to leave stories in the comments section!

Today was really hard for me as I have a chest cold. I cranked out my 20 and logged on to see if anyone else had something to say to make me feel better. Thanks Hobs - your post was exactly what I needed.
In reading it I also realized how much I must talk to people about doing burpees. Pretty much every day someone out here in my lab or classes asks me how my burpees are going, which in retrospect makes this challenge feel pretty exciting.

Day 18

2009-01-18T09:05:00.000-08:00

First off, a shout out to Hobs who wrote perhaps the most inspirational blog posting to date. We're all in this together!!!!!! Yeah-yah!!
That being said, today was the first day that I let 45 minutes lapse before doing my burpees while telling myself a little story about how its Sunday, and I don't feel so good (nothing to do with saturday night, I'm sure) and I'll just wait until I feel a little more woken up. The funny thing about that story is that, if I'm honest, I have to admit I feel crappy the entire 45 minutes because my burpees are as yet undone. I'm not feeling better. I'm feeling worse and worse until I have squated, extended, pushed up and jumped up 18 times. I hope this means that the habit is starting to etch itself a little deeper into my soul. Because this challenge doesn't just make my body feel good, but also my spirit, the part that puts faith in just doing instead of just thinking about it.

A little burpee anger...

2009-01-17T18:54:00.000-08:00

I just encountered a little burpee situation that I feel the need to share with all of us doing the burpee challenge...

I am spending the weekend skiing in VT with people that I work with and two of us here are doing the burpee challenge. When we were talking about it everyone wanted to know what a burpee was so of course I had to demonstrate for all of them. After demonstrating one of the fellow guests asked if it still counts if someone does a "girl" push-up. I, of course, ask the man if he means a knees push-up, and he responds with "Yeah - you know...those push-ups that girls have to do cuz they can't do the real ones." Well now I am close to biting the mans head off but I nicely say "well, not all girls need to use their knees to do pushups (I had just demonstrated three burpees where I did "real" push-ups) but if someone, regardless of their sex, feels the need to use their knees then yes, that still counts."

I wanted to share this not only to vent a bit of my anger, but also because my exchange with this man made me realize one of the things that I love the most about this challenge: it does not discriminate against people based on their abilities. You can be a part of the burpee challenge regardless of the way you do your pushups...they count if you are on your knees, on your toes, if you are in a sling and push against a wall...if you can't do them at all...if you do them on a bosu ball or if you want to do them in a hand-stand - then go for it! The burpee challenge accepts all kinds!

To me, the point of this challenge is not about who can do the best push-up, or whether or not your specific type of pushup counts - it is about challenging yourself, and believing in yourself. It is about setting a goal, and meeting that goal, regardless of what type of push-up it takes you to get there. Of course, the best part of the challenge is that we are all in this together. We have the support...we have the friends and the team-mates that believe in us and push us to do those damn burpees even when we have no desire to do them for ourselves. I can't tell you how many texts I have received/sent since day one reminding me to do burpees or letting me know that someone has done their burpees. And while important on day 17, imagine how important this support is going to be on day 80. For me, this is the best part: a group of individuals all working together towards the same goal, and helping each other along the road, regardless of ability.

So thank you, to the burpee challengers...for believing in each other and keeping each other going. And thank you to the man, who through his discriminatory remarks, made me realize why I love this challenge so much.
:)

Things that go BUMP in the morning

2009-01-16T13:47:00.001-08:00

I've been a little under the weather this week, so I spent the day at home in sweat pants. I was not about to let my burpee habit suffer, though, so around 9 a.m. I pushed out my 16 for the day. A few minutes later, my doorbell rang. My downstairs neighbor had come to inquire as to what the noise was. "Are you jumping rope up here? Or throwing things on the floor?" "Not quite, I'm doing burpees," I responded, and then proceeded to explain to him the nature of the burpee challenge and gave him a demo. While impressed with the burpees, he didn't seem interested in joining the challenge. Nor did he particularly care for being woke in the morning by the loose floorboard that my hearing is apparently impervious to. So, I guess this means I'll be moving my burpees to the carpeted living room-ish portion of our apartment.

I'm kind of concerned about this because I've noticed that, as I burpee, I move forward. I'm guessing that a concentrated effort will cease this, but I'm having visions of burpee-ing into our stereo system or the long since dead christmas tree and creating a minor disaster. Does anyone else start burpee-ing in one location and end up in a different one? Any advice for burpees in relatively confined space?

Also, burpees help you meet new people! Neighbor was obviously not too upset about loud burpees since we then went on a nice coffee date this afternoon. Burpees: for fitness and romance.

Day 16 from my Inbox

2009-01-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

I will be out of Internet range until Tuesday so hopefully others will keep posting (hint, hint).

An update the friend that did 100 in one day is now doing 50 every other day in sets of 10 with planks in between at least until his chest heals and he can resume push-ups.

I wanted to share another inspirational story that came into my Inbox from a lovely friend who is getting it done:

"So I wanted share a little story about how your Burpee Blog inspired me to get back on the bandwagon. I, like so many others, started out the new year with the best intentions of Burpee-ing my way to fitness...my other resolutions were pretty standard: eating better, sleeping more, and saving money. However, I was fairly certain that those wouldn't stick and I'd still be loving pizza, sleep deprived and broke by 2010, so I was really hoping that the Burpee Challenge would be the 1 quantifiable resolution I could stick to. For the first 7 days of 2009, I was a Burpee Rockstar, feeling great about doing Burpee's after weeks of holiday eating and inertia. Then I went back to work...and the Burpees stopped. Each day I kept thinking it's not too late to catch up but I either kept forgetting or conveniently forgetting when I was too tired. Then yesterday I read your blog and felt inspired by everyone who was still doing their Burpees. Rather than easing myself back into it or just picking up with day 14, as I entered the gym this morning I irrationally decided to crank out 77 Burpees in one workout! I did Burpees for warm ups, I did Burpees before changing cardio equipment, I did Burpees between lifting sets and finally I did Burpees for cool down: 77 Burpees! By the end it they weren't pretty but I got them done. I really wish I kept my other resolution of stretching after workouts because I think I'm going to have to convince a co-worker to wheel me to the subway on a hand truck because I can't walk...but it feels great to be caught up! So let this be a cautionary tale: Don't fall behind on your Burpees but if you do catch up as soon as possible. Oh, and day 77 is a bitch!"

Burpees via the eastern seaboard

2009-01-16T06:01:00.000-08:00

Over the next five days I will attempt to do my burpees in five different states...

Today = Brooklyn, NY (already done)
Tomorrow = New Haven, CT
Sunday = Boston, MA
Monday = Silver Spring, MD
Tuesday = Washington, DC (going to attempt to do some right in front of Mr. Obama and see what he thinks...maybe he will join in, we all know he's super fit)
Wednesday = who knows...perhaps I'll do them on the Megabus coming back (or perhaps at a rest stop, say around Delaware or New Jersey...maybe I'll do a set of 10 in each state...

The possibilities are endless. Where will you burpee this weekend?

Hopefully, pictures will follow!!

Ecce! Puella est rabidus!

2009-01-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

I took four years of Latin in High School…yes, I’m a dork. The roots of words always intrigued me, such as “paena insula”, which literally means “almost island” and is where we get the term “Peninsula”. Along these lines we can take the word “pro” which means “for” or “on behalf of” and combine it with “Cras” which means “tomorrow” and together they literally mean “for tomorrow”. (Pro also sparks a political joke: If con is the opposite of pro, what’s the opposite of progress? Congress!)

What I’m trying to say here, is that over the past four days I was practicing this latin term instead of doing my burpees. It's been since Sunday. I have no good excuse really, just a lot of little ones that added up.… So this morning it was time to put up or shut up. Bleary eyed, I found the best space yet in my apartment and proceeded to burpee 54 times. No, not in a row! In sets of ten to twelve...and maybe with water and some stretching in between. And it didn’t feel so bad actually, so I have hope for the bigger days ahead.

Another thing to come of this procrastination was also a Burpee excel sheet. Now, if I don’t complete the full amount for any particular day and that adds up to other not-complete days, I can instantly get totals to see what has to be done to get back on track. And if anyone wanted to know, we have done 120 Burpees in total!

Now, if you'll excuse me the Useless Information phone is ringing...

15 and a new challenge

2009-01-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

Since I am pretty sure the only reason I was able to bang out all 15 in a row on such sore legs today is that I issued myself a public challenge, I am going to use this forum as motivation for my newest obsession - Linda. Who the heck is Linda? Well Linda is a crossfit workout that I previously only thought possible for guys and superhumans (like PK). It is as follows: 10/9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1 reps of the superset: deadlift 1.5x BW, benchpress 1x BW, clean 3/4 BW (BW = bodyweight).

So what changed to make me think a mere moral like me might possibly have a shot at this? The two videos on the xfit website of two females doing Linda - especially the first video of the girl Gillian banging it out in less than 15 mins. (Go to www.crossfit.com/cf-info/exercise.html and search for Linda to see them)

What's the big difference, besides strength and fitness, btw me and them? Oh only about 20-25lbs BW... (How is that paleo diet working anyway?)

Day 14 - Burpees on my mind

2009-01-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

LB's question about where the name "burpee" came from got me thinking, so I did some quick research. Wikipedia doesn't say where the name came from, but it does list the steps of the burpee, including my favourite: "8. Repeat many times."

However, I also found a lot of other random burpee things! The humble burpee is also...

-a museum of natural history in Rockford, IL! (Fun fact: they are currently promoting an event called PaleoFest, although I'm pretty sure their version is different than the one some of the burpee challengers are doing...)
-a seed company! You can buy seeds to grow all sorts of things. Who wants a garden of Burpee seeds this spring? They also have a fun zone finder to tell you what plants will grow best in your area. Their chart says that most of us live in Zone 6 and our last frost-free date will be mid-May. Um...I really hope they're wrong!
-a family. "The Burpees were a well-established Philadelphia family descended from French Canadian Huguenots whose original family name, Beaupe, had in the course of several generations assumed an Americanized spelling and pronunciation."
-a truck. If you yahoo image search "burpee," this is the first result.

So basically, we're no closer to knowing the where the burpee came from, but at least we know some trivia for pub quiz!

Any other ideas?

Day 14 from California

2009-01-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

Today got really hard for me. I had to break for a few seconds after 12. Doing extra push-ups is helping my form.

Also yesterday someone referred to them as Burpels. I loved that. Has anyone else heard them called something fun?

Catching up

2009-01-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday I had out-of-town guests, Monday I was sick, and today I'm out of excuses so it's time to catch up. I took care of Sunday and Monday this morning, one set of 11 and another of 12, and was pleasantly surprised by how physically manageable 23 burpees were. Alternatively, catch up sucks! It throws my routine out of whack and the thought of unfinished burpees nagged at me when I was cold-stricken and immobile yesterday. From here out, burpees will take place regardless of who is sleeping on my couch and what they may think when they wake up to the thump, scuff, thump of burpees in the morning.

(Papa Tomato and Baby Tomato are walking down the street. Baby Tomato is lagging behind so Papa Tomato steps on him and says "Ketch- up.")

Day 13 - It's getting harder

2009-01-13T06:04:00.000-08:00

This morning is the first morning where doing all of the burpees in a row was challenging. I have been most concerned with keeping good form throughout. I made it to 11, paused for about 10-15 seconds, before cranking out the last two. I still maintain that this has been the most effective way of waking up I have ever experienced....and far better for you than two cups of coffee!!

Burpees are for everyone!

2009-01-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

Even if you are in a sling you can burpee! Here is AliD showing off her modified burpee. A one handed wall push up followed by a squat.

Anyone else doing a modified burpee?

Bar Burpees

2009-01-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

How could we post about our burpees this weekend - we were too busy doing them in fun places!

Pictured here are Hobs (left) and Jayne doing Day 11 burpees at Dram Shoppe in Brooklyn. The left photo was location #2 after being asked to move from location #1 (middle of the bar) pictured in the middle. The "11" was sported post burpees!

Sorry its so dark, blackberry cameras aren't that great!