Where we've done burpees!

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

40 A Day in the month of May!

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!

100th Burpee!

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

Day 100 and beyond!

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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

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!

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!

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 93 - Not looking good

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 91 - low returns

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??

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

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.

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...

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 84 Video Inspiration

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!!

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!!