In November 2012, we decided to try a 100 workout challenge: Between the six members of our Mastermind Group, we would workout 100 times during the 30 days of November.
The math comes out to either 16 or 17 workouts per person over the month. In a 30 day month, that means each person needs to work out a little more than every other day.
This is the kind of challenge that sounds like “no problem” when the idea is first posed, and becomes much more of a challenge as the month actually begins.
If you’re someone that works out 3 times per week, you think, OK, bump it up to four times per week, and we’re golden. But when no one in the group has been working out more than 2-3 times per week (and some not at all), asking everyone to workout 4 times a week is a monumental request..
Although we didn’t update this challenge on the blog, we kept up with it daily between ourselves.
Did I say “kept up with?”
I think I mean badgered. Excoriated. Hazed. Harassed.
Because that’s what it took for us to hit 100 (101, to be exact) workouts.
On November 18th, we were at 41 workouts out of 100, when we needed to be at 60 to be on pace for 100. Keith, Broderick, Mike and I were all between 7 and 9 workouts, while Dmack and DC trailed with only 4. Here are some of the quotes that followed:
Keith: “Dmack and DC, where are you?”
Aaron: “We’re not even close. Dmack and DC are on pace to hit 7 workouts each for the month.”
Mike: “I’m going to do all Dmack’s workouts for next week.”
Aaron: “We know the Charmin twins aren’t going to make it. We have to factor in for them.”
11/20
David: “Aaron’s dogging me, but I swear I’m coming. Y’all are going to be surprised.” (after completing 3 workouts in two days)
Aaron: “DC, where you at??”
DC: “Sick as a dog. For the sake of uniformity I’ll get one logged tonight.”
Keith: “I hope you feel better, but you are still super soft. Just saying.”
11/21
DC: “Photos to come later today accounting for 2 additional workouts.”
Broderick: “Went to the gym with my little brother.” (attaches photos of little brother taking shots of some 300-style looking workouts)
11/22
Aaron: “Early morning thanksgiving workout at the hotel fitness center. Burned nowhere near the calories I will eat later.”
Mike: “Alright. I guess I have to workout now.” (sends photo of workout)
Keith: “Happy Thanksgiving.” (sends photo of workout)
Broderick: “I should never run after eating 2 lbs of food. I feel sick.”
11/24
Broderick: “1 mile in dress shoes in the Providence airport. 50 pushups. Do not run in dress shoes.” (Yes, he really did a workout in dress shoes in the Providence airport and sent photo evidence of same)
11/25
Keith: “By my count we have 64 workouts. AT 14, KB/BT 13, MC 11, DM 7, DC 6. Means six workouts each in 5 days. We are soft if we don’t get this. I’m serious. Sack up, workout and report back.”
Aaron: “Agreed. Totally doable if everyone steps up.”
Keith: “Need to hear back from everyone. Are you going to try to do this? If not, just say it now.”
Broderick: “I did my extra one this morning. Going back this afternoon.”
11/27 (we were still way behind)
Mike: “2 a days starting tomorrow. Saw Skyfall yesterday. Definitely going for black James Bond 2013.”
Many pics of workouts came in this day.
11/28
Mike: “Let’s go. It’s not a game.”
11/29
Keith: “Aaron, haven’t heard from you in a minute. You still on these workouts?”
Broderick: “Keith, you think you can hit 20?”
Keith: “If I can get a lunch workout in today, yes.”
Darron: “I got in another run yesterday. I’ll be logging more workouts today and tomorrow as promised.”
11/30
David: “I’m finishing strong.” (photos of 2 workouts)
Keith: “Last day. Report in on your workouts. Should be a double for everyone today.”
11/30, 10pm
Aaron: “Flight just landed. Should be at my hotel in an hour, in time for a run before bed. By my count we are at 95. I would be 96. Anyone else?”
Broderick: “I’ll commit to 30 minutes of abs.”
11:07pm
Keith: “I’m headed to the gym now for workout 19. Need two more workouts before midnight. Mike you got one? Who has the other?”
Aaron: “Midnight two-miler in the hotel gym. Let’s get 100.”
11:20pm
Keith “Just talked to Mike, he is in for one.”
(Mike leaves a Friday night dinner to go home and to the gym)
Aaron: (after talking to David) “Dmack got in his two today. DC can let us hit 100. If he doesn’t answer in the next 30, I’ll go back to the gym and lift weights.”
Keith: “Cool. Called DC but no answer. Running now. Lets go.”
11:35pm
Darron: “#100 getting done. Didn’t have my phone on me, my bad.”
Keith: “Word. Mike let us know when 100 is done. I’m proud of cats. We rallied in the end.”
11:49pm
Broderick: “#19 right after dinner.”
Mike: “I am done.”
Keith: “Done”
Broderick: “Done 150 jumping jacks, 50 situps, 50 standing crunches, 50 air squats”
Darron: “Pushups, dips, curls 45 each… done.”
(David miscounts and does one extra workout just in case)
It was a struggle, but never underestimate the power of pride. Or shame. One of the two.
In the end, we learned something that works for us as a group, and probably most groups.
Peer pressure. It can convince people to do all sorts of stupid stuff, but it can also get your butt in the gym.
So what to do now? We’re doing it again for January.
Except we’re determined not to limp to the finish line like we did in November. Here are the numbers so far in January. My guess is that posting this alone will get some of the guys at the bottom to bring their numbers up (although in fairness, some of those guys have extenuating circumstances).
As of 8:00 AM 1/13/13
Aaron – 12
Broderick – 9
Keith – 6
Darron – 6
David – 3
Mike – 3
Total: 39
100 workout pace by end of 1/12/13: 39
We’re right on pace this time, nothing like in November. And we’ve been picking up speed. We should clear 100 with room to spare. And we’ve extended the accountability from just the six of us to everyone reading this.
Follow us. Join us. Let’s hit that gym this January.
