Do You Run For Your Last Rep?

Watching people train and how they conduct themselves during a workout can be a very good indicator of how successful someone will be with training.

Training at a high intensity is relative to an individuals fitness level. If you are twenty years old or sixty years old your intensity level will probably be different but you can still train at a high capacity no matter what age or level of fitness you are.

Over the years I have noticed some interesting consistencies with successful athletes. Here is a short list that might get you thinking about your training.

1. When you come in and don't like what's on the white board you do it anyways and you do it to the best of your ability.

We get better by doing. Avoidance is never a good way to succeed at anything. If you avoid the stuff you suck at you won't get better at it and you will be limiting your athletic ability.

So many women hated barbell work when they started at the gym then after exposure to it and consistent training with it, it became empowering to throw weigh over your head and smash PR's in the Oly lifts. give it an honest chance and see where it might take you.

2. Compete with yourself.

Don't worry about others and what they are doing and how they are doing it. Focus on what you are doing and how to do it to the best of your ability. This means making sure you are hitting perfect movement standards and that you have chosen a weight that is going to be challenging enough for you. Picking a weight that is lighter just so you can be done faster isn't the answer. If you can go heavier and maintain perfect form then why not go heavier for the added challenge?

3. Keep track of progress and be accountable to yourself.

If you have goals that you want to meet make sure they are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, & Time Oriented). Having a goal is great but not having a blueprint of how to get there is a great way to not succeed.

4. Running for your last rep.

All the other points I mentioned are great but there is one thing I notice about the most successful people.  They will always fight for that last rep. Here's an example. Say we are doing a 6 Minute ladder of Wall Balls and Pull Ups and you just finished your last wall ball with ten seconds left on the clock. Are you going to run over to the pull up bar and bang out a rep or two or are you going to stair at the clock and watch it count down to zero?

My point isn't about just getting another rep or two in. My point is, are you willing to work a little harder to be successful? Next time the clock is counting down and you still have a chance don't give up. Dig a little deeper and see what more you can do. You might just surprise yourself.