11/3 Mental Toughness Thursday

Annie has a rock solid position at the bottom of her ring push-up. 
Practice is the theme of this week's Whole Life Challenge Lifestyle Challenge. Practice is a dedicated progression toward the attainment of a skill. We have to practice daily, meaning setting aside some dedicated time, towards the skill. 

Sometimes, I see folks getting so frustrated with themselves because they're not gaining competency fast enough. Practice is what will help you gain competency. It's the accumulation of daily practice that makes you better at something. It's fun when we have a big break through and we finally get it. But that breakthrough was only possible because you practiced. 

I have always wanted to be naturally good at a sport. When I was a little girl it was gymnastics, then diving and rowing in high school, marksmanship in the Marines, rowing in college, and Olympic Weightlifting in my 40s. I always wanted to be that athlete that just "gets it." I wish I could go back to my younger self and let her know that the daily practice will impact my life in a way more positive way than "just getting it." 

Practice develops motor pathways and creates neurological pathways, and is just as important, if not more so, as training. I encourage you all to develop a daily practice, it could be drills, progressions, whatever, that keeps you regularly working on a skill. Practice teaches patience, perseverance, intestinal fortitude and humility. Good luck!

Today's Workout 
"Death By" - Ring Push-ups
and
"Death By" - Calorie row
Athletes choice on which movement to begin with. Move on to the second movement only when you can no longer complete the work in the given minute. 
As with all "Death By" workouts, this will feel very easy at the beginning, let it. It's the accumulation of reps, or volume, that we're interested in testing with this workout. 
The ring pushups do not have to be unbroken. Take breaks as needed. But, you do need to stick with a consistent ring height. If you start horizontal, stay horizontal. If you start at a 45* angle, keep that angle for the entire workout. 
Scores above 15 for both movements are really good. We testing consistency, pacing, endurance, power, coordination and mental toughness.  
Ring push-ups are terrific at building core strength and awareness. DO NOT let your butt sag on these pushups. Squeeze your glutes and keep your core braced.