Monday, September 23, 2013

1000 Burpees

Last Friday, Juniors Nic Win and Karl Mering embarked on a mission to complete 1000 burpees.  A burpee consists of a pushup followed immediately by standing and going into a squat jump.  Nic previously completed 500 burpees in a solo effort back in July, which took him just over 47 minutes.  This time, Nic and Karl teamed up to attempt 1000.

Nic started out doing 13 burpees every 45 seconds, taking roughly 15 seconds of rest between sets.  After his first 500, he backed off to 10 every minute for the remainder of the 1000.  Karl started out with Nic, but he couldn't quite match Nic's pace and he got into a groove doing 10 per minute early on.  Karl decided to to tap out after 500 burpees.  Karl, unlike Nic, hadn't been working towards 1000 all summer.  Still, Karl's accomplishment is very impressive number all the same.  His willingness to jump into such an ambitious endeavor without having prepared to the same extent as Nic is a shining example of how dedicated this team is to one another.

Nic carried on, doing 10 every minute on the minute, earning 15-20 seconds of rest after each set.  He was joined by some other teammates (and an assistant coach) for the final 350 of his monumental challenge.  After almost exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes, he reached 1000.

Nic rested up for an hour or so and then led the team's final captain's practice of the season.  Karl and Nic's dedication to self-improvement and their willingness to push themselves in new ways is nothing less than inspiring for the rest of the men and women on our team.  It's going to be an incredible year for Whitman Swimming!
Karl and Nic, mid-set

Nic after all 1000!