Are You ‘Draining the Tank’?

by Coach Vanessa Dickens

As a coach I hear the phrase “I need more” or “the workout was too easy” and don’t get me wrong that can be a valid point; however, more often than not it’s because you didn’t go hard enough. There is a difference between intensity and just moving about for an extended period of time. So let me present you with this lovely little test.

First, I want you to do ten burpees, nice and slow. I mean just flop down, stand, hop and a nice clap, just like an easy stroll in the park. Now I want you to take note of how you feel. Is your heart rate up? Did you get a little sweaty? Do your muscles ache? Take a moment to recover.

Second, I want you to do ten burpees as fast as you possibly can. Imagine you are going so fast there is a trampoline under you, so you are literally bouncing off the floor. Again, take note of how you are feeling. Heart rate up, a little sweaty, muscles ache, hard to breathe? Take a moment to recover.

Now here’s the deal. If you did this test correctly, you should notice a drastic difference in how you felt mentally and physically during the two separate sets of burpees. Now my “aha” moment to you is…how you FELT after your fast burpees is how you SHOULD feel after your regular workouts. If not, you are not going hard enough, meaning there is still more in the tank, untapped power waiting to be released.

What you are seeing is you can do the same amount of work/effort in less time and that is how you get results. You have to push past your comfort zone. Those of you who work with me have heard me say time and again: “Mental toughness, you have to want it, it’s okay if it hurts a little, drain the tank.” I’m not just spouting off random things, I’m getting you to understand you have to dig deep, put that intensity in your workouts and have fun with it. Try to hang onto the bar a little longer, crank through a few more pull ups/toes to bar before hopping off the bar. See how long you can grind through wallballs, kettle bell swings, etc.

So get out there PUSH and GOOD LUCK!!!