Into the final weeks we go so time to raise the game a little more. After last week’s efforts produced great progress in the mini challenges of box jumps, wide grip pull ups and push ups in a minute, we thought it was appropriate to have another go at the actual challenge to see where we stand.
Now that you have seen that effort, let’s get a little perspective.
Inching ever closer to the final stretch as we tackle week 9 of the Virgin Active Pierre Spies Challenge. An idea I had over a few draughts that has subsequently transformed me from an average sports fan into a bit of a sports man. Totally, check at the stuff I can now do after 9 weeks of training with my trainer Dom at the Sandton Virgin Active.
Another week, another valuable series of fitness experiences enjoyed. With the bulk of the training behind us now on route to beating Pierre’s time in the challenge he did with Virgin Active last year, trainer Dom and I are looking to now focus on increasing speed, stamina and core strength so we can really be in great shape for that final hurdle. With that we are also looking to do a few alternative things to maintain the fun levels, one such thing is working on matching Pierre’s 1.4m box jump.
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6 weeks ago I embarked on a challenge that would hopefully turn me from a sports fan into sports man. It was to pledge 12 weeks of my life to try and beat Pierre Spies’ time in a challenge he did with Virgin Active last year (click here for full intro story). Armed with my incredible trainer Dom we started transforming my mostly under utilized body into a vessel that could make the goal a reachable one. With strength and circuit work the weeks started to provide some encouraging progress, so much so that at the halfway stage we thought we would have a little dab at the full challenge to see what sort of shape we were in.
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Another week under the belt, another week of glorious exercise achievement experienced. That’s what this is starting to feel like as the sessions undertaken to condition me to beat Pierre Spies’ time in his Virgin Active Challenge are getting tougher each week. But before we get into some proof of that, let’s have a little look at the vitals to see what the previous four weeks of exercise at the Sandton Virgin Active have done for me.
Weight
80.75kgs –> 80.90kgs
Chest
96cms –> 98cms
Bicep (flexed)
35cms –> 36cms
Waist
88cms –> 86cms
Thigh
52cms –> 54cms
Body fat%
15.4 –> 13.5
Blood, sweat and tears. Well I’m happy to say I’m one from three where that is concerned as things continue to go swimmingly in my attempt to transform my body into a vessel capable of beating Pierre Spies’ time in the challenge he did with Virgin Active last year. I’m now a third of the way through the 12 weeks I have allocated to making this happen. Am I close? Not at bloody all! But what I can tell you though is that after these 4 weeks, I have never felt fitter, stronger or better! Here are some visuals of what went down at Sandton Virgin Active this week.
Not me (yet).
The honeymoon is certainly over in my 12 week challenge where I intend to beat Pierre Spies’ time in his Virgin Active Challenge at the end of it. In the first two weeks we were doing stuff to develop basic strength and conditioning towards the challenge. As someone that hasn’t been in a gym in over 8 years (other than to buy a smoothie), it was all kind of novel and fun, but in week three stuff started getting a whole lot more real!
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