Great Firehouse Challenge Workouts

Happy 2013!  This is the time of the year where we all scramble to make up for lost workouts and pledge to get in shape.  Personally, I think the best way to get into shape is to not fall out of it in the first place.  One of the best things to do this time of the year is not only set goals but to assess where you are currently.  Today I've created some "challenge" workouts that you can use to assess your fitness progress and to get a good efficient workout.  There are two separate challenges, if you are very ambitious you can try them both during the same session or perform them on two consecutive days.

Total Body Challenge Workout

(Click Here for a video overview of the workout)

Here is a great assessment and workout to challenge your entire body.  The goal is to perform as many reps as possible of each exercise in 2 minutes.  Rest 1 minute between exercises.  You must perform these exercises in order.  Count each rep, add up your total reps and that's your score.  Try to repeat the workout and improve the number of reps every couple of weeks.

Cot Squats, wide stance, go as low as you can.

1.  Push ups  

2.  Body Rows (click here to see this exercise)

3.  Cot Squats   

4.  Medicine Ball Slams* or sledges against a tire 

         *(use a 10 or 12 pound medicine ball)

Overhead sledge or medicine ball slams.

The 4-mile Cardiovascular Challenge Workout

(Click Here for a video overview of the workout)

Here is a great way to challenge and assess your level of cardiovascular conditioning.  I like to call it the 4-mile challenge because you travel a total of 4 miles, how long and how you get there is up to you.

Here is how you do it, depending on your level of fitness you run and bike for a total of 4 miles.  If your pretty conditioned you should run 2 miles as fast as possible then bike 2 miles as fast as possible.  If you aren't as conditioned you can run 1 mile then bike 3 miles.  The idea is to record your total time and try to improve on it from week to week.

Give them a try!

Having trouble improving you level of fitness?  Join the Fire Rescue Fitness Nation and get the Fire Rescue Fitness 28-day Quickstart Program.  You can get it FREE by clicking HERE.