Plebe Summer Workout Analysis

High school came easy. The academics didn’t provide a challenge, I aced tests without having to study for them. Furthermore, extracurricular activities didn’t provide a challenge either, I played tennis on the varsity team and provided leadership for the speech and debate team. I surrounded myself with people who always said work hard will mold me into successful young man. However, the moment I stepped onto the Naval Academy Yard, my successful life became a life full of failures. From the start of Plebe Summer, I failed, with no failure astounded me more than my physical fitness. The average scores for the initial Physical Readiness Test (PRT) comprised of 70 pushups, 85 sit-ups, and a 6:45 mile. To this day, I remember the 30 pushups, 60 sit-ups, and ran an 8:00 minute mile that set me below the average. Crippled by stress fractures and strained tendons in the knees and shoulders throughout the summer, the goal to surpass the average seemed impossible to reach. In spite of a grueling six weeks of summer, …show more content…
The workout plan focused primarily on strength, alongside the focus on strength, Riley developed a safe running regiment, noting that a strong cardiovascular system assists in with weightlifting. For the next month, I followed the plan religiously with the intent to beat my classmates in weight lighting. In the first two weeks, my body could only handle two strength workouts and three running workouts a week. However, towards the end of the first month, a week’s worth of exercises included four strength and running workouts. Excited with the progress, I attempted the maximum weight workout. To my dismay, the overall resulted a net gain of only 25 pounds, still 275 pounds less than the rest of my friends. Provided with minimal progress in physical fitness, I was once again completely devastated. I walked up into my room and sat in my chair and put my head down. I