I posted the Batman by 40 blog in December of 2013
Now in June 2014 a couple weeks before my 40th birthday it is time to put up or shut up.
If you will recall back in December of 2013 (This is starting to sound like an episode of "How I met your mother") I was looking at the fitness portion of military.com and came across the Spec Ops fitness challenge
If you will recall back in December of 2013 (This is starting to sound like an episode of "How I met your mother") I was looking at the fitness portion of military.com and came across the Spec Ops fitness challenge
There is a new Special Forces / Special Operations fitness
test making its way around the Team areas and creating a fun and competitive
event for many of our Army, Navy, Air Force, USMC Special Operators. It is
called the Upper body Round Robin (UBRR). The test consists of seven upper body
exercises, a speed and long distance run. The UBRR provides a minimum standard
for passing which are reasonable scores as you see below, BUT if you want to be
competitive with the best of the best you have to push yourself far above the
minimums. See events and grading scale below:
The UBRR (Upper Body Round Robin) Events:
Event Min. Standard Grading Scale for Min. Plus
1 Minute of Pushups 40 +2 Pts Each Rep Above Min
1 Minute of Situps 40 +3 Pts Each Rep Above Min
Pullups 6 - Not Timed +3 Pts Each Rep Above Min
Dips 6 - Not
Timed +2 Pts Each Rep Above Min
Bench Press 80% Body Weight 6
- Not Timed +3 Pts Each Rep Above Min
20 ft. Rope Climb in Body Armor
or Weight Vest - 25# 1 Pass
/ Fail
1 Minute Kip-ups 6 +2 Pts
Every Rep Above Min
4 x 25 M Shuttle Run Max
24 Secs +2 Pts Every 1/10 of a Sec
Under
5 Mile Run Max 40 Mins +2 Pts Every Full 15 Sec from 35 to
30 Min
If you do not meet the minimum standards in EVERY event you
will fail the entire test. The least you can score is 900 points. By adding your extra repetitions / time per
exercise you can create a team competition or have a way to grade prospective
candidates seeking to enter these Special Operations Teams. A good score is
considered 1300 and above with some scores getting about 1500 in many of the
Spec Ops units.
At the time I exceed all of the minimum standards….except run 5 miles in 40 minutes. I had just run a PT test and had to bust my ass to run one 8:15 minute mile, much less five of them in a row.
That did not sit well with me
So I decided I was going to beat the Spec Ops fitness challenge. In order to achieve that I’m going to have to tweak some things. Basically I am going to have to become Batman.
So I started adapting the Super Soldier Project into operation……
Batman by 40
Goals:
What did I do to reach those goals?
So, Did I make it?
Now 18 months and a whole lot of hard work later (Drum roll please)......................
Batman by 40 Results:
C'mon guys it's me of course I did it.
I am the goddamned Batman!
Besides reaching the Spec Op goals I set for myself, here are some other pretty cool Batman stuff I have done
As cool as all of that is it doesn't really mean shit
What have I done for you lately?
The world will always need a Batman
Project Batman Beyond:
It would be easy to sit on my laurels now
WWBD?
Steve Jimerfield always says you should retire more fit than when you were hired.
Hell, he didn't even really start working out until he was 50
So Project Batman Beyond has two facets
One is to maintain this level for the next decade.
The only way I can figure to do that is to make constant progress.
Two is to train worthy replacements to take up the mantel of the Bat when I am gone
Stayed tuned for results
Train hard, Train smart, Be safe
Knock knock
who's there?
Becca
Becca who?
Because I'M BATMAN!
Goals:
- 225lbs
- 40 Min 5 mile
- 6 min 1 mile
- 15 pull ups in one minute
- 60 push ups in one minute
- 60 sit ups in one minute
- 20 dips in one minute
What did I do to reach those goals?
Well, that will actually be several chapters of the book. I'm not going to get into the specifics here, that would make this blog far too long.
However I will begin an ongoing "Becoming Batman" blog series detailing general aspects of the program.
What I would like to address in this blog is the use of Batman or any other hero to inspire.
Batman doesn't quit
So then neither do I
As I made progress, and saw results achieving my goal became more important. It was easier to refrain from or eliminate things that deterred from that progress
Nothing succeeds like success
"Hey we are going out for ice cream want to come"
No thanks
"What are you going to have for desert?"
Discipline
The closer I got, the more real it became, the more I wanted it.
WWBD
What would Batman do? Heroes serve to inspire, that became my mantra
It's raining out I don't feel like running
WWBD?
It's been a crazy day at work and the DVR is full of cool stuff, the couch is just downstairs and the Dojo is so far away
WWBD?
This bed is so soft and warm, sleeping in would feel so good maybe today can be a rest day
WWBD?
How do you become Batman?
There really is no secret. The short answer is, make a plan that you can stick to, then stick to the plan.
On days you don't feel like sticking to the plan find inspiration.
It doesn't have to be from Batman or even a Super Hero. Here is a picture of my Sister after crushing a 7 mile run in 1 hour. You can see she draws inspiration from Captain America and Batman.
But I draw inspiration from her. She isn't a genetic freak gifted with amazing athletic abilities. She busts her ass and eats clean everyday.
Make a plan that you can stick to, then stick to the plan
You may never reach your goals. Sad but true. However, in your attempt to reach those goals whatever they are, you will make much more improvement in the attempt than if you never try to do anything great.
“The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the attempt. I may never be what I ought to be, want to be -- but how will I know unless I try?
Sure, it's scary, but what's the alternative? Stagnation - A safer, more terrible form of death. Not of the body, but of the spirit.
An animal knows what it is, and accepts it. A man may know what he is -- but he questions. He dreams. He strives. Changes. Grows.”
― Chris Claremont, Wolverine
However I will begin an ongoing "Becoming Batman" blog series detailing general aspects of the program.
What I would like to address in this blog is the use of Batman or any other hero to inspire.
Super heroes are defined as
characters with skills,
abilities or
powers, fighting against evil.
“I seek the means to fight
injustice. To turn fear against those who prey on the fearful.”
- Bruce Wayne - Batman Begins.
By most definitions, characters do
not strictly require superhuman powers to be deemed superheroes.
Terms such as crime fighters or adventurers are sometimes used to refer to those such as Batman and Green Arrow without powers who share other superhero traits
Terms such as crime fighters or adventurers are sometimes used to refer to those such as Batman and Green Arrow without powers who share other superhero traits
Heroes serve to inspire us to be more than what we are.
To become the best that we can be
Plenty times I wanted to quit (especially on the treadmill or running in the snow)
So then neither do I
As I made progress, and saw results achieving my goal became more important. It was easier to refrain from or eliminate things that deterred from that progress
Nothing succeeds like success
"Hey we are going out for ice cream want to come"
No thanks
"What are you going to have for desert?"
Discipline
The closer I got, the more real it became, the more I wanted it.
WWBD
What would Batman do? Heroes serve to inspire, that became my mantra
It's raining out I don't feel like running
WWBD?
It's been a crazy day at work and the DVR is full of cool stuff, the couch is just downstairs and the Dojo is so far away
WWBD?
This bed is so soft and warm, sleeping in would feel so good maybe today can be a rest day
WWBD?
That is what Batman would do
How do you become Batman?
There really is no secret. The short answer is, make a plan that you can stick to, then stick to the plan.
On days you don't feel like sticking to the plan find inspiration.
It doesn't have to be from Batman or even a Super Hero. Here is a picture of my Sister after crushing a 7 mile run in 1 hour. You can see she draws inspiration from Captain America and Batman.
But I draw inspiration from her. She isn't a genetic freak gifted with amazing athletic abilities. She busts her ass and eats clean everyday.
Make a plan that you can stick to, then stick to the plan
You may never reach your goals. Sad but true. However, in your attempt to reach those goals whatever they are, you will make much more improvement in the attempt than if you never try to do anything great.
“The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the attempt. I may never be what I ought to be, want to be -- but how will I know unless I try?
Sure, it's scary, but what's the alternative? Stagnation - A safer, more terrible form of death. Not of the body, but of the spirit.
An animal knows what it is, and accepts it. A man may know what he is -- but he questions. He dreams. He strives. Changes. Grows.”
― Chris Claremont, Wolverine
So, Did I make it?
Now 18 months and a whole lot of hard work later (Drum roll please)......................
Batman by 40 Results:
- 195lbs
- 40 Min 5 mile
- 6 min 1 mile
- 33 pull ups in one minute
- 62 push ups in one minute
- 69 sit ups in one minute
- 34 dips in one minute
I am the goddamned Batman!
Besides reaching the Spec Op goals I set for myself, here are some other pretty cool Batman stuff I have done
- There is a signal used to call me when I am needed to apprehend a criminal too dangerous for the police to handle on their own.
- I have driven heavily armored assault vehicles retro engineered for crime fighting
- I wear a utility belt containing weapons and gadgets to fight crime
- I’ve crashed through windows
- I’ve smashed in doors
- I’ve smashed through walls
- I’ve entered locations before the SWAT team and handled the situation to minimize risk to others
- I’ve repelled off buildings
- I’ve repealed off buildings up side down
- I’ve climbed buildings to stoically observe criminals from the roof tops (brooding optional)
- I've used explosive powders as a distraction (theatricality and deception)
As cool as all of that is it doesn't really mean shit
What have I done for you lately?
The world will always need a Batman
Project Batman Beyond:
It would be easy to sit on my laurels now
WWBD?
Steve Jimerfield always says you should retire more fit than when you were hired.
Hell, he didn't even really start working out until he was 50
So Project Batman Beyond has two facets
One is to maintain this level for the next decade.
The only way I can figure to do that is to make constant progress.
Two is to train worthy replacements to take up the mantel of the Bat when I am gone
Stayed tuned for results
Train hard, Train smart, Be safe
Knock knock
who's there?
Becca
Becca who?
Because I'M BATMAN!
