I would be afraid to test now. In college, I could do 19 which was the requirement for a max on the pull-up portion of a the military PFT. I might be able to manage 3 today but really don't know.
I agree - I'm scared to find out how puny I've become. Besides, I'd have to do it at the gym, where others would observe my struggle. But then, it might be useful to know...
Every time pullups and chinups come up at my strength workouts, it's time for me to grab the big/thick band that goes under my feet. I'm one of those guys that are generally strong, but for life of me cannot really do either (although chinups are easier for me, because they engage the bicep too). It's always been that way for me, all the way back to younger school days when I was more weight than muscle.
I can rock out a solid 1 1/2. Insert embarrassed laugh here. The 1/2 comes on my first one when I obviously jump to grab the bar and my momentum carries me upwards. Upper body strength has never been a strong point of mine.
I don't care how strong I get, including back in my heavy lifting days. There are 2 things I am never able to do. Pushups and pull ups. Just can't do em.
I can probably do ~12-15 pullups (but might do some kipping which would not be military approved)... maybe more when I'm at race weight... About ~10 yrs ago I was training for a decathlon competition that had pull-ups as one of the events and could do up to ~25 or so in training (and I weighed more then than I do now)...
Side note, way back then I could also do 82 consecutive Dips... None of that muscle helps me now when I try to run now though... *sigh*
yeah man, what a "Debbie Downer"!!! I have no clue and extremely embarrassed at the inevitable results. I would say 5 and then wouldn't be able to lift my arms for a week :)
I do one or two pull-ups after every masters swim practice (the only place I have access to a pull-up bar). My arms are already pretty fatigued at that point but, honestly, I probably can't do many more when rested.
OK, I was at the gym tonight and this thread shamed me into trying. And I did 3. Might work on this and see if I can at keast do 5 in the next couple of months.
With anything physical, you get better at what you exercise/practice. I'm an Ironman; I embarrassingly have little upper body strength; but can run/bike/swim longer than non-triathletes. 😁
Last year I went from 5 pull ups to 18 in ~6 weeks because I was doing pull ups about every other day. Likewise, with push ups. I haven't been doing push ups since last OS and can maybe do 15 now, but (as I've done in the past) if I start doing push ups 3 times a week, I can easily build up to 40-50 in 4-6 weeks.
The number of pull ups is not an indication of strength or weakness, just the state of muscles we do or don't use. 😂
Hey team! I am new to EN and have been loving going through the forums. I began triathlon training three months ago and my goal is to maintain and hopefully increase my 10-strict pull ups. The reason is that having a strong back is essential to maintaining a strong swim stroke, as well as maintaining good posture on the run and feeling strong in the aero position on the bike. Though it may seem like triathlon does not require back strength, that is simply not the case! Remember, our bodies move in perfect synergy and EVERYTHING is connected. Having weak lats could lead to injuries in other areas including the shoulder and the lumbar spine.
How do I do this? Every time I enter the gym, whether I am going to swim, bike, run, do yoga, etc. I hit the pull-up bar. I do 5 sets of 10 pull-ups, 10 dips, and 10 push-ups (in that order). If you are new to this, i suggest starting out with as many as you can do an increasing over time. If you can only do 2, do negatives. If you can not do negatives, use a band. Though this may sound trivial to a triathlete, over time, lack of strength will cause injuries. Doing these body-weight movements is hard for a reason-they build strength and help maintain a well-balanced physique!
I'm a newbie to this awesome sport of triathlon, but I hope I helped in some way!
I love this thread.. anyone read the Jessie Itzler book "living with a seal?" great book on what an already in shape middle aged guy did in 30 days, the first pull up work out is hysterical.. a good light read for when you are feet up before a race.
@scott dinhofer I haven't read the book but have seen a few interviews with Jessie... they are hilarious!! I also consume as much Goggins as I can. He is one amazing person. Have you read "can't hurt me" Goggins' book? Also a great read.
Increasing number of pull-ups is easy. Need to do lots of sets. The easiest way to increase fast is that whenever you see a bar that you can hang from do a few pull-ups. If you are in the gym do some through out the time you are there. If you really want to get good then there are programs you can follow. Here is one that seems reasonable.
Comments
10 now.... pre-triathlete 30
I would be afraid to test now. In college, I could do 19 which was the requirement for a max on the pull-up portion of a the military PFT. I might be able to manage 3 today but really don't know.
I agree - I'm scared to find out how puny I've become. Besides, I'd have to do it at the gym, where others would observe my struggle. But then, it might be useful to know...
Every time pullups and chinups come up at my strength workouts, it's time for me to grab the big/thick band that goes under my feet. I'm one of those guys that are generally strong, but for life of me cannot really do either (although chinups are easier for me, because they engage the bicep too). It's always been that way for me, all the way back to younger school days when I was more weight than muscle.
I can rock out a solid 1 1/2. Insert embarrassed laugh here. The 1/2 comes on my first one when I obviously jump to grab the bar and my momentum carries me upwards. Upper body strength has never been a strong point of mine.
I don't care how strong I get, including back in my heavy lifting days. There are 2 things I am never able to do. Pushups and pull ups. Just can't do em.
So to quote Dean Wormer, "zero point zero".
I can probably do ~12-15 pullups (but might do some kipping which would not be military approved)... maybe more when I'm at race weight... About ~10 yrs ago I was training for a decathlon competition that had pull-ups as one of the events and could do up to ~25 or so in training (and I weighed more then than I do now)...
Side note, way back then I could also do 82 consecutive Dips... None of that muscle helps me now when I try to run now though... *sigh*
yeah man, what a "Debbie Downer"!!! I have no clue and extremely embarrassed at the inevitable results. I would say 5 and then wouldn't be able to lift my arms for a week :)
I think I am in the same boat as @tim cronk
10 now.... pre-triathlete 30
When I was deployed and practicing every day, I could do 3. I can’t do any now.
I do one or two pull-ups after every masters swim practice (the only place I have access to a pull-up bar). My arms are already pretty fatigued at that point but, honestly, I probably can't do many more when rested.
When I was young I could do 10 or so.
No idea, but now I am intrigued.
I can do low 20's strict and about 40 kipping. But I've only been racing for a year. I've spent the previous 6 years competing in Crossfit.
I did 2 today in the middle of weight trainng @ the gym. Maybe I'll try to add one a week? At least it was > zero
OK, I was at the gym tonight and this thread shamed me into trying. And I did 3. Might work on this and see if I can at keast do 5 in the next couple of months.
With anything physical, you get better at what you exercise/practice. I'm an Ironman; I embarrassingly have little upper body strength; but can run/bike/swim longer than non-triathletes. 😁
Last year I went from 5 pull ups to 18 in ~6 weeks because I was doing pull ups about every other day. Likewise, with push ups. I haven't been doing push ups since last OS and can maybe do 15 now, but (as I've done in the past) if I start doing push ups 3 times a week, I can easily build up to 40-50 in 4-6 weeks.
The number of pull ups is not an indication of strength or weakness, just the state of muscles we do or don't use. 😂
Hey team! I am new to EN and have been loving going through the forums. I began triathlon training three months ago and my goal is to maintain and hopefully increase my 10-strict pull ups. The reason is that having a strong back is essential to maintaining a strong swim stroke, as well as maintaining good posture on the run and feeling strong in the aero position on the bike. Though it may seem like triathlon does not require back strength, that is simply not the case! Remember, our bodies move in perfect synergy and EVERYTHING is connected. Having weak lats could lead to injuries in other areas including the shoulder and the lumbar spine.
How do I do this? Every time I enter the gym, whether I am going to swim, bike, run, do yoga, etc. I hit the pull-up bar. I do 5 sets of 10 pull-ups, 10 dips, and 10 push-ups (in that order). If you are new to this, i suggest starting out with as many as you can do an increasing over time. If you can only do 2, do negatives. If you can not do negatives, use a band. Though this may sound trivial to a triathlete, over time, lack of strength will cause injuries. Doing these body-weight movements is hard for a reason-they build strength and help maintain a well-balanced physique!
I'm a newbie to this awesome sport of triathlon, but I hope I helped in some way!
I love this thread.. anyone read the Jessie Itzler book "living with a seal?" great book on what an already in shape middle aged guy did in 30 days, the first pull up work out is hysterical.. a good light read for when you are feet up before a race.
@scott dinhofer I haven't read the book but have seen a few interviews with Jessie... they are hilarious!! I also consume as much Goggins as I can. He is one amazing person. Have you read "can't hurt me" Goggins' book? Also a great read.
not yet, it's on the list... have watched a number of his interviews, Rich Roll & Joe Rogan did good jobs with him.
Increasing number of pull-ups is easy. Need to do lots of sets. The easiest way to increase fast is that whenever you see a bar that you can hang from do a few pull-ups. If you are in the gym do some through out the time you are there. If you really want to get good then there are programs you can follow. Here is one that seems reasonable.
That said if I don't train I can do 7-10 which is where I am now :). A few years ago I could do about 30. I was doing the Murph challenge at the time