Updating my Core Challenge Routine – Week 4 Day 5 [EXE]

Core Challenge
Core Challenge from Neilarey.com

I realized today that I have been doing my Plank Reaches somewhat wrong. I think what I have been calling plank reaches are some kind of combination of a plank reach and a plank rotation. Basically I am in push-up position and I reach forward with one arm, then out to the side, then up in the air, and finally under my chest across my body. I felt it was a pretty good exercise, but I could not get close to the 30 or so that were asked for in the core challenge workout. After looking online a bit, I found a YouTube of someone doing some plank reaches.


They are planking with their elbows at 90 degrees and just reaching forward. This makes a lot more sense to me when I am being asked to do so many. I guess these can also be called elbow plank reaches, but they look similar to what is in the core challenge picture than what I was doing previously.

Today is the first day I am giving these new plank reaches a try. I'll only do 15 because they are new, but I hope to be able to ramp up to the number of reps asked for in the core challenge (I am supposed to be doing about the same number as push-ups).

Week 4 Day 5:

  • 2×38 Push-ups
  • 2×30 seconds Plank
  • 15 Plank Reaches
  • 2×20 seconds
  • – 23/21 Jumping Jacks
  • – 27/25 High Knees
  • – 13/15 Squats
  • Running 20:05 minutes = 1.73 miles

The 15 plank reaches were good, but different. I think I can catch up to the number of push-ups for at least the first set before I go running each day. After my run, I skipped them today, and I might do a reduced set at this point since I really get wiped out by the push-ups after my run as it is. We'll see how it goes.