Why we have testing week - explained
The why’s and what of testing week
Next week we will thrown down a whole bunch of tests your way. In order to measure your strength, fitness and progression we need to take measurements and these measurements can be in any number and combination of ways. As long as the data is observable (you can take an actually measurement), measurable (it’s something that can be measured) and repeatable (it can repeated at a later date).
We can do this by repeating benchmark workouts (like the girls) on a intermittent basis, Or we can be more specific and take more certain measurements (your previous PR's) and see how these have improved and the end of a specific cycle. For those that don't have PR's its a chance to set them in the testing week.
Next week we will test some of the following (these are by no means all the things you can test)
- Absolute Strength: This can be defined as the maximum amount you can lift for 1 rep. Such as back squat, Clean and jerk etc.
- Explosive power: This can be defined as your ability to produce maximal force. This can be tested with things like max height box jump and shuttle sprint tests.
- Alactic Power/Endurance: This is your ability to maintain explosive power for extended durations. thing like repeated box jumps, plyo push ups
- Lactic Endurance: This is your ability of your lactic system to produce power over extended periods. Basically how long can you work in/around your anaerobic threshold, can be tested by things like rowing intervals and thruster ladder.
- Power Endurance: This is your ability to produce high levels of power (force, work etc) at a high rate over an extended period of time. These can be tested over a variety of workout ie 7 minutes of burpees, longer chippers and multi movements such as 10 minute of STOH, deadlifts and box jumps. These workouts covered varying time domains, but also challenged you in a range of different movements. You may see a single gymnastics movement workout, the burpee – a triplet with weightlifting and gymnastics movements – and a ‘chipper’ which included weightlifting, gymnastics and mono-structural movements.
We hope you enjoy next weeks testing week! We are excited to see some amazing efforts and PR's next week. Don't forget to have fun, don't take it all too seriously and also take the opportunity to cheer your fellow CFMB member on in a great atmosphere.
Time to make those gains!
*much of this info is thanks to a great blog by reebok Crossfit Thames