After finishing up a Men’s Club workout recently, one of the guys came up to me and shared something that stuck with me.
He’s been coming out for about a year now, so he’s done the Burpee Test plenty of times. For those who haven’t heard me talk about it, the test is this: 15 burpees every minute on the minute. We usually go for 5 minutes.
When he first started doing it, he told me he didn’t really get the point. He thought it was just another workout or drill.
But week after week he kept showing up and doing it, even though it wasn’t something he necessarily looked forward to.
Over time he started to understand what we talk about during the test. Controlling your breathing. Staying composed. Finding a steady pace even when things get uncomfortable.
That’s really the whole point of it.
What surprised him though was where the lesson started showing up (not just during the workout).
It started showing up at work.
It started showing up at home with his wife and kids.
It started showing up at home with his wife and kids.
When things get stressful or he starts feeling overwhelmed, he uses the same breathing rhythm he learned doing burpees. Slow the breath down. Stay composed. Control what you can control.
Instead of reacting, he’s able to stay calmer.
Hearing that was a good reminder for me of something we talk about all the time.
Yes, what we’re doing is fitness.
But it’s never just fitness.
The discipline you build during a hard set.
The ability to stay calm when your heart rate is through the roof.
The practice of showing up every week even when life is busy.
The ability to stay calm when your heart rate is through the roof.
The practice of showing up every week even when life is busy.
Those things carry over into everything else.
Sometimes it starts with something as simple as a few burpees.
If you're feeling overwhelmed today, try this:
15 burpees every minute for 3–5 minutes.
Focus on your breathing. Find a smooth rhythm. Stay in control. You might be surprised how much better you feel on the other side.
And if you’re looking for a group of guys to train with and learn those lessons alongside, that’s exactly why the TRAIN HARD Men’s Club exists.
Because when men train together, the impact goes far beyond the workout.
Keep training hard.
