Entry One: Personal Reflection

For this project of a week in another person's shoes, I chose to take on the role of being a professional soccer player...in the off season of course, because actually kicking the soccer ball, attending practice and working with a team is not a possibility. I chose soccer specifically because I knew it would be a lot of running which is something that I was never horrible at but I wanted to get better. For this week, starting tomorrow, I will be following the rigorous off season workout schedule of a pro athlete as well as attempt to mock their diet (minus the ample amount of protein shakes). I know that this choice will have many ups, like getting more in shape, and many downs, like soreness and waking up extra early to get in a morning run; however, I look forward to the difficulties and I am optimistic of the experience to come. I chose to do the project on this because I like knowing that I will get something beneficial out of it when it is all over. After some research, I finally found a few good sources to take a weekly workout schedule from. Also, I did have to modify some of the original work out plan because my previous gym work outs have not been nearly as rigorous as a professional athletes, and I am obviously not a men's pro soccer player. So, with that in mind I decided on the following schedule:




Monday:

1. AM:
1. Morning run... 2 miles
2. Stretch...15 minutes
2. PM:
1. Bicycling...10 miles
2. Pushups... 5 sets of 20
3. Crunches...5 sets of 40
4. Squats...5 sets of 20
5. Bicep machine...3 reps of 15
6. Triceps machine...3 reps of 15
7. Stretch

Tuesday:

1. AM:
1. Morning run...2 miles
2. Stretch...15  minutes
2. PM:
1. Bicycling...10 miles
2. Squats... 5 sets of 30
3. Calf raises...5 sets of 30
4. Bicep machine...3 reps of 15
5. Triceps machine...3 reps of 15
6. Stretch

Wednesday:

1. AM:
1. Morning run...2 miles
2. Stretch...15 minutes
2. PM:
1. Bicycling...10 miles
2. Pushups...5 sets of 20
3. Crunches...5 sets of 40
4. Squats...5 set of 20
5. Bicep machine...3 reps of 15
6. Triceps machine...3 reps of 15 
7. Stretch

Thursday:

1. AM:
1. Morning run...2 miles
2. Stretch...15  minutes
2. PM:
1. Bicycling...10 miles
2. Squats... 5 sets of 30
3. Calf raises...5 sets of 30
4. Bicep machine...3 reps of 15
5. Triceps machine...3 reps of 15
6. Stretch

Friday:

1. AM:
1. Morning run...2 miles
2. Stretch...15 minutes

1. PM:
1. PM:
   1. Bicycling...10 miles
   2. Pushups...5 sets of 20
   3. Crunches...5 sets of 40
   4. Squats...5 set of 20
   5. Bicep machine...3 reps of 15
   6. Triceps machine...3 reps of 15 
   7. Stretch

Saturday:

1. AM:
1. Morning run...3 miles
2. Stretch...15  minutes
2. PM:
1. Bicycling...10 miles
2. Squats... 5 sets of 30
3. Calf raises...5 sets of 30
4. Bicep machine...3 reps of 15
5. Triceps machine...3 reps of 15
6. Stretch

Sunday:

1. REST DAY.

In addition to that schedule, I will also have to wake up an hour and a half earlier to run, stretch and shower before having to go to school. Over the course of a week (only 6 days because Sunday is a rest day) I have to run approximately 14 miles. Now that I have it all typed out it seems like this is going to be a real struggle...even more so than I thought originally.