The Core Buddy Effect — Edition #02
Every so often we run a challenge week inside the Core Buddy events. This one was holds week. One hold a day, five days, points for how long you last, and a leaderboard quietly ticking over in the background.
Lyndsey Morrison is a nurse who spends twelve-hour shifts on her feet. She kept a diary of how the week went. Here it is, day by day, in her own words.
Day one. The plank, the pyjamas, and 1:08 on the clock.
Day 1 — the plank
Her honest reaction when she saw what the week opened with:
"When I saw the plank I was like, ok, can manage. But then I thought, this will only get harder as the week goes on. The fear kicked in."
She held it for 1 minute 8 seconds — into the 100-point bracket on day one. The lower core was first to let her know about it.
"The first 10 seconds was easy. I thought, I can give this a really good go this morning, and remembered the pointers from PT. The last ten seconds was a shaky end but I kept going, determined to push through."
Day two, before the curtains were even open.
Day 2 — the superman
1 minute 23 — her plank time beaten. And a surprise about where the work landed:
"I felt it the most in my glutes, which did surprise me, because I was expecting it to be my arms, having them straight out in the air."
"The superman felt easier than the plank. I always think my arms and legs are stronger than my core, which is what caused me to fail the plank."
No soreness from day one, by the way. The sore arms were from her own dumbbell session at the gym. Life carries on around a challenge week — that's rather the point of it.
Day three. Arms back, legs long, sofa spectating.
Day 3 — the hollow hold
1 minute 12. And the hollow hold's reputation held up:
"It really did live up to its name. It made Monday's plank seem like a breeze in the park. Your core is burning, your shoulders are aching and the legs are shaking."
What was going through her head when her legs wanted to drop:
"No, you can hold a little bit longer, legs. They were like shaking leafs, but I pushed through. The music kept me going, to a degree."
Halfway through the week, I asked how the motivation was holding up:
"Having the event and then throwing in a challenge has kept me really motivated to keep going. It has made me see that I'm more capable than I think."
That last line is the whole reason we run these weeks.
Day four. The one she used to struggle with.
Day 4 — the side plank
1 minute 8, top bracket — on the move she'd normally struggle with. The week opened with her fearing the plank; by Thursday she was holding a side plank for the same time the front one gave her on Monday.
"I'm noticing that my posture is getting better, especially when I'm on my feet for twelve hours as a nurse. My running is starting to improve as well."
Four days in, the battle had gone quiet:
"It's definitely starting to feel like routine. In the morning it's just up, do the hold, then straight into the event workout, followed by one from the generator."
Day five. The V-sit, and 1:04 on the clock.
Day 5 — the V-sit
The week saved its hardest for last.
"I held the V-sit for 1:04, which I was surprised about, because I normally really struggle with this move. I'd definitely say it was probably the toughest hold of the week."
And the Monday-to-Friday difference, in her own words:
"From Monday to today I feel like I've gone from just trying to survive the hold to actually feeling more confident in myself, and knowing that I can keep going when it starts to feel uncomfortable. I've definitely become more aware of technique and posture too."
Where she finished
Five days, five holds, 500 points — the top bracket every single day. A plank she feared on Monday, a V-sit she'd normally struggle with held for over a minute on Friday, and a habit that now starts before breakfast: up, do the hold, into the event workout, one from the generator.
"Have really enjoyed this extra little challenge this week with the holds, along with the increase of time in the events."
I asked what she'd tell someone starting holds on Monday:
"Even if you think you can't hold it for long, just give it a go. You might surprise yourself with what you're capable of."
Her advice for anyone starting holds on Monday
"Everyone has to start somewhere, and the more you do it, the stronger you become."
Fancy the next challenge week?
Challenge weeks live inside Core Buddy events — a new one opens every month, with the workouts, the points and a group keeping each other honest. Free to download — and the 30-day free trial covers the lot.
