Had to learn that being physically fit isn't the same as being in shape for the job

During my first year as a firefighter, I compared my gym workouts to the actual job demands... I could bench press 250 pounds but after dragging a 180 pound dummy up three flights of stairs I was completely gassed. My captain took me aside and showed me how I was wasting time on heavy weights when I should've been doing circuit training with gear on. That conversation made me switch from bodybuilding style lifts to functional endurance work like stair climbs with a hose pack. Has anyone else realized the thing they trained hardest for wasn't matching what they actually needed to do?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannah40023d ago

Wait, you could bench 250 but a dummy on stairs wrecked you? That's wild.

danielnelson23d ago

250 pounds of ego and zero stairs training will humble you quick.

jennifer83322d ago

Wait the guy who BENCHED 250 got wrecked by a flight of STAIRS? That is absolutely INSANE. I mean I get it if you've never done any leg work but come on, stairs are basically just walking but up. You'd think the guy would have SOME kind of cardio from carrying all that muscle around. 250 pounds of ego sounds about right if he thought lifting in the gym meant he could skip real life stuff like stairs. That's honestly embarrassing for him.