100 Push Ups exhaustion test

lobsterhug

I didn't see this covered in the other 100 push up posts, so I thought I would ask.

When I do the exhaustion test or max push up set, I need to stop and adjust my form after a while and then I continue until I can't do any more. Is that cheating? Do you stop once you can't keep your form or when your arms give out?

I'm coming up on my second exhaustion test this weekend and I want to make sure I'm getting the most out of it.

Edit: I realized my question isn't very clear. What I'm asking is, if I have to stop to adjust my form does that mean that is my max. Or is my max when my muscles can't do anymore and I can't keep my form.

iamjoesgurl

I interpreted it as saying to do as many good form pushups as you can in a row without stopping and that is your max but I don't understand what you are doing to adjust your form or how long it takes.  If it is just going to your knees for 2 seconds to adjust where you have your hands placed, I wouldn't think of that as a break.

kmjarvey

We did medals testing for cross country which included maxing out on pushups. The rule there was that you were still in your "max out" phase until your knees hit the ground. You could do any sort of adjustment as long as they didn't touch. That's what I've been going by.

lobsterhug

Ok, that's what I thought. My hands start to slip on the carpet after a while so I have to reset myself at least once to keep my form. I guess I was overthinking it.