8x8: progressively doing the same work in less time to improve fitness

This is merely coincidental but in our eighth year and our eighth block, we are doing 8x8. What are the odds? Was this a mere coincidence? Or is there a deeper and much more complex story behind doing 8x8 on the 8th block of our 8th year? 

Let's start with this density-based strategy. Density can go in two directions: expanding and retracting. Expanding is trying to get more volume in a set period. Where retracting is doing the same volume in less time. In the case of the 8x8 on Y8B8, we are going to do a retraction-density-based strategy. Essentially doing 64 reps faster and faster each week. 

If you rotate 8 horizontally you get ∞ infinity. That is interesting in itself. Infinity is the foundation for calculus. Calculus was created by Isaac Newton. Issac Newtown was a well-known alchemist and religious zealot. He was famously trying to decode the bible to find a hidden message. What is the hidden message of 8x8 on Y8B8?

What a retracting-density-based strategy gets us is a couple of things. One being muscular endurance and the other being muscular hypertrophy. This method is designed to increase muscular fatigue. Fatigue will be the rate-limiting step to both progressive overload and overall outcome. Fatigue is an emotional state in response to things like hydrogen from glycolysis (breaking down of sugar) and calcium ions from muscular contractions occurring. As we move further into the work more hydrogen and calcium ions overwhelm the cell and limit our ability to perform another rep and set. The ability to manage cellular acidity is the foundation of getting the most from any density-based strategy. 

Another interesting factor about infinity is that it cannot be proven, so it is still a theory. It is assumed that is true, but what if it's not? Fractal math will show that things that are true on a macroscopic level are true on a microscopic level. How small can we go? A concept of an infinite surface but retracting volume such as a Gabriel’s Horn that infinitely retracts in circumference is a theory that could disprove the existence of infinity. What is the connection between 8x8 on Y8B8 to Gabriel’s Horn? That we are facing the convergence of fatigue and performance? Are the metaphorical 4 walls of fatigue closing in on us and limiting our ability to decrease our time each week? What is the limit here? 

The last point on 8x8 is that we need to ensure we are adequately prepared for training. This is not a pacing thing or a partner thing. This is a you thing. You need to be hydrated, well rested (as much as possible), and increase focus on nutrition. Your ability to manage fatigue is a dual part limiting the stress you are coming to work out with and managing the stress you are incurring during the workout. Approaching a training block like this without a clear plan of how to limit outside stress will lead to an expansion of time which is not the goal. 

One more interesting factor is Infinity is Hilbert’s Infinite Hotel. If we have a hotel with an infinite number of rooms and each one of those rooms is full, how do we accommodate a new guest? The first strategy would be asking everyone to move up one number. What if we had to take on another infinite number of guests? What Hilbert theorized was everyone currently staying at the hotel took a room number double their current room to accommodate the infinite number of new guests. How does 8x8 on Y8B8 connect to this? What if in Week 1 you are by yourself at a rack and in Week 2 you add someone, in Week 3 you add another, and in Week 4 you add even another? How are you going to retract density-wise if you are adding more to the rack? What I think Hilbert was trying to do here was get us ready for the convergence of infinity and logistics are inevitable and you are going to have to work hard regardless if there's 1 or 3 people at your rack!

There is nothing random in the universe. 8x8 on year 8 block is not a random event we just say, “ oh, that’s weird”.

We are at the intersection of infinity and reality.

The only thing real about infinity is that we cannot disprove it. The only truth about 8x8 on year 8 block 8 is that reality is made up.