I’m planning on giving depletion pushups a try and I was just wondering when in a workout they would be placed. I know that they would be placed on a tempo day and on the day before a day off. What I am wondering is, would they be done before or after the tempo runs in the training session?
I would do em after, to insure quality running, if that is what you are looking for.
btw, depletion pushups, in sets, is CNS taxing.
they tax the muscle but i don’t think they taxing to nervous system.
Do them and do them properly and I think you will know the answer! Ouch :eek:
CNS stress is based on % effort not exercise type. If you can do dozens of push-ups and you can bench 300 pounds, I think push-ups are fine.
Some young female athletes I work with push-ups are the strength training and not depletion work.
For some of us masters athletes pushups are strength work too! 
I have deduced that depletion pushups are CNS taxing from this quote from CF re: a hamstring running rehab schedule he prescribed.
“6: Upper body weights should be ramped up to compensate for the lower CNS output from the running portion of the program and should be supplemented once a week by depletion push-ups (max possible till you drop, wait 90 sec, again till you drop, 90sec, repeat for the last time in the set.)”
joesdad,
I think you misinterepted what was being said.
If running cant be done the volume (as well as intensity) of upper body weights can be increased, adding the depletion push ups adds to the volume of work.
Clemson’s statement says it best, “CNS stress is based on % effort…”
I would do them BEFORE tempo and upper body weights are always (well generally) done before tempo. In tempo, b/c of its low intensity and low need for correct running technique, its used as a form of flushing out potential lactate build-up during the depletion push ups as well as any other part of the workout beforehand.