Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Explained
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Have you ever found yourself thinking about how hard a workout is when you’re in the middle of it? You may not even realise it’s happening – wondering how much effort you’ve put in and whether you’ve got more left in the tank to push further.
That entire self-reflective assessment goes by another, slightly more technical name: the rate of perceived exertion (RPE).
What is the Rate of Perceived Exertion?
The most important thing to understand is that your RPE is completely subjective – it’s different for everyone based on their own fitness levels and overall capabilities.

With that in mind, RPE can be defined as a subjective measure of exercise intensity.
Using a scale from 1 to 10 (with 1 being the least effort and 10 being the most effort), an individual makes an assessment on how much effort they are putting in at that particular moment.
What Factors can Influence RPE?
Your RPE can change from day to day or even at different times during an exercise session. Generally speaking, we can split the factors into two categories, physical and psychological:
Physical:
- Temperature (heat and humidity)
- Environment (terrain and gradient)
- Time (distance and duration)
- Fatigue
Psychological
- Motivation
- External (stress levels and distractions)
- Determination
- Fatigue
Why we use RPE in Exercise and Sports
As you can clearly see, an individual's RPE is constantly changing. One of the biggest benefits of the RPE scale is adaptation: changes can be made to training sessions that account for the physical and psychological factors while still challenging athletes.
For coaches, it’s also a quick way to gauge how athletes are feeling. Taking the focus away from specific benchmarks like personal bests or race splits creates an environment with significantly less pressure. Some days, the best you can do is simply show up!
How to Implement Rate of Perceived Exertion in Training
How you use RPE in your training will ultimately depend on your goals. If the external factors risk influencing traditional metrics too heavily then the RPE scale offers a simple alternative.
It’s also a great way of communicating effort between coaches and athletes – we all know what it means when we’re told to give 10/10 effort! This is especially useful for endurance athletes who can develop their discipline IQ as there are many times when a sprint finish makes all the difference.
Final thoughts
It’s always a good idea to monitor your exercise performance as it highlights a clear path to improvement. The same goes for exercise intensity – using the RPE scale allows athletes to make adjustments in the moment that don’t negatively impact long-term goals.
Fun - Honesty - SIMPLICITY - Smash Life - Mental Toughness - Hard Work

GYMNASTICS
No Thursday PM Classes for the next 6 weeks.
This week, we’re working on handstand push-up development. We’ll start on the floor working on hip drive power, headstand balance and core work followed by box and wall drills before a strength piece to finish.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's HYBRID session, we are working through repeats of specific sections of the race to dial in timings and feel. The primary focus will be on the initial four stages of the race.
MOBILITY
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week, we will focus on the squat snatch. With a fun complex snatch pull, Hang squat snatch and OHS. Great technique session!

The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com\
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds

Monday
Session: LRC Tempo
There is no in-person session today. LRC Unlimited and Online clients, please check your TrainingPeaks accounts for the built session. Enjoy.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Session: LRC Intervals
There is no in-person session today. LRC Unlimited and Online clients, please check your TrainingPeaks accounts for the built session. Enjoy.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This is our weekly Tempo Session with InnerFight Endurance. Come ready to run, work hard, and enjoy coffee afterwards.
Sunday
Time: 5:29am
Location: Cafe Peloton car park
Session: The Coffee Run
Route options:
5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/evqgc848
10km: https://onthegomap.com/s/63kid650
14.5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/v56bkn24
19.5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/se0bifs8

Monday:
Starting the week chasing a 1RM in the push press before partnering up to chase some Calories on the ski!
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 - 1 Push press build to a max
Conditioning:
3 Rounds in pairs, in a 7-minute window
40/30 cal ski
40 TTB
40 push Press (60/40)
Cal Ski in the remaining time
Rest 3 mins
Tuesday:
Bringing the heat on a Tuesday with some 1RM Deadlifts! 9min AMRAP will follow this workout will get Spicy!
Strength:
A) EMOM 12
M1 - 20-30 sec dip support
M2 - 20 sec/leg sl glute bridge
M3 - 15 Banded Good Mornings
B) Every 90 sec x 6 - 2 Deadlift building
C) 8 mins to establish a 1RM
Conditioning:
9min AMRAP
5 DL @ 60% of 1 RM
5 Handstand Push Ups
*Every round, add one rep!
Wednesday:
Some strict work to get the upper body working, then 8 3-minute rounds where the harder you work, the more rest you get!
Strength:
EMOM x 10 1/5 strict pull-ups
Conditioning:
Every 3 mins x 8
18/15/12 cal Ass bike
8 DB Thrusters
8 pull-ups
Thursday:
What better than building to a heavy Front Squat followed by all-out 500m efforts on the rower.
Strength
A) Every 2 mins x 5 - 2/2/2/2/5 front squat
B) Every 2.30 mins x 5 16 KB Walking Lunge into 12 Alt KB Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
For time
500m row
Rest 3 mins
500m row
Friday:
What an end to the week, an upper-body pump session in Therapy!
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 9
A: 12-15 DB Skull Crushers
B: 10-15 barbell bicep curl
C: 5/5 Alternating DB Z Press
Conditioning:
28min AMRAP
3 DB Renegade Rows
12 Dual DB Deadlift
5 Wall Walks
Pool Run
Rest 90 sec
Every round + 1 Renegade Row on Each Arm
.webp)
Have you ever found yourself thinking about how hard a workout is when you’re in the middle of it? You may not even realise it’s happening – wondering how much effort you’ve put in and whether you’ve got more left in the tank to push further.
That entire self-reflective assessment goes by another, slightly more technical name: the rate of perceived exertion (RPE).
What is the Rate of Perceived Exertion?
The most important thing to understand is that your RPE is completely subjective – it’s different for everyone based on their own fitness levels and overall capabilities.

With that in mind, RPE can be defined as a subjective measure of exercise intensity.
Using a scale from 1 to 10 (with 1 being the least effort and 10 being the most effort), an individual makes an assessment on how much effort they are putting in at that particular moment.
What Factors can Influence RPE?
Your RPE can change from day to day or even at different times during an exercise session. Generally speaking, we can split the factors into two categories, physical and psychological:
Physical:
- Temperature (heat and humidity)
- Environment (terrain and gradient)
- Time (distance and duration)
- Fatigue
Psychological
- Motivation
- External (stress levels and distractions)
- Determination
- Fatigue
Why we use RPE in Exercise and Sports
As you can clearly see, an individual's RPE is constantly changing. One of the biggest benefits of the RPE scale is adaptation: changes can be made to training sessions that account for the physical and psychological factors while still challenging athletes.
For coaches, it’s also a quick way to gauge how athletes are feeling. Taking the focus away from specific benchmarks like personal bests or race splits creates an environment with significantly less pressure. Some days, the best you can do is simply show up!
How to Implement Rate of Perceived Exertion in Training
How you use RPE in your training will ultimately depend on your goals. If the external factors risk influencing traditional metrics too heavily then the RPE scale offers a simple alternative.
It’s also a great way of communicating effort between coaches and athletes – we all know what it means when we’re told to give 10/10 effort! This is especially useful for endurance athletes who can develop their discipline IQ as there are many times when a sprint finish makes all the difference.
Final thoughts
It’s always a good idea to monitor your exercise performance as it highlights a clear path to improvement. The same goes for exercise intensity – using the RPE scale allows athletes to make adjustments in the moment that don’t negatively impact long-term goals.
Fun - Honesty - SIMPLICITY - Smash Life - Mental Toughness - Hard Work

The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com\
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds

Monday
Session: LRC Tempo
There is no in-person session today. LRC Unlimited and Online clients, please check your TrainingPeaks accounts for the built session. Enjoy.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Session: LRC Intervals
There is no in-person session today. LRC Unlimited and Online clients, please check your TrainingPeaks accounts for the built session. Enjoy.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This is our weekly Tempo Session with InnerFight Endurance. Come ready to run, work hard, and enjoy coffee afterwards.
Sunday
Time: 5:29am
Location: Cafe Peloton car park
Session: The Coffee Run
Route options:
5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/evqgc848
10km: https://onthegomap.com/s/63kid650
14.5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/v56bkn24
19.5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/se0bifs8

Monday:
Starting the week chasing a 1RM in the push press before partnering up to chase some Calories on the ski!
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 - 1 Push press build to a max
Conditioning:
3 Rounds in pairs, in a 7-minute window
40/30 cal ski
40 TTB
40 push Press (60/40)
Cal Ski in the remaining time
Rest 3 mins
Tuesday:
Bringing the heat on a Tuesday with some 1RM Deadlifts! 9min AMRAP will follow this workout will get Spicy!
Strength:
A) EMOM 12
M1 - 20-30 sec dip support
M2 - 20 sec/leg sl glute bridge
M3 - 15 Banded Good Mornings
B) Every 90 sec x 6 - 2 Deadlift building
C) 8 mins to establish a 1RM
Conditioning:
9min AMRAP
5 DL @ 60% of 1 RM
5 Handstand Push Ups
*Every round, add one rep!
Wednesday:
Some strict work to get the upper body working, then 8 3-minute rounds where the harder you work, the more rest you get!
Strength:
EMOM x 10 1/5 strict pull-ups
Conditioning:
Every 3 mins x 8
18/15/12 cal Ass bike
8 DB Thrusters
8 pull-ups
Thursday:
What better than building to a heavy Front Squat followed by all-out 500m efforts on the rower.
Strength
A) Every 2 mins x 5 - 2/2/2/2/5 front squat
B) Every 2.30 mins x 5 16 KB Walking Lunge into 12 Alt KB Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
For time
500m row
Rest 3 mins
500m row
Friday:
What an end to the week, an upper-body pump session in Therapy!
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 9
A: 12-15 DB Skull Crushers
B: 10-15 barbell bicep curl
C: 5/5 Alternating DB Z Press
Conditioning:
28min AMRAP
3 DB Renegade Rows
12 Dual DB Deadlift
5 Wall Walks
Pool Run
Rest 90 sec
Every round + 1 Renegade Row on Each Arm

GYMNASTICS
No Thursday PM Classes for the next 6 weeks.
This week, we’re working on handstand push-up development. We’ll start on the floor working on hip drive power, headstand balance and core work followed by box and wall drills before a strength piece to finish.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's HYBRID session, we are working through repeats of specific sections of the race to dial in timings and feel. The primary focus will be on the initial four stages of the race.
MOBILITY
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week, we will focus on the squat snatch. With a fun complex snatch pull, Hang squat snatch and OHS. Great technique session!
.webp)
Have you ever found yourself thinking about how hard a workout is when you’re in the middle of it? You may not even realise it’s happening – wondering how much effort you’ve put in and whether you’ve got more left in the tank to push further.
That entire self-reflective assessment goes by another, slightly more technical name: the rate of perceived exertion (RPE).
What is the Rate of Perceived Exertion?
The most important thing to understand is that your RPE is completely subjective – it’s different for everyone based on their own fitness levels and overall capabilities.

With that in mind, RPE can be defined as a subjective measure of exercise intensity.
Using a scale from 1 to 10 (with 1 being the least effort and 10 being the most effort), an individual makes an assessment on how much effort they are putting in at that particular moment.
What Factors can Influence RPE?
Your RPE can change from day to day or even at different times during an exercise session. Generally speaking, we can split the factors into two categories, physical and psychological:
Physical:
- Temperature (heat and humidity)
- Environment (terrain and gradient)
- Time (distance and duration)
- Fatigue
Psychological
- Motivation
- External (stress levels and distractions)
- Determination
- Fatigue
Why we use RPE in Exercise and Sports
As you can clearly see, an individual's RPE is constantly changing. One of the biggest benefits of the RPE scale is adaptation: changes can be made to training sessions that account for the physical and psychological factors while still challenging athletes.
For coaches, it’s also a quick way to gauge how athletes are feeling. Taking the focus away from specific benchmarks like personal bests or race splits creates an environment with significantly less pressure. Some days, the best you can do is simply show up!
How to Implement Rate of Perceived Exertion in Training
How you use RPE in your training will ultimately depend on your goals. If the external factors risk influencing traditional metrics too heavily then the RPE scale offers a simple alternative.
It’s also a great way of communicating effort between coaches and athletes – we all know what it means when we’re told to give 10/10 effort! This is especially useful for endurance athletes who can develop their discipline IQ as there are many times when a sprint finish makes all the difference.
Final thoughts
It’s always a good idea to monitor your exercise performance as it highlights a clear path to improvement. The same goes for exercise intensity – using the RPE scale allows athletes to make adjustments in the moment that don’t negatively impact long-term goals.
Fun - Honesty - SIMPLICITY - Smash Life - Mental Toughness - Hard Work

Monday
Session: LRC Tempo
There is no in-person session today. LRC Unlimited and Online clients, please check your TrainingPeaks accounts for the built session. Enjoy.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Session: LRC Intervals
There is no in-person session today. LRC Unlimited and Online clients, please check your TrainingPeaks accounts for the built session. Enjoy.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This is our weekly Tempo Session with InnerFight Endurance. Come ready to run, work hard, and enjoy coffee afterwards.
Sunday
Time: 5:29am
Location: Cafe Peloton car park
Session: The Coffee Run
Route options:
5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/evqgc848
10km: https://onthegomap.com/s/63kid650
14.5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/v56bkn24
19.5km: https://onthegomap.com/s/se0bifs8

Monday:
Starting the week chasing a 1RM in the push press before partnering up to chase some Calories on the ski!
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 8 - 1 Push press build to a max
Conditioning:
3 Rounds in pairs, in a 7-minute window
40/30 cal ski
40 TTB
40 push Press (60/40)
Cal Ski in the remaining time
Rest 3 mins
Tuesday:
Bringing the heat on a Tuesday with some 1RM Deadlifts! 9min AMRAP will follow this workout will get Spicy!
Strength:
A) EMOM 12
M1 - 20-30 sec dip support
M2 - 20 sec/leg sl glute bridge
M3 - 15 Banded Good Mornings
B) Every 90 sec x 6 - 2 Deadlift building
C) 8 mins to establish a 1RM
Conditioning:
9min AMRAP
5 DL @ 60% of 1 RM
5 Handstand Push Ups
*Every round, add one rep!
Wednesday:
Some strict work to get the upper body working, then 8 3-minute rounds where the harder you work, the more rest you get!
Strength:
EMOM x 10 1/5 strict pull-ups
Conditioning:
Every 3 mins x 8
18/15/12 cal Ass bike
8 DB Thrusters
8 pull-ups
Thursday:
What better than building to a heavy Front Squat followed by all-out 500m efforts on the rower.
Strength
A) Every 2 mins x 5 - 2/2/2/2/5 front squat
B) Every 2.30 mins x 5 16 KB Walking Lunge into 12 Alt KB Gorilla Rows
Conditioning:
For time
500m row
Rest 3 mins
500m row
Friday:
What an end to the week, an upper-body pump session in Therapy!
Strength:
Every 90 sec x 9
A: 12-15 DB Skull Crushers
B: 10-15 barbell bicep curl
C: 5/5 Alternating DB Z Press
Conditioning:
28min AMRAP
3 DB Renegade Rows
12 Dual DB Deadlift
5 Wall Walks
Pool Run
Rest 90 sec
Every round + 1 Renegade Row on Each Arm

GYMNASTICS
No Thursday PM Classes for the next 6 weeks.
This week, we’re working on handstand push-up development. We’ll start on the floor working on hip drive power, headstand balance and core work followed by box and wall drills before a strength piece to finish.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's HYBRID session, we are working through repeats of specific sections of the race to dial in timings and feel. The primary focus will be on the initial four stages of the race.
MOBILITY
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week, we will focus on the squat snatch. With a fun complex snatch pull, Hang squat snatch and OHS. Great technique session!

The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com\
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
.webp)
Have you ever found yourself thinking about how hard a workout is when you’re in the middle of it? You may not even realise it’s happening – wondering how much effort you’ve put in and whether you’ve got more left in the tank to push further.
That entire self-reflective assessment goes by another, slightly more technical name: the rate of perceived exertion (RPE).
What is the Rate of Perceived Exertion?
The most important thing to understand is that your RPE is completely subjective – it’s different for everyone based on their own fitness levels and overall capabilities.

With that in mind, RPE can be defined as a subjective measure of exercise intensity.
Using a scale from 1 to 10 (with 1 being the least effort and 10 being the most effort), an individual makes an assessment on how much effort they are putting in at that particular moment.
What Factors can Influence RPE?
Your RPE can change from day to day or even at different times during an exercise session. Generally speaking, we can split the factors into two categories, physical and psychological:
Physical:
- Temperature (heat and humidity)
- Environment (terrain and gradient)
- Time (distance and duration)
- Fatigue
Psychological
- Motivation
- External (stress levels and distractions)
- Determination
- Fatigue
Why we use RPE in Exercise and Sports
As you can clearly see, an individual's RPE is constantly changing. One of the biggest benefits of the RPE scale is adaptation: changes can be made to training sessions that account for the physical and psychological factors while still challenging athletes.
For coaches, it’s also a quick way to gauge how athletes are feeling. Taking the focus away from specific benchmarks like personal bests or race splits creates an environment with significantly less pressure. Some days, the best you can do is simply show up!
How to Implement Rate of Perceived Exertion in Training
How you use RPE in your training will ultimately depend on your goals. If the external factors risk influencing traditional metrics too heavily then the RPE scale offers a simple alternative.
It’s also a great way of communicating effort between coaches and athletes – we all know what it means when we’re told to give 10/10 effort! This is especially useful for endurance athletes who can develop their discipline IQ as there are many times when a sprint finish makes all the difference.
Final thoughts
It’s always a good idea to monitor your exercise performance as it highlights a clear path to improvement. The same goes for exercise intensity – using the RPE scale allows athletes to make adjustments in the moment that don’t negatively impact long-term goals.
Fun - Honesty - SIMPLICITY - Smash Life - Mental Toughness - Hard Work
.webp)
Have you ever found yourself thinking about how hard a workout is when you’re in the middle of it? You may not even realise it’s happening – wondering how much effort you’ve put in and whether you’ve got more left in the tank to push further.
That entire self-reflective assessment goes by another, slightly more technical name: the rate of perceived exertion (RPE).
What is the Rate of Perceived Exertion?
The most important thing to understand is that your RPE is completely subjective – it’s different for everyone based on their own fitness levels and overall capabilities.

With that in mind, RPE can be defined as a subjective measure of exercise intensity.
Using a scale from 1 to 10 (with 1 being the least effort and 10 being the most effort), an individual makes an assessment on how much effort they are putting in at that particular moment.
What Factors can Influence RPE?
Your RPE can change from day to day or even at different times during an exercise session. Generally speaking, we can split the factors into two categories, physical and psychological:
Physical:
- Temperature (heat and humidity)
- Environment (terrain and gradient)
- Time (distance and duration)
- Fatigue
Psychological
- Motivation
- External (stress levels and distractions)
- Determination
- Fatigue
Why we use RPE in Exercise and Sports
As you can clearly see, an individual's RPE is constantly changing. One of the biggest benefits of the RPE scale is adaptation: changes can be made to training sessions that account for the physical and psychological factors while still challenging athletes.
For coaches, it’s also a quick way to gauge how athletes are feeling. Taking the focus away from specific benchmarks like personal bests or race splits creates an environment with significantly less pressure. Some days, the best you can do is simply show up!
How to Implement Rate of Perceived Exertion in Training
How you use RPE in your training will ultimately depend on your goals. If the external factors risk influencing traditional metrics too heavily then the RPE scale offers a simple alternative.
It’s also a great way of communicating effort between coaches and athletes – we all know what it means when we’re told to give 10/10 effort! This is especially useful for endurance athletes who can develop their discipline IQ as there are many times when a sprint finish makes all the difference.
Final thoughts
It’s always a good idea to monitor your exercise performance as it highlights a clear path to improvement. The same goes for exercise intensity – using the RPE scale allows athletes to make adjustments in the moment that don’t negatively impact long-term goals.
Fun - Honesty - SIMPLICITY - Smash Life - Mental Toughness - Hard Work

One-Hour Workout: Revving Your Swim Engine
