The push-up challenge · iPhone, iPad & Mac
Can you do41?
Push-ups in a row. A Harvard study linked passing 40 to far fewer heart problems. Push to 41 finds your max, then trains you, session after session, until you cross the line.
One purchase for iPhone, iPad and Mac. No subscription.
The science
Why 41?
In 2019, Harvard researchers followed 1,104 firefighters for 10 years. Men who could do more than 40 push-ups had 96% fewer cardiovascular events than those who managed 10 or fewer.
An association, not a cause: push-ups are a marker of fitness. The study only included active men; the challenge is open to everyone.
| Push-ups | World in the app | Relative risk |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10 | Rookie Alley | Reference |
| 11–20 | The Old Gym | −64% |
| 21–30 | The Velodrome | −84% |
| 31–40 | The Big Top | −75% |
| 41+ | Club 41 | −96% |
How it works
A boss fight. Then a plan.
Find your max
The study’s own protocol: push-ups on an 80 bpm beat until you miss 3 beats. Tap the screen with your nose, or put your phone under your chest and let the sensor count.
Train with a plan
Sessions built on your max, your training days and your intensity: classic sets, pyramids, Grease the Groove. Rest days are part of the plan.
Beat the five worlds
Retest every 14 days, earn XP and badges, keep your weekly streak and climb from Rookie Alley to Club 41.
The app
Inside Push to 41
Swipe to see more screens.
Home: your level, your world and your next session 
Stats: your max over time and your projected date for 41 
First boss fight: the 80 bpm max test 
The study behind the challenge 
The science tab, with the reference study
One purchase
Pay once. Train everywhere.
- iPhone, iPad and Mac with a single purchase
- Tests, sessions and progress synced with iCloud
- No subscription, no ads, no account to create
- Your data stays on your devices and in your private iCloud
Support
Questions
Is the challenge only for men?
No. The study only included active men and the app explains that limit, but the goal of 41 is the same for everyone. Your percentile is estimated against people of your age and sex.
How does the app count my push-ups?
Tap the screen with your nose at the bottom of each push-up, or lay your iPhone on the floor under your chest: the proximity sensor counts for you. You can also enter a result by hand.
Does my progress follow me to my iPad and Mac?
Yes. One purchase unlocks Push to 41 on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and iCloud keeps your tests, sessions and badges in sync. Sign in with the same Apple Account on each device.
Does the app collect my data?
No. The app has no account, no ads and no tracking. Your data lives on your devices and in your private iCloud, which we cannot read.
Another question or a problem with the app? Write to us: [email protected]