Category: Workout of the Day

  • May 16, 2023

    Skill
    Sprint work:
    6 rounds:
    20 seconds of burpees to a target
    40 seconds of rest
    20 seconds of calories
    40 seconds of rest

    Keep in mind that you have a second workout to tackle after this sprint work. Push hard to get some work in, but leave some gas in the tank for it. For your burpees, pick a pull up bar that is just outside your standing reach. This is a great chance to practice a faster burpee technique than you normally do in a workout. If you need to cut down on the intensity of this portion, use the 20 seconds on your machine as active recovery between burpees rounds rather than pushing for a hard pace.

    Workout of the Day
    AMRAP in 12 minutes:
    10-20-30-40-50-60… etc
    Kettlebell hang snatch
    Goblet squat
    Push up

    Be conservative with your weight selection; this workout will probably smoke your shoulders at even a light weight, so no need to push it today. Switch hands on the snatch after you’ve finished half the reps on that particular round. The goblet squats are going to burn, but do your best to hold on for a little longer than you’d like each set. Break up the push ups early and often to keep moving, especially considering how quickly the sets get large.

    standard: 16/12
    rx: 24/16
    sport: 28/20
    metcon: 3×3:00 on, 1:00 off

  • May 15, 2023

    Skill
    EMOM for 10 minutes:
    Hang power clean plus slow pull power clean

    We’re working on a classic drill pairing today. This purpose of this sequence is to practice excellent positioning on the hang power clean, and then replicate that positioning with a slow and deliberate pull on the slow pull power clean. Slowing down that second clean does two things: it gives you time to accurately hit the proper lift-off point on the thighs, and it forces you to develop your power higher up in the movement rather than getting all of your speed off the floor. Skillful execution of both of those aspects — the patient timing and the explosive drive — are necessary parts of mastering the movement.

    Workout of the Day
    AMRAP in 13 minutes:
    200 m run
    10 hang power cleans
    10 pull ups (strict or kipping)

    Challenge yourself with the hang power clean weight today; if you’re able to go unbroken in multiple rounds, you might be working with too light of a weight. Two or three sets to work through your ten reps per round is a great target for today. Take a similar approach to the pull ups (targeting two or three sets for the ten reps).

    standard: 95/65
    rx: 135/95
    sport: 155/105, chest to bar
    metcon: 6×1:30 on, 0:30 off

  • May 14, 2023

    Workout of the Day
    5 rounds:
    1 minute of weighted step ups (single dumbbell)
    1 minute of devil presses (single dumbbell)
    1 minute of calories
    1 minute of rest

    Pick a dumbbell that you’re willing to hang on to for both the weighted step ups and the devil presses. You can hold the dumbbell any way you’d like on the step ups, but the most efficient is probably to have it resting on one shoulder, lightly balanced by one hand. Both of the dumbbell movements are going to be quite challenging, so take a conservative approach to pacing this one.

    standard: 35/20 lb DB, 20/12″ box
    rx: 50/35 lb DB, 24/20″ box
    sport: double dumbbell for both movements, 50/35 lb, 24/20″ box
    metcon: 5×3:00 on, 1:00 off

  • May 13, 2023

    Workout of the Day
    In 3 minutes, complete:
    200 m run
    5 thrusters
    Rest until the 3 minute mark, then complete:
    200 m run
    10 thrusters
    Rest until the 6 minute mark, then complete:
    200 m run
    15 thrusters
    Rest until the 9 minute mark, then continue the pattern (20-25-30-35…)

    Every 3 minutes, complete 5 more thrusters than the previous interval. When you can no longer complete the required number of thrusters in that interval, you’re done!

    Pick a barbell weight that you can hit quick sets of 5 on through the round of at least 15.

    This workout will start at a manageable pace and quickly become very, very difficult. Expect to hit a tipping point in the third or fourth round. You’ll recognize that time and energy are getting scarce, and you’ll likely know when you’re starting your last round. Push the pace to finish that round, as long as you’re able to do so without compromising on form.

    standard: 75/55
    rx: 95/65
    sport: 115/85
    metcon: 5×2:00 on, 1:00 off

  • May 12, 2023

    Skill
    EMOM for 5 minutes:
    Hang squat snatch plus squat snatch

    After the you’ve worked on that sequence for 5 minutes, take 8 minutes to work on squat snatch at your own pace. Feel free to load up to a max, or close to it, if you’re experienced with the lift. Newer lifters may want to stay on an EMOM clock and/or get more drill work from their coach.

    Workout of the Day
    AMRAP in 16 minutes:
    400 m run
    40 double unders
    16 deadlifts

    The double unders and deadlifts are both tough skills, but make it your goal in this workout to pick a slightly faster pace on the run than you normally would choose. Allow yourself to slow down a little bit on the double unders and deadlifts, breaking them up more than you otherwise would to accommodate that faster run pace. It’s often the case that the run is the first thing to slow down, and today you’re trying to reverse that.

    Choose a deadlift weight that you can easily hold sets of 8 on throughout the workout. Your jump rope should be scaled to take no more than 45 seconds to a minute fresh.

    standard: 135/95
    rx: 185/135
    sport: 225/155
    metcon: 4×3:15 on, 0:45 off

  • May 11, 2023

    Skill
    EMOM for 5 minutes:
    Squat clean and split jerk

    After the 5 minute EMOM, take 8 minutes to work on squat clean and split jerk at your own pace

    Use the first 5 minutes to slowly build in weight and warm up to the heavier lifts. After that, feel free to work up to a max clean and jerk if you’re an experienced lifter. Newer folks can take those 8 minutes to break down the form even more with their coach.

    Workout of the Day
    For time:
    21-15-9
    Toes to bar
    Burpee box jump overs

    12 minute time cap

    Happy Birthday, Lisa Fischer! When Lisa mentioned that two of her favorite movements were toes to bar and burpee box jumps, there was one workout that immediately came to mind. Almost 10 years ago, coach Kirsten and coach Alex realized at the end of a training day that they had never done a workout that was just burpees and toes to bar, and they came up with one on the spot to test it out.

    This is that exact workout, but with two changes.

    The first change is that the regular burpees that we did back then have been upgraded to burpee box jump overs. This is to bump the difficulty and volume up a notch. The second change is that the order has been switched. We did burpee first, toe to bar second back then. With the order switched, you’ll already have a fatigued core from the toes to bar by the time you get to the burpee box jump overs. You’ll also be ending on the 9 reps of the burpees box jump over, and that movement is very good for a final push in a workout.

    Enjoy!

    standard: 20/12″ box, V-ups instead of toes to bar
    rx: 24/20″ box
    sport: 24/20″ box, Toes to bar sets: 7-7-7, 5-5-5, 5-4
    metcon: 3×3:00 on, 1:00 off

  • May 10, 2023

    Skill
    Tempo Back Squat: 6 sets of 3 reps
    3 second descent, 3 second hold, full speed up, 3 seconds between reps
    Target 65-70% of your max

    We’re building off of last week’s work; add ~5-15 pounds from last Monday if you were around for those sets

    Do your best to hold for a full 3 seconds in an engaged position with the crease of the hip level with the top of the knee. If you normally have a very deep squat and use a bit of a bounce to get out of the bottom, be aware that the tempo squats today will be significantly harder for you. Adjust your target weight down by 5 or 10 percent if that’s the case.

    Remember to always use two spotters if you’re going for a heavy set. Never rely on a single spotter!

    Workout of the Day
    5 rounds for time:
    15 power snatches
    200 m run

    15 minute time cap

    Last week we had an old benchmark workout hiding behind some running, and this week we’re continuing that theme. Use a barbell weight with which you’re able to hit an unbroken set of 15 reps while fresh. You definitely don’t have to maintain this pace, but at no point in the workout should you be doing fewer than 5 reps at a time (with little rest between sets).

    If that volume of snatching isn’t a good idea for you, scale the movement to a power clean. Pick a run distance that you consistently hit in a minute or less.

    standard: 55/35
    rx: 75/55
    sport: 75/55 (trust me)
    metcon: 6x 1:20 on, 0:40 off

  • May 9, 2023

    Skill
    EMOM for 10 minutes:
    One or two rope climbs

    OR:

    10 minutes of rope climb drill and technique work with your coach

    Today you’ll either be practicing rope climbs on an interval or building the strength and technique needed to get started on the skill. Let your coach know if you’re interested in learning the basics of the rope climb technique, even if you aren’t up to the point of doing strict pull ups yet. It’s great to get early and regular exposure to the skill if it’s a goal of yours.

    Workout of the Day
    4 rounds:
    45 seconds of calories
    15 seconds of rest
    45 seconds of ring dips
    15 seconds of rest
    45 seconds of wall balls
    15 seconds of rest

    The ring dips will be a slower and more challenging movement for most people, but make it your goal to keep the reps coming for as much of the 45 seconds as possible on the calories and wall balls. A very advanced target would be to work for an unbroken set of wall balls across the whole 45 second work interval each round. Remember that you have the 15 seconds to transition between each movement; try not to get off of your station early.

    standard: 12/8
    rx: 20/14
    sport: 20/14, unbroken wall balls, ring dips on the high rings (muscle up to get there)
    metcon: 12×0:45 on, 0:15 off

  • May 8, 2023

    Skill
    EMOM for 10 minutes
    Deadlift
    Power clean
    Hang power clean and push jerk

    The 4 movement barbell complex in today’s skill work should be done as a single smooth and uninterrupted effort. Focus on the flow of the movements and the efficient cycling of your barbell from one position to the next. Experienced lifters are welcome to push for a heavier weight, and will find that this complex has a fun and natural cadence at even heavy loads.

    Workout of the Day
    AMRAP in 10 minutes:
    8 lateral burpees
    6 power cleans
    4 front rack lunges

    The big question on this workout will be what you do with your power cleans. The weight should have you right on the edge of small sets and quick singles. Some people may even be able to hold onto their bars for unbroken touch and go cleans into front rack lunges. Below are a few pacing strategies, starting with the easiest and working towards the most aggressive. Note that choosing the most aggressive pacing strategy will only maximize your performance if you have the conditioning to support it. Be deliberate about your selection of pacing strategy, keeping in mind your personal goals and your level of conditioning.

    Strategy 1:
    Steady burpees, steady singles on the power cleans, unbroken lunges

    Strategy 2:
    Steady burpees, 5 unbroken power cleans, drop the bar for a short rest, then 6th power clean and unbroken lunges

    Strategy 3:
    Steady burpees, 6 unbroken power cleans, hold onto the bar for unbroken lunges

    Strategy 4:
    Steady burpees, unbroken lifts, no rest between movements

    Strategy 5:
    Fast burpees, unbroken lifts, no rest between movements

    standard: 95/65
    rx: 115/85
    sport: 115/85, overhead lunges instead of front rack
    metcon: 5×1:40 on, 0:20 off

  • May 7, 2023

    Workout of the Day
    AMRAP in 25 minutes:
    40 Russian twists
    30 plate snatches
    200 m run with plate

    Today’s workout is the polar opposite of yesterday’s; where yesterday was a pair of short efforts at very high load, today is a very long continuous effort at very low load. The main challenge, aside from the duration and sustained work, will be the fact that the only break you’ll get from your plate will be during any rest you take.

    For the plate snatches, hold the plate with both hands, tap one edge to the floor, and then lift it all the way overhead. On the run, hold the plate however you’d like.

    standard: 10/5 pound plate
    rx: 15/10 pound plate
    sport: 25/15 pound plate
    metcon: 5×4:00 on, 1:00 off