Thursday 1 Mar 2007: SPRINT 8

SPRINT 8

Today's workout is based on a sprint protocol designed by Phil Campbell, author of Ready, Set GO! Synergy Fitness for Time-Crunched Adults.

The sprints are progressive. The first sprint begins at a jog and climaxes at 50% of maximum effort; the second sprint goes from 40% at the beginning to 60% at the climax; the third sprint goes from 50-70%; the fourth sprint from 60-80%; the fifth sprint from 70-90%; the sixth sprint reaches 95% of maximum effort; the seventh and eighth sprints are run at 95-100% effort.

If you are not accustomed to the type of sprint training we do around here, do not max out on the final three sprints - climax between 80-90% of maximum effort.

Advanced:

• Run 5 minutes
• Repeat eight times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 1 minute
• Run 5 minutes

Intermediate:

• Run-walk 5 minutes
• Repeat six-eight times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 60-85 seconds
• Run-walk 5 minutes

Basic:

• Powerwalk 5 minutes
• Repeat four-six times:
  Sprint 15 seconds
  Recover 85-120 seconds
• Powerwalk 5 minutes

Post results to Comments.

Wednesday 28 Feb 2007: ALT PULL-PU OTM

ALTERNATE PULL-UPS AND PUSH-UPS
ON THE MINUTE

Perform a set of pull-ups or push-ups at the top of every minute for twenty minutes. Perform pull-ups on the odd numbered minutes (1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19) and push-ups on the even numbered minutes (2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20). You will perform ten sets of each exercise. The alternating pattern will allow you to do more reps and/or more challenging reps in each set than you could do in superset fashion.

Advanced:

• Pull-ups or Chin-ups
• Push-ups, Dips, Handstand PU, or other challenging variation

Intermediate:

• Partial, Assisted, and/or Jumping Pull-ups
• Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)

Basic:

• Bodyrows
• Knee Push-ups

Post results to Comments.

Tuesday 27 Feb 2007: CONDITIONING INTERVALS

CONDITIONING INTERVALS

Today's workout uses 30/30 intervals (30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest, repeat for time allotted).

Advanced:

• 5 x 30/30 Jumping Jacks or Jump Rope
• 5 x 30/30 Burpees
• 5 x 30/30 Mountain Climbers
• 5 x 30/30 Squats

Intermediate:

• 5 x 30/30 Jumping Jacks or Jump Rope
• 5 x 30/30 Squat Thrusts (add push-up if possible)
• 5 x 30/30 Mountain Climbers
• 5 x 30/30 Squats

Basic:

• 5 x 30/30 Jumping Jacks or Jump Rope
• 5 x 30/30 Half-Squats or Squat Thrusts
• 5 x 30/30 Mountain Climbers
• 5 x 30/30 Half Squats

Post results to Comments.

Monday 26 Feb 2007: DO IT ALL

DO IT ALL

Complete the following circuit five times:

• 30/30 Pull-ups
• 30/30 Sit-ups
• 30/30 Push-ups
• 30/30 Squats

30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

Substitutions

• Pull-ups: Partial, Assisted, or Jumping Pull-ups or Body Rows
• Sit-ups: Crunches, Flutter Kicks, Leg Levers
• Push-ups: Dips, Knee Push-ups
• Squats: Squat Jumps, Half-Squats

Post results to Comments.

Sunday 25 Feb 2007: REST DAY

REST DAY

Saturday 24 Feb 2007: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk hill repeats for twenty minutes.

Post results to Comments.

Friday 23 Feb 2007: J-ROPE + PULL/SQ

JUMP ROPE + PULL-UPS/SQUATS

Jump/Skip rope in 30/30 intervals for twenty minutes performing quick sets of calisthenics during the rest intervals.

This is a challenging workout, but it is effective and very satisfying to complete. During the thirty seconds between sets of rope skipping you will complete a brief set of an additional exercise. Alternate sets of pull-ups and squats so that you perform ten sets of each during the twenty minutes.

You do not have long to perform each set. You also will need extra time to transition from skipping to pulling or squatting and back again. Plan to keep the sets small (e.g. 5-20 reps) and allow ~5 seconds for the first transition and 5-10 seconds for the transition back to the rope. Start with sets of pull-ups and squats smaller than you think you can handle. This is a conditioning drill, not a strength workout.

This does not have to be done at an all-out sprint. Find a rhythm and work from one exercise to the other.

Advanced
Complete ten sets of:

• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Pull-ups
• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Squats (e.g. Deep Knee Bend, Hindu, Sumo, Lunge, etc.)

Intermediate - Basic
Complete ten sets of:

• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Partial, Assisted or Jumping Pull-ups or Body Rows
• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Half Squats

30/30 Interval = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

Post results to Comments.

Thursday 22 Feb 2007: OH-SQ + SPRINT

OVERHEAD SQUAT + SPRINT

Complete as many rounds as possible in twenty minutes. Keep moving between rounds, i.e. walk or jog while catching your breath.

Advanced:

• 15 Overhead Squats w/ PVC Pipe, Broomhandle, or Clenched Fists in the Air
• 30 seconds Sprint
• Walk or jog back to the start and recover as necessary

Intermediate:

• 10 Overhead Squats w/ PVC Pipe, Broomhandle, or Clenched Fists in the Air
• 20 seconds Sprint
• Walk or jog back to the start and recover as necessary

Basic:

• 5 Overhead Squats w/ PVC Pipe, Broomhandle, or Clenched Fists in the Air
• 10 seconds Sprint
• Walk or jog back to the start and recover as necessary

Post results to Comments.

Wednesday 21 Feb 2007: DIPS + CHINS

The tried and true bodybuilder...

DIPS + CHIN-UPS SUPERSETS

Perform sets of Dips and Chin-ups back to back for twenty minutes. Rest between supersets as necessary (e.g. set of dips, set of chins, rest, repeat).

Options for performing dips include parallel bars, positioning the hands on the backs of two chairs, or using the corner of a countertop.

Intermediate and Basic trainees should substitute chair dips, push-ups, or knee push-ups as necessary.

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Tuesday 20 Feb 2007: B-CIRCUITS

Today's workout was developed by Bryce Lane.

B-CIRCUITS

Complete as many circuits as possible in twenty minutes.


If you are not accustomed to plyometric training or are obese, perform the Basic WOD.

Advanced:

• 12 Short Range Squat Jumps
  (Half-Squat Jumps: Squat until your elbows touch your knees and thighs are parallel to ground and then jump for height or distance)
• 12 Full Range Squat Jumps
  (Deep Squat Jumps: Squat deep until your hands touch the ground and then jump for height or distance)
• 20 High Tension Bodyweight Squats
  (Squat while maintaining conscious tension of the leg mucles)

Intermediate:

• 6 Short Range Squat Jumps
• 6 Full Range Squat Jumps
• 10 High Tension Bodyweight Squats

Basic:

• 5 Half-Squat Jumps
• 10 Lunges (Each leg)
• 10 Calf Raise and Flex

Are you tempted to cheat on the jump as your legs become tired? Try Traveling B-Circuits by jumping for distance instead of height. Try to cover the same total distance on each circuit as the workout progresses to ensure that you are pushing yourself adequately.

Post results to Comments.

B-Circuits are covered in Bryce's excellent booklet Fitness Secrets of the Road Ninja. I also highly recommend The Booklet of Bodyweight Power and A Mighty River of Steel.

Monday 19 Feb 2007: TIMED SETS #4

TIMED SETS #4

60/60 - 60 seconds work, 60seconds rest
30/60 - 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest


Repeat two times (2x):

• 60/60 Pull-ups
• 60/60 Sit-ups
• 60/60 Push-ups

Repeat two times (2x):

• 30/60 Pull-ups
• 30/60 Sit-ups
• 30/60 Push-ups

Substitutions for Intermediate & Basic Levels:

• For Pull-ups - Partial or Assisted or Jumping Pull-ups, Body Rows
• For Sit-ups - Crunches, Leg Levers, Flutter Kicks, other abdominal exercise variations
• For Push-ups - Knee Push-ups, Dips, other push-up variations

Post results to Comments.

Sunday 18 Feb 2007: REST DAY

REST DAY

Saturday 17 Feb 2007: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk hill repeats for twenty minutes.

Post results to Comments.

Friday 16 Feb 2007: JR + PU/SQ

JUMP ROPE + PUSH-UPS/SQUATS

Jump/Skip rope in 30/30 intervals for twenty minutes performing quick sets of calisthenics during the rest intervals.

This is a challenging workout, but it is effective and very satisfying to complete. During the thirty seconds between sets of rope skipping you will complete a brief set of an additional exercise. Alternate sets of push-ups and squats so that you perform ten sets of each during the twenty minutes.

You do not have long to perform each set. You also will need extra time to transition from skipping to pushing or squatting and back again. Plan to keep the sets small (e.g. 5-20 reps) and allow ~5 seconds for the first transition and 5-10 seconds for the transition back to the rope. Start with sets of push-ups and squats smaller than you think you can handle. This is a conditioning drill, not a strength workout.

This does not have to be done at an all-out sprint. Find a rhythm and work from one exercise to the other.

Advanced
Complete ten sets of:

• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Push-ups
• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Squats (e.g. Deep Knee Bend, Hindu, Sumo, Lunge, etc.)

Intermediate - Basic
Complete ten sets of:

• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Push-ups (go to your knees if necessary)
• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Half Squats

30/30 Interval = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

Post results to Comments.

Thursday 15 Feb 2007: 30/90 SPRINTS

The signature sprint workout...

30/90 SPRINTS

Advanced:

• Run 5 minutes
• Repeat five times:
  Sprint 30 seconds
  Recover 90 seconds
• Run 5 minutes

Intermediate:

• Run-walk 5 minutes
• Repeat five times:
  Sprint 20-30 seconds
  Recover 90-100 seconds
• Run-walk 5 minutes

Basic:

• Powerwalk 5 minutes
• Repeat five times:
  Sprint 15-20 seconds
  Recover 100-105 seconds
• Powerwalk 5 minutes

Post results to Comments.

Wednesday 14 Feb 2007: PULL OTM

PULL-UPS ON THE MINUTE

Perform a set of pull-ups at the top of every minute for twenty minutes.

Intermediate and basic trainees should substitute partial, assisted, or jumping pull-ups or body rows as necessary.

Post results to Comments.

Tuesday 13 Feb 2007: BP -- SQ-TH

BURPEE -- SQUAT THRUST PYRAMID

Perform a pyramid of burpees and squat thrusts for twenty minutes.

To perform a pyramid, begin by performing one rep of the chosen exercise, rest, then two reps, rest, then three reps, and so on until you reach the "top" of the pyramid. Then begin retracing the steps you took to reach that number (e.g. 10 reps, rest, 9 reps, rest, 8 reps, etc.). The "top" of the pyramid can either be predetermined (e.g. 5, 10, 15, 20 reps) or can be ascertained by the inability to complete the required number of reps for the next step (e.g. 6 reps, 7 reps, 5 reps - you missed a set). In either case, the trainee should stop building sets and "descend" the pyramid by performing decreasing sets of his/her chosen exercise.

For this WOD you should go by feel. We do not set predetermined numbers as goals on the TMFS blog, but if you have previous experience with burpees and know your limits, you may choose to do so. A better method will simply be to go by feel. If you are becoming very fatigued and are struggling to complete each set, stop increasing the reps and begin descending with the next exercise. If you complete the pyramid and have extra time left within the twenty minute time limit, go ahead and begin another pyramid until time expires.

During our workout today we will be using a more challenging exercise on the way "up" the pyramid and a less challenging exercise on the way "down." For example, an advanced trainee will perform sets of burpees (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) until he reaches the top, then he will perform squat thrusts on the way down (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, etc.).

How long should you rest? That is up to the individual. You know your level of conditioning. You should rest long enough to catch your breath and recover the strength to continue but not long enough for your heartrate to return entirely to normal levels (it should drop somewhat, however).

Advanced:

• Burpees - Up
• Squat Thrusts - Down

Intermediate:

• Squat Thrusts - Up
• Half Squats - Down

Basic:

• Half Squats - Up
• Jumping Jacks - Down

Post results to Comments.

Monday 12 Feb 2007: SPARTAN RUN #4

SPARTAN RUN #4

Complete the following workout in twenty minutes.

• Run - 2 minutes
• Repeat three times (3x):
  Pull-ups - 30 seconds
  Squats - 30 seconds
  Run - 2 minutes
  Push-ups - 30 seconds
  Sit-ups - 30 seconds
  Run - 2 minutes

Substitutions:

• For Running - Run-walk, Powerwalk, Bear Crawl/Crab Crawl, Skip Rope, Jumping Jacks
• For Pull-ups - Partial or Assisted or Jumping Pull-ups, Body Rows
• For Squats - Half-Squats, Isometric Wall Squat
• For Push-ups - Knee Push-ups, Dips, other push-up variations
• For Sit-ups - Crunches, Leg Levers, Flutter Kicks, other abdominal exercise variations

Post results to Comments.

Sunday 11 Feb 2007: REST DAY

REST DAY

Saturday 10 Feb 2007: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes.

Basic:
Powerwalk hill repeats for twenty minutes.

Post results to Comments.

Friday 9 Feb 2007: JR + PULL/SU

JUMP ROPE + PULL-UPS/SIT-UPS

Jump/Skip rope in 30/30 intervals for twenty minutes performing quick sets of calisthenics during the rest intervals.

This is a challenging workout, but it is effective and very satisfying to complete. During the thirty seconds between sets of rope skipping you will complete a brief set of an additional exercise. Alternate sets of pull-ups and sit-ups (or another abdominal exercise) so that you perform ten sets of each during the twenty minutes.

You do not have long to perform each set. You also will need extra time to transition from skipping to pulling or crunching and back again. Plan to keep the sets small (e.g. 5-10 reps) and allow ~5 seconds for the first transition and 5-10 seconds for the transition back to the rope. Start with sets of pull-ups and sit-ups smaller than you think you can handle. This is a conditioning drill, not a strength workout.

This does not have to be done at an all-out sprint. Find a rhythm and work from one exercise to the other.

Advanced
Complete ten sets of:

• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Pull-ups
• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Sit-ups

Intermediate - Basic
Complete ten sets of:

• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Partial/Assisted Pull-ups or Bodyrows
• 30/30 Skipping Rope or Jumping Jacks
• A set of Crunches

30/30 Interval = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest

Post results to Comments.

Thursday 8 Feb 2007: CRAWL...SPRINT #1

CRAWL...SPRINT #1

30/30 = 30 seconds work, 30 seconds rest, repeat for specified repetitions
15/45 = 15 seconds work, 45 seconds rest, repeat for specified repetitions

Same workout for everybody today, but adjust the intensity according to your ability.

• 5 x 30/30 Bear Crawl
• 5 x 15/45 Sprint
• 5 x 30/30 Crab Crawl
• 5 x 15/45 Sprint

Post results to Comments.

Wednesday 7 Feb 2007: PU OTM

PUSH-UPS ON THE MINUTE

Perform a set of push-ups at the top of every minute for twenty minutes.

Intermediate and Basic trainees should substitute knee push-ups as necessary.

Post results to Comments.

Tuesday 6 Feb 2007: J-SQ + BW-SQ #2

JUMP SQUATS + BODYWEIGHT SQUATS #2

Complete as many rounds as possible in twenty minutes.

Advanced - Intermediate:

• A set of Squat Jumps
  (e.g. Box Jumps, Hurdle Jumps, Star Jumps, Half-Squat Jumps, etc.)
• A set of Bodyweight Squats
  (e.g. Deep Knee Bends, Half Squats, Hindu Squats, Sumo Squats, Pistols, etc.)

If you are unaccustomed to plyometric training, perform the Basic WOD.

Basic:

• A set of Half Squats
• A set of Lunges
• A set of Calf Raises
• A set of Jumping Jacks

Post results to Comments.

Monday 5 Feb 2007: PFT

PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST

Advanced:

• Max Pull-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Sit-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Push-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 3 minutes
• Run 12 minutes for distance

Intermediate:

• Max Partial or Assisted Pull-ups or Body Rows
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Sit-ups or Crunches in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Push-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 3 minutes
• Run-walk 12 minutes for distance

Basic:

• Max Body Rows in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Crunches in 1 minute
• Rest 1 minute
• Max Knee Push-ups in 1 minute
• Rest 3 minutes
• Powerwalk 12 minutes for distance

Post results to Comments.

Sunday 4 Feb 2007: REST DAY

REST DAY

Saturday 3 Feb 2007: RUN FOR DISTANCE

RUN FOR DISTANCE

Advanced:
Run for twenty minutes.

Intermediate:
Run-walk for twenty minutes

Basic:
Powerwalk hill repeats for twenty minutes.

Post results to Comments.

A recent idea from a participant in the 2007 Push-up Challenge:

This looked like the kind of simple challenge I could deal with at the moment. I am on 32 today.

After thinking ahead about how I would break up the sets, I decided that I would do the sets in months. For example, January is over so today I do one set of 31 (January) and I will do 2 more (for February 2nd).

Example;May 16th, if I have stuck with it, my sets will look like this: 31 (January), 28 (February), 31 (March), 30 (April), and 16 (May 16th).When I can do bigger sets, I'll probably change my sets and go bigger. Ten or eleven sets of thirty don't appeal to me. --Tom

Friday 2 Feb 2007: PULL, CLIMB, TWIST

PULLING, CLIMBING, TWISTING

The idea for this workout came from Jim Biancolo over at Lean and Hungry Fitness. Jim has a nice site that fits in with many of the methods we use around here.

Perform ten rounds of the following cycle in twenty minutes.

Advanced:

• 30 seconds - Body Rows or Pull-ups
• 30 seconds - Mountain Climbers
• 30 seconds - Russian Twists
  (Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Extend your arms and clasp your hands in front of you. Crunch up so that your shoulder blades are off the ground. Now twist your midsection to the left and to the right so that your arms are parallel to the floor. Once to each side equals one rep. This exercise can also be performed holding a medicine ball or weight in your hands or with a broomstick behind your shoulders.)
• 30 seconds - Rest

Even though Advanced trainees are accustomed to doing 30 second sets of Pull-ups, the overall intensity of this workout makes the Body Rows an acceptable substitution. If you think the Body Rows are too easy, try the completely suspended version shown in the Body Row link or do them sprint-style and attempt to get 20-30 reps in each round.

Intermediate:

• 30 seconds - Body Rows
• 30 seconds - Squat Thrusts
• 30 seconds - Russian Twists or Regular Crunches
• 30 seconds - Rest

Basic:

• 30 seconds - Body Rows
• 30 seconds - Half-Squats
• 30 seconds - Crunches
• 30 seconds - Rest

Post results to Comments.