Workout Description
5 Rounds For Time (with 3 min rest between rounds)
20 Pull-Ups
30 Push-Ups
40 Sit-Ups
50 Air Squats
Why This Workout Is Hard
Simple movements but massive volume: 700 total reps across pull, push, midline, and squat patterns. The 3-minute rests limit redline but don’t prevent cumulative local fatigue, especially on pull-ups and push-ups. Long 30–45 minute duration and grip/pushing endurance elevate difficulty well beyond a typical medium bodyweight workout, demanding disciplined pacing and sustainable sets.
Benchmark Times for Barbara
- Elite: <30:00
- Advanced: 32:00-34:00
- Intermediate: 37:00-40:00
- Beginner: >60:00
Training Focus
This workout develops the following fitness attributes:
- Stamina (9/10): Seven hundred reps heavily tax local muscular endurance in lats, chest, midline, and legs. Success depends on repeatable set sizes and controlled fatigue across five work intervals.
- Endurance (6/10): Work spans 30–45 minutes including prescribed rest. Heart rate stays elevated without prolonged redline, challenging aerobic ability to recover between bouts and maintain steady breathing while volume accumulates.
- Speed (4/10): Quick transitions and short, sustainable sets matter, but continuous sprinting isn’t possible. Athletes minimize chalk breaks and manage brief rests to keep cadence efficient without failure.
- Flexibility (2/10): Demands are standard: full-depth squats, shoulder extension for pull-ups, and hip flexion on sit-ups. Mobility rarely limits performance if athletes maintain sound positions through fatigue.
- Power (2/10): No explosive lifts or sprints. The session rewards controlled, efficient reps over peak power. Bursts early typically backfire as local fatigue rapidly degrades cycle speed.
- Strength (1/10): No external loading. Strength is rarely limiting unless strict pulling or pressing capacity is very low. The emphasis is on volume tolerance instead of maximal force production.
Scaling Options
Scale to: Ring Row or Banded Pull-Up • Push-Up to Box or Knees • Reduce volume to 12/20/30/40 per round
Scaling Explanation
These options keep the same pull/push/midline/squat stimulus while matching capacity so you can hold consistent round times and good mechanics.
Intended Stimulus
Steady, repeatable round times with controlled, non-failure sets. Each work bout should feel like muscular burn you can sustain for 3–5 minutes, then fully recover to repeat. The goal is consistent or slightly slowing splits, quick transitions, and maintaining flawless range of motion under accumulating fatigue.
Coach Insight
Pace it: Start at a pace you can match in round four. Cap sets before failure (e.g., 10-6-4 pull-ups; 15-10-5 push-ups).
One tip: Protect push-ups—manage short sets and brief shake-outs early to avoid late collapse.
Avoid: Chalk walks, long breaks, and sloppy ROM. Sit up tall, stand fast from squats, and breathe through transitions.
Benchmark Notes
Times include the built-in 12 minutes of rest. Choose scaling that lets you land near your level. L5 target is around 40 minutes. Advanced athletes push for 32–34 minutes with even or slightly slowing round splits and clean reps.
Modality Profile
All movements are gymnastics/bodyweight: pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, and air squats. There’s no monostructural work or external loading. Most time is spent on push-ups, sit-ups, and squats, with pull-ups adding a grip and lat component that shapes pacing.
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