If you were like us, and thought we might be doing something with 3 dumbbells for 17.3, think again. This week we are going heavy, that is, if you are efficient at chest to bar pull-ups. After focusing on endurance in week 1, and skill work in week 2, the focus this week is on strength. This weeks workout is a couplet of chest-to-bar pull-ups and squat snatches. It has increasing chest-to-bar-pullups reps and decreasing squat snatch reps, while increasing the squat snatch weight. The workout also throws time-caps at multiple intervals, see below for the complete workout.
Prior to 8:00, complete:
3 rounds of:
6 chest-to-bar pull-ups
6 squat snatches, 95/65 lb.
Then, 3 rounds of:
7 chest-to-bar pull-ups
5 squat snatches, 135/95 lb.
*Prior to 12:00, complete 3 rounds of:
8 chest-to-bar pull-ups
4 squat snatches, 185/135 lb.
*Prior to 16:00, complete 3 rounds of:
9 chest-to-bar pull-ups
3 squat snatches, 225/155 lb.
*Prior to 20:00, complete 3 rounds of:
10 chest-to-bar pull-ups
2 squat snatches, 245/175 lb.
Prior to 24:00, complete 3 rounds of:
11 chest-to-bar pull-ups
1 squat snatch 265/185 lb.
*If all reps are completed, time cap extends by 4 minutes.
For the athletes that are fairly efficient with chest-to-bar pull-ups, this workout is all about doing a high weight squat snatch while being fatigued, but lets start with the chest-to-bar pull-ups. You will want to do what is comfortable for you. If that is butterfly, do butterfly. If that is regular kipping, do kipping. Don’t try something new for this workout. This workout might be focused on snatch weight, but don’t ignore the the chest-to-bar pull-ups! At the 8 minute mark, you will have completed 39 reps, which is only 6 less than Fran. We all know what the pull-ups in Fran feels like.
On the squat snatches, DO SINGLES. If you watched the games athletes complete the workout, Scott Panchik didn’t do more than 1 squat snatch at a time. There is plenty of time to do singles and get through all of the rounds. As you can see, the weights in the workout jump very quickly. There is probably a round that you think “no problem” and the next round is “that is going to be tough.” Treat that tough round as your goal round.
Expect to be fatigued, but pace yourself so that you don’t redline to the point that you can’t lift. This workout is about being able to go as heavy as possible with a high heart-rate. Before you start the workout, you will probably know which round will be your “tough” round. This is the round that is closest to your 1 rep max. The closer you get to this round, the more you will have to focus on technique. Your goal, other than which round you want to get to, should be to not have any misses on the squat snatches. Take as much time as you need to setup for the squat snatches, but keep mind of the time cutoffs. If you are in the workout and are close to a time cutoff, push to get through the squat snatches so that you have another 4 minutes of work. You can always take a break after finishing a round, but you can’t keep going if time runs out.
The key points of the workout are to keep your heart-rate down as much as possible and take the time needed to not miss on the squat snatches. Keep pushing and good luck.