Workout Description

For Time Buy-In: Max Unbroken Thrusters (75% BW) Muscle-Ups* Then AMRAP in 30 minutes of: 250 meter Row 250 meter Run Cash-Out:** Thrusters** (75% BW) Muscle-Ups* *Perform the same number of reps as Thrusters. **Same number of reps from the Buy-In.

Why This Workout Is Extremely Hard

High skill and heavy relative loading meet long duration. A max-unbroken thruster at 75% bodyweight sets a punishing rep target for Muscle-Ups and the cash-out, surrounding a fixed 30-minute cardio block. Movement complexity, grip demands, and fatigue management across 40–60 minutes make this suitable only for advanced athletes or carefully scaled versions.

Benchmark Times for Painstorm XXXV

  • Elite: <42:00
  • Advanced: 53:00-55:00
  • Intermediate: 57:00-59:00
  • Beginner: >70:00

Training Focus

This workout develops the following fitness attributes:

  • Endurance (8/10): Thirty minutes of steady Row/Run builds aerobic capacity. Pacing and breathing control are essential to keep heart rate stable before the demanding cash-out under fatigue.
  • Stamina (8/10): Max-unbroken thrusters set a large rep target repeated later, plus high-skill gymnastics volume. Sustaining sets under fatigue taxes shoulders, legs, and grip extensively.
  • Strength (6/10): Thrusters at 75% bodyweight require significant leg and pressing strength, especially for a large unbroken set. Absolute max strength isn’t tested, but relative strength is key.
  • Power (5/10): Thrusters demand leg drive and hip extension into a crisp press. However, the overall piece is more sustained than explosive due to the 30-minute AMRAP component.
  • Speed (4/10): Moderate cadence dominates. Quick transitions help, but sprinting early backfires when the cash-out demands high-skill reps under heavy fatigue.
  • Flexibility (4/10): Full-depth front squat into overhead lockout requires solid front rack, thoracic extension, and shoulder mobility. Ring positions demand stable, comfortable ranges overhead and in the dip.

Movements

  • Thruster
  • Run
  • Muscle-Up
  • Row

Scaling Options

Scale to: 55–65% BW Thruster + Bar Muscle-Ups • 65/45 lb Thruster + Chest-to-Bar Pull-Ups (2:1 for MU) • Keep 75% BW Thruster but Cap Unbroken at 8–12 reps + Jumping Ring Muscle-Ups

Scaling Explanation

These options preserve the heavy relative thruster stimulus and high-skill pulling pattern while adjusting load, skill, or volume so athletes can keep moving and finish within the intended time domain.

Intended Stimulus

Start with a disciplined unbroken thruster set—smooth, controlled cycling to avoid redlining. Move directly into crisp Muscle-Ups. Settle into a sustainable Row/Run rhythm for the full 30:00 without spiking heart rate. Finish by methodically chipping through cash-out thrusters and Muscle-Ups in smart sets to maintain quality and avoid failure.

Coach Insight

Pace the buy-in: breathe every rep on thrusters and keep a steady cadence you could hold for five more reps. Then move into quick MU sets with short rests. The one tip: protect your grip and shoulders—break the cash-out before you have to. Common mistakes: sprinting early rows/runs, racing the first MU set, or choosing thruster cadence that forces an early fail.

Benchmark Notes

Times include a fixed 30:00 AMRAP plus buy-in and cash-out work. Faster athletes complete the gymnastic and barbell portions efficiently before and after the monostructural block. Slower times reflect larger buy-in rep counts, heavier relative loading, or extended breaks managing muscle-up and thruster fatigue.

Modality Profile

Most of the time is spent in monostructural work (30:00 of Row/Run). Gymnastics (Muscle-Ups) contribute significant skill and volume before and after. Weightlifting (Thrusters at 75% bodyweight) is impactful but occupies less total time compared to the cardio block.

Similar Workouts to Painstorm XXXV

If you enjoy Painstorm XXXV, you might also like these similar CrossFit WODs:

  • Strange (91% similar) - 8 Rounds For Time 600 meter Run 11 Weighted Pull-Ups (1.5/1 pood) 11 Walking Lunges (1.5/1 pood) 11 ...
  • Glen (90% similar) - For time: 30 Clean-and-Jerks (135/95 lb) Run 1 mile 10 Rope Climbs (15 ft) Run 1 mile 100 Burpees...
  • Painstorm XIV (90% similar) - For time: 800 meter Run 50 Box Jumps (24/20 in) 400 meter Run 25 Push Presses (95/65 lb) 200 meter R...
  • Hidalgo (90% similar) - For time (includes two 2-minute rests): Run 2 miles Rest 2 minutes 20 Squat Cleans (135/95 lb) 20 Bo...
  • Liam (89% similar) - For time: 800 meter Run (carry 45 lb plate) 100 Toes-to-Bars 50 Front Squats (155/105 lb) 10 Rope Cl...
  • Wyk (89% similar) - 5 Rounds for Time 5 Front Squats (225/155 lb) 5 Rope Climbs (15 ft) 400 meter Run (45/35 lb plate)...
  • Oberheim 703 (89% similar) - For time: 4 rounds of: 44 Double-Unders 5 Clean-and-Jerks (155/115 lb) 19 Push-Ups 2,021 meter Assau...
  • Painstorm XLI (89% similar) - For time: 20 rounds: 200 meter Run 5 Pull-Ups 10 Push-Ups 5 Thrusters Thrusters by round: Rounds 1-...

These WODs similar to Painstorm XXXV share comparable training demands, time domains, and movement patterns.

Training Profile

AttributeScoreExplanation
Endurance8/10Thirty minutes of steady Row/Run builds aerobic capacity. Pacing and breathing control are essential to keep heart rate stable before the demanding cash-out under fatigue.
Stamina8/10Max-unbroken thrusters set a large rep target repeated later, plus high-skill gymnastics volume. Sustaining sets under fatigue taxes shoulders, legs, and grip extensively.
Strength6/10Thrusters at 75% bodyweight require significant leg and pressing strength, especially for a large unbroken set. Absolute max strength isn’t tested, but relative strength is key.
Flexibility4/10Full-depth front squat into overhead lockout requires solid front rack, thoracic extension, and shoulder mobility. Ring positions demand stable, comfortable ranges overhead and in the dip.
Power5/10Thrusters demand leg drive and hip extension into a crisp press. However, the overall piece is more sustained than explosive due to the 30-minute AMRAP component.
Speed4/10Moderate cadence dominates. Quick transitions help, but sprinting early backfires when the cash-out demands high-skill reps under heavy fatigue.

For Time Buy-In: Max Unbroken Thrusters (75% BW) Muscle-Ups* Then AMRAP in 30 minutes of: 250 meter Row 250 meter Run Cash-Out:** Thrusters** (75% BW) Muscle-Ups* *Perform the same number of reps as Thrusters. **Same number of reps from the Buy-In.

Difficulty:
Extremely Hard
Modality:
G
M
W
Stimulus:

Start with a disciplined unbroken thruster set—smooth, controlled cycling to avoid redlining. Move directly into crisp Muscle-Ups. Settle into a sustainable Row/Run rhythm for the full 30:00 without spiking heart rate. Finish by methodically chipping through cash-out thrusters and Muscle-Ups in smart sets to maintain quality and avoid failure.

Insight:

Pace the buy-in: breathe every rep on thrusters and keep a steady cadence you could hold for five more reps. Then move into quick MU sets with short rests. The one tip: protect your grip and shoulders—break the cash-out before you have to. Common mistakes: sprinting early rows/runs, racing the first MU set, or choosing thruster cadence that forces an early fail.

Scaling:

Scale to: 55–65% BW Thruster + Bar Muscle-Ups • 65/45 lb Thruster + Chest-to-Bar Pull-Ups (2:1 for MU) • Keep 75% BW Thruster but Cap Unbroken at 8–12 reps + Jumping Ring Muscle-Ups

Time Distribution:
54:00Elite
60:00Target
30:00Time Cap
Your Scores:

Training Profile

Performance Levels
L1
L2
L3
L4
L5
L6
L7
L8
L9
L10
RookieNoviceIntermediateAdvancedPro/Elite