Workout Description

Why This Workout Is Very Hard

A brutally simple couplet: a heavy set of 30 back squats at near-bodyweight for many athletes, followed immediately by a 1 mile run on pre-fatigued legs. The loading is high, the metabolic demand spikes fast, and pacing errors are costly. Movement complexity is low, but strength, stamina, and aerobic capacity are all tested at a high level.

Benchmark Times for The Crippler

• Elite: <8:00
• Advanced: 10:00-12:00
• Intermediate: 13:00-14:00
• Beginner: >20:00

Training Focus

This workout develops the following fitness attributes:

• Strength (7/10): The prescribed loads are heavy relative to typical mixed-modal workouts. Many athletes are near 70–80% of 1RM for repeated reps, demanding significant lower-body strength and bracing under fatigue.
• Endurance (6/10): A full mile run after heavy squats demands sustained aerobic output. While not a long workout, maintaining pace under leg fatigue taxes cardiorespiratory endurance more than typical short sprint-style couplets.
• Speed (6/10): Fast transitions off the bar and strong mile pacing drive results. However, barbell speed is limited by load, shifting emphasis to efficient set management and consistent run cadence.
• Stamina (5/10): Thirty heavy back squats require repeated high-tension contractions with minimal rest. Athletes must sustain form and output through burning legs, managing sets and breathing without full recovery.
• Power (3/10): Explosiveness matters getting out of the hole on heavy squats, but the workout rewards steady control more than maximal power. The run favors steady turnover rather than pure sprint power.
• Flexibility (2/10): Standard squat depth and running mechanics require basic mobility in hips, ankles, and thoracic spine. No extreme ranges or advanced positions beyond sound squat and run standards are needed.

Scaling Options

Scale to: 30 Back Squats (185/125 lb) then 1 mile Run • 30 Back Squats at 60–70% 1RM then 1 mile Run • 50 Air Squats then 1 mile Run

Scaling Explanation

These options preserve the heavy-leg stimulus and run under fatigue while matching the athlete’s current strength so both pieces can be completed with steady pacing and safe mechanics.

Intended Stimulus

Open with aggressive but controlled barbell sets that leave the legs lit but not blown. Then settle into a hard, uncomfortable mile where cadence stays just shy of a redline. The workout should feel like quad smoke and heavy breathing, with mental discipline to keep running when the legs want to shut down.

Coach Insight

Break the squats before you have to: 15-10-5 or 12-10-8 often beats a failed big set. Quick rest, strong bracing, then go. Your one job: start the run immediately. Don’t walk; let the first 200m settle your breathing. Avoid shallow depth, sloppy re-racks, and sprinting the first 400m. Smooth is fast here.

Benchmark Notes

Times reflect a wide ability range. Newer athletes may need the full 18–20 minutes, while advanced athletes finish under 10 minutes and elites near 8. The heavy squats largely determine the split; efficient barbell sets enable a stronger mile.

Modality Profile

Two movements: heavy barbell squats and a long monostructural run. Most of the clock is spent running, but the squats strongly influence the run pace. No gymnastics elements are present, making this a weightlifting–monostructural couplet.

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