Scaling:
Isabel is one of the fastest CrossFit benchmark workouts. Reduce the load so you can perform multiple reps unbroken and complete all the reps in less than 7 minutes. Athletes less familiar with Olympic lifting should take time to drill the mechanics of each movement and reduce the load drastically. Increasing the load, like in the video, may be appropriate for a few advanced athletes, but most should keep this lighter in order to finish quickly.
Post your workout choice, time, and load to comments.
Compare to 230207.
Scaling:
Grace was first posted on CrossFit.com on June 24, 2004, and Isabel on Nov. 11, 2004. They are two of the fastest CrossFit benchmark workouts — top athletes can complete either of these workouts unbroken and in less than 1:30. Reduce the load as needed so you can perform multiple reps unbroken and complete the workout in less than 10 minutes. Athletes who are less familiar with Olympic lifting should take time to drill the mechanics and drastically reduce the load.
Intermediate option:
30 clean and jerks for time
OR
30 snatches for time
♀ 75 lb
♂ 115 lb
Beginner option:
30 clean and jerks for time
OR
30 snatches for time
♀ 55 lb
♂ 75 lb
Resources:
The Clean and Jerk
The Power Snatch
Graciano Rubio Does 225-lb Grace
Kelly Friel Takes on 145-lb Isabel
Find a gym near you:
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Featured photo:
Taken by Nicolás Glenny at CrossFit Coraje in Madrid, Spain.
Every 6 minutes for 3 sets complete:
21-15-9 reps
Echo-bike calories
Kettlebell goblet squats
♀ 24 kg
♂ 32 kg
Post your total time of all 3 sets combined to comments.
Goal: Get comfortable with the burn and increase your threshold as a result. Aim for 4-5 minutes to complete each set.
To be successful in this workout, aim for high intensity with some level of consistency in all three intervals. This will be difficult but a little bit of discipline goes a long way.
High intensity is the goal but not maximal intensity. Keep some in the tank and give it everything you’ve got on the last one.
Equipment matters — the effort on the Assault or Echo bike will change the stimulus of this workout when compared to a bike erg.
More experienced athletes can work closer to their thresholds with less rest than beginner athletes. Beginner athletes should finish BEFORE advanced athletes without exceeding their capacities. This means a beginner athlete should have a LOWER RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) than an advanced athlete in the first intervals since beginners will not have their recovery capacities as high and trained as the more advanced athlete.
I tested this workout and found that it was possible to keep the pace up so long as I didn’t push the squats. I was using a bike erg and was faced with the realization that the 21 and 21 took almost half the time, but staying composed allowed me to hit the goal and finish as hard as I could on the last interval.
Scaling:
Intermediate option:
Every 6 minutes for 3 sets complete:
18-15-9 reps
Echo-bike calories
Kettlebell goblet squats
♀ 16 kg
♂ 24 kg
Aim to complete the work around the 4-minute mark to allow for enough rest to repeat the next interval at high intensity.
Beginner option:
Every 6 minutes for 3 sets complete:
12-9-6 reps
Echo-bike calories
Air squats
Beginners will be pushed out of their comfort zone with the level of intensity we want to achieve. Aim to complete the work in 4 minutes to get 2 minutes of rest.
Mayhem Daily Wod - 21724
Mayhem BodyBuilding:
Barbell Bench Press
5 sets: 10 reps; increasing across sets
*Focus: Control should be shown with each rep on the way down and on the way up. Rest 90 sec between sets or just long enough to be able to show quality on next set.
Alt. DB Tempo Bench + Double DB Bench
4 sets: 5 alt. tempo reps (each side) + 5 double DB reps (normal speed).
*Focus: Start with both DBs extended overhead. Bench with one arm, leaving the other arm extended overhead and then repeat with other side. Tempo for this movement is 2 sec negative + 1 sec pause in bottom + explosive press up. No tempo on double reps. Loading should be moderate and allow for control throughout entire rep. Select a weight that you can control when sitting back to start and sitting up to finishing set. Do not drop the dumbbells. To avoid injury, bring the knees up to meet the dumbbells and sit up with them. If you have to drop them to deload, you’ve gone too heavy.
Double DB Incline Bench Press
4 sets: 10 reps; stay the same or increase across
*Focus: Set a bench up at an incline that will allow for a 45 degree angle of the torso. Select a weight that you can control when sitting back to start and sitting up to finishing set. Do not drop the dumbbells. To avoid injury, bring the knees up to meet the dumbbells and sit up with them. If you have to drop them to deload, you’ve gone too heavy.
Barbell Skull Crushers
4 sets: 10-15 reps; same resistance across. Moderate weight
*Focus: Lie on a bench with barbell extended towards the ceiling. Movement works best with an EZ curl bar but a straight will work as well. Keeping the elbow tucked, bring the bar down towards the top of head (around the hairline region). Elbows should stay pointed towards the ceiling. Adjust grip as needed to find the best balance between comfort and power. Do not sacrifice form for weight and focus on a solid contraction with each rep.
Seated Tricep DB French Press
4 sets: 12-15 reps; moderate loading
*Focus: In a seated position, take one dumbbell and hold it by the upper DB head with arms extended overhead. Keeping the elbows tucked and pointed at the ceiling, lower the weight behind the head. Extend back overhead to complete. For ease of setup, have a partner load and unload the DB from your hands before and after sets.
Lower Body Push/Pull
Barbell Back Squat
5 sets: 10-12 Reps; increasing across sets
*Focus: High bar position. Controlled speed down and up. Stop just before full lockout at the top of each rep for added time under tension on legs Rest 90 sec b/w sets
Barbell Deadlift
5 sets: 10-12 reps; increasing across sets
*Focus: traditional deadlift setup. Keep weight to a controllable amount meaning no bouncing off the floor. All reps are touch and go – do not reset at the bottom of reps.
Elevated Heel Goblet Squat 4 sets: 10-15 reps; moderate weight. Stay the same or increase across sets *Focus: Use a small plate or slant board under each heel. Hold a DB or KB in a goblet position. Focus on keeping tension in the legs throughout out sets. Stop just before full lockout at the top of each rep for added time under tension
Elevated Toe Double DB Romanian Deadlift 4 sets: 10-15 reps; moderate weight. Stay the same or increase across sets. * Focus: Use a small plate or slant board under toes of each foot. Holding dumbbells in each hand, push the hips back, lowering the dumbbells down the front of the legs until the end ROM is hit (or the low back begins to round out). Straps are allowed to be used so that grip is not a limiting factor for sets. If mobility doesn’t allow for toes to be elevated, perform reps with non-elevated toes.
DB Walking Lunges 4 sets: 30 yd length; moderate loading. DB’s can be held in any fashion *Focus: Find an area that 30yds can be lunged unbroken. Lunges should be done for quality, not for weight. Feel free to begin with only bodyweight and increase across sets. For walking lunges, attempt to keep tension in the legs during the entire rep, meaning you shouldn’t be resting/slamming the back knee into the floor. Keep loading to something that will allow for smooth, constant lunges throughout sets.
Seated Barbell Calf Raise 4 sets: 15-20 reps; moderate loading *Focus: Elevate feet so that you can pass below parallel to the floor with the heels. Drive through the big toe at extension. If needed. Use dumbbells on the knees to load this movement *Make sure that platform you have toes on will not flip when loading on edge
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Post your workout choice, time, and load to comments.
Compare to 200715.
Scaling:
Grace and Isabel are two of the fastest CrossFit benchmark workouts. Reduce the load so you can perform multiple reps unbroken and complete all the reps in less than 5 minutes. Athletes less familiar with Olympic lifting should take time to drill the mechanics of each movement and reduce the load drastically.
Intermediate Option:
30 clean and jerks for time
OR
30 snatches for time
♀ 75 lb ♂ 115 lb
Beginner Option:
30 clean and jerks for time
OR
30 snatches for time