This past week of training (June 9th – June 15th, 2025) was a fantastic block of layering different types of stimulus, from trail running and focused strength work to high-intensity intervals and a massive partner challenge. It was all about building a well-rounded fitness profile for the demands of Hyrox Toronto this October. Here’s a look back at how the week unfolded.
A Quick Note on Volume & Intensity
As always, the training I describe is tailored to my current goals and experience. It’s shared to provide insight and ideas, not as a direct prescription for everyone. Please listen to your body, scale appropriately, and prioritize good form and recovery. Consistent, smart training is the key to long-term success!
The Week’s Training Log: Day by Day
Monday, June 9th: Trail Running Safety & The Unexpected
The week kicked off with a 12km trail run. This session turned into an important lesson on safety and navigating the unexpected when out in nature. It became more about problem-solving and being prepared than hitting specific paces, which is a crucial skill in itself.
Read the full story and safety takeaways: [June 9th – Trail Running Safety: Navigating the Unexpected]
Tuesday, June 10th: Forced Rest Day
Tuesday was an unplanned but helpful recovery day. I was booked solid with work and didn’t have time to get a workout in. While it wasn’t my choice, getting that extra recovery time was definitely beneficial for the hard sessions planned for the rest of the week.
Wednesday, June 11th: Training the Ego – Push/Core & a 5km Tempo Run
Wednesday was a great lesson in smart training. I hit two distinct sessions with a clear theme: training for the intended stimulus, not just for heavy weight or max speed.
- Workout 1 (Push & Core): A quick but intense session with three supersets (Push Press/Toes to Bar, Bench Press/GHD Sit-ups, Neutral Grip DB Incline/Tricep Extensions). The main takeaway was “checking my ego” by lowering the weight on several exercises to ensure I could complete all 20 reps per set unbroken with good tempo.
- Workout 2 (5km Tempo Run): The goal was a sub-5:00/km pace, but not all out. It was a huge confidence booster to find I had to actively hold myself back to stay in the tempo zone, finishing with an average pace of 4:52/km.
Read the full breakdown and my thoughts on smart training: [June 11 – Training the Ego: Push/Core Workout & 5km Tempo Run]
Thursday, June 12th: Pull Strength & Lactate Threshold Intervals
This was another multi-part day. It started with a 10km BikeERG warmup, followed by a pull-focused strength session with supersets (Barbell Rows, Ring Rows, Cable Pulldowns, various curls). The day finished with a brutal but effective lactate threshold running workout, consisting of two blocks of five 40-second hard intervals, which were hitting around a 3:19/km pace.
My Takeaway: This day was all about building capacity at both ends: muscular endurance under load and the ability to handle and recover from high-intensity running efforts.
See the detailed data for all three sessions: [June 12 – Hyrox Prep: Pull Strength & Lactate Threshold Run]
Friday, June 13th: Partner WOD & a Sled Pull PR!
Feeling a bit sore from the lactate run, I started with a deliberate 10-minute BikeERG warmup (holding >200W). Then, I teamed up with fellow coach Jordan for a massive “100 Rep Partner Challenge” (1km Row, 100 Wall Balls, 100 cal Echo Bike, 100 Box Jumps, 100 Burpee Pull-ups, 1km Row), which we finished in 27:09. The highlight of the day came afterward when I decided to test a heavy sled pull and hit a huge PR of 610 lbs for 100 feet!
My Takeaway: A fantastic reminder of how training with a partner can push you to new levels, and that sometimes, even when you start out sore, you can hit a massive PR if you’re smart about your warmup and approach.
Read the full story of the partner WOD and the PR: [June 13 – Partner WOD & a 610lb Sled Pull PR]
Saturday, June 14th: Active Recovery Run
After a big week, Saturday was a dedicated active recovery day. The only goal was an easy 6km run, holding a steady 6:02/km pace to get the blood flowing and flush out the system. This was crucial for setting up Sunday’s session.
Sunday, June 15th: Quad Endurance Finisher
The week finished with a time-crunched but intense quad-focused endurance workout. After a high-rep squat warmup, I hit two tough supersets: one with Barbell Bulgarian Split Squats and Air Squats, and another with Slantboard Goblet Squats and Barbell Reverse Lunges. This session was a real quad-burner and a great example of how a well-planned recovery day can lead to a high-quality performance the next day.
Read the full breakdown of the recovery/performance combo: [June 15 – Recovery Run & A Brutal Quad Endurance Workout]
Overall Weekly Reflections
This week was a fantastic blend of high-intensity work, strength endurance, and smart recovery. It highlighted the importance of adapting sessions based on how the body feels (like dropping weight on June 11th) and using lower-intensity days to set up bigger efforts (like the June 14th run leading into the June 15th quad session). Every workout, whether a PR effort or an easy recovery run, served a specific purpose in the bigger picture of preparing for Hyrox Toronto.
Ready for Your Best Hyrox Yet?
Understanding how to structure a training week with varied intensity, volume, and recovery is key to long-term progress and peak performance. As a certified Hyrox Performance Coach, I can help you build your own effective plan for the October Hyrox in Toronto. Let’s strategize your success!
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How was your training week? What were your biggest wins or challenges? Share in the comments below!