// training block 01 — 27 jul → 23 aug 2026

4 weeks to a 10K time trial

target56:40
pace5:40/km
test day
// the block
// reference
Pace & HR targets max hr 195
TypePaceHR
Easy / Z27:00–7:45< 150
Recovery7:45–8:15< 140
Threshold6:05–6:20165–172
4×4 intervals5:30–5:45170–185
Goal 10K5:40

In 35°C+ heat add 20–30 s/km to every easy target and let HR govern. Take the earliest morning slot while the cool weather holds.

Warm-ups & ramps

General warm-up, 6–8 min, every session: 3 min easy cardio, then —

  • Tue / Sat: band pull-aparts 2×20, shoulder dislocates ×10, scap push-ups ×10, arm circles
  • Thu: leg swings 10 each direction/leg, bodyweight squats ×15, hip flexor stretch 30 s/side, glute bridge ×15

Only the first heavy compound of the day gets the full ramp — bench (Tue), squat (Thu), OHP (Sat). Everything downstream gets one feeler set at ~60% × 8, 45 s rest, then straight into work sets.

LiftRamp
Bench work 82.520×10 · 40×8 · 55×5 · 65×3 · 77.5×1
Squat work 9520×10 · 40×8 · 60×5 · 75×3 · 87.5×2
Wtd pull-up work +5BW×5 · +5×3 · +10×1
OHP20×10 · 60%×6 · 80%×3 · 92%×1
RDL40×8 · 60×5
Rest periods
CategoryRest
Heavy compound (bench, squat, OHP)3:00–4:00
Weighted pull-up3:00
Secondary compound2:00–2:30
Unilateral90 s / side
Isolation60–90 s
Superset pairs0 in · 90 s after
Core45–60 s

Short on time? Cut an isolation exercise. Never cut rest on the main lift.

Load progression
WkBenchSquatPull-upOHP
182.5 5×495 6×4+5 5×4est.
285 5×4100–102.5+5 5×4+2.5
387.5 5×4105 6×4+7.5 5×4+2.5
480 5×390 6×3+5 5×3−5, ×3

Double progression: all 4 sets at target reps, 2 RIR or better → +2.5 kg (bench/OHP/pull-up) or +5 kg (squat). Miss reps on set 3 or 4 → hold the weight another week.

No training to failure this month. One exception: the Tuesday after the 10K — test bench for a true max set of 5, expect above 90 kg.

Autoregulation overrides the numbers
  • Wednesday intervals flat → that's Tuesday's bench, normal. Twice in a row → drop one bench set.
  • Sunday long-run legs heavy → Thursday went too hard. Cut squat to 3 sets before cutting any running.
  • Warm-up weights heavy two sessions running → skip that day's main lift, accessories only.
  • Sleep score under 85 three straight nights → drop one easy run that week.
  • Missed a session → skip it, don't stack it. Protect Wednesday quality + Sunday long above all.

Sleep score is the early-warning system — at 95+/8 h there's room to push, and that number moves before the lifts do.

Standing setup
  • Max HR 195 in Strava — age-derived zones are wrong (189 hit in a workout), so Z2/Z4 boundaries are off until fixed.
  • ~300 kcal/day deficit, no deeper — running 4×/week. Protein 1.8–2.2 g/kg daily. Most carbs around Wednesday intervals and the Sunday long run.
  • Log every gym session with work-set weights and reps. Invisible training can't tell maintenance from decline.
rest
0:00