Train Like Spartan Champ Rose Wetzel for a Week
We all want to know: What makes the best-of-the-best Spartan athletes out there tick? How do they keep their edge? In our Train Like A Champ series, we dig into the details of the training, nutrition, mindset, and more that keeps our most epic athletes on top.
The One-Week Rose Wetzel Workout
As excitement grows for the 2019 Spartan World Championship in North Lake Tahoe late this September, we tapped Wetzel for an inside look at what a week-long "Rose Wetzel workout plan" looks like, so you can follow along as she preps for Tahoe—and learn to train like a champ yourself.
Related: Train Like a Champion: Q&A with Rose Wetzel
The following workout schedule is something Wetzel worked up with over the last few months. It was programmed by Hobie Call and is the general format he used when he won his last Spartan World Championship and won the Spartan National Series.
Every day starts with a long warmup and finishes with a quick cooldown. (Which, admittedly, generally consists of jogging through the gym to the daycare to pick up Taylor right before her daily daycare time allotment is up).
Note: Begin all workouts with a warm-up—and end all with a cool-down.
Related: Dynamic Warmup to Start Every Workout
Monday
3 minute run tempo with a 5 pound weight vest on at 15% incline (9:13 min/mile pace), 30 lunges with 22.5 pounds in each hand, 3 minute fast stationary bike tempo, 30 lunges with 12 pounds in each hand, 3 minute run tempo without a weight vest on, at 1% incline (5:42 min/mile pace), 30 bodyweight lunges, taking longer, faster steps, 3 minute stationary bike tempo, 30 bodyweight sprint lunges, as wide of steps as possible, as quickly as possible, 3 minute run tempo without a weight vest on, at 1% incline (5:42 min/mile pace)
Tuesday: Part 1
15-minute upper body HIIT workout consisting of 5-6 rounds of:
- Quick, strict pull-ups until pace slows (usually 5-8)
- Hanging leg raises until grip or abs give out (usually 10-15)
- Push-up flow combo
- Dips until pace slows (usually 8-12)
- Eight 20 pound sandbag throws (cycling through down throws the first round up, throws the second round, and backward throws the third round before starting the cycle over)
Tuesday: Part 2
With two 30 pound sandbags, I do a 4-5 minute farmers carry walk into a 4-5 minute double sandbag shoulder carry into a 4-5 minute sandbag front carr (to simulate a bucket carry), covering 250-300 meters per carry type.
Related: Train Like Spartan Champ Alyssa Hawley
Wednesday
90-minute rolling hill run, sprinting the downhills and then finishing with 3 min, 2 min, and 4x1 min sprints, with a minute jogging rest in between each.
Thursday
Same as Tuesday, except with a 5-pound weight vest on.
Friday
Essentially a day off for my legs: fun, low-key day at local Ninja gym, focusing on upper body grip work and obstacle technique.
Related: What a Week of Spartan Pro Nicole Mericle's Workouts Looks Like
Saturday
2-2.5 hour mountain endurance run, occasionally adding in burpees and rock carries.
Sunday
Day off, light grip work, backyard obstacle play, and spear throwing.