If you’re looking to push your limits and transform your body, strongman medley style training is your answer. This unique training approach is not just about building raw strength—it’s about becoming a well-rounded, resilient athlete. By incorporating a variety of functional movements with minimal rest between exercises, strongman medleys challenge your body in ways that traditional workouts can’t.
The Power of Strongman Medley Training
Strongman mixed medley workouts typically involve stringing together several different exercises into one continuous, grueling circuit. Each movement in the medley targets different muscle groups, requiring your body to adapt quickly as you transition from one exercise to the next.
Pro Strongwoman Erin “The Monster” Murray, the reigning u82 World’s Strongest Woman, is a firm believer in the transformative power of medley training. She emphasizes that “medleys highlight different aspects of strength and athleticism,” showcasing the versatility required in strongman competitions. Murray, a multi-title holder across various weight classes, explains, “It’s not just about being strong. Medleys demand that you be well-conditioned, technically proficient, agile, and athletically intelligent. They require you to think on your feet and adapt swiftly.” Her insights underscore the comprehensive nature of medley training, where raw power meets strategy and adaptability.
Minimal Rest, Maximum Gains
With strongman mixed-medley style training, rest periods are short—sometimes non-existent. This high-intensity approach pushes your cardiovascular system to its limits, improving conditioning while torching calories. The combination of strength and endurance work ensures that you’re not just lifting heavy but doing so in a way that translates to functional fitness and fat loss.
Benefits of Strongman Medley Training
The beauty of strongman medley training lies in its diversity. According to Murray “Not only does this require proficiency in multiple disciplines, it requires an ability to transition quickly between techniques and pace the ‘event’ appropriately.”
Functional Strength: The variety of movements ensures that you’re building strength that’s applicable in everyday life, not just in the gym.
Enhanced Conditioning: The constant movement and minimal rest improve cardiovascular fitness, allowing you to work harder for longer periods.
Fat Loss: The intensity of the medley, coupled with the use of compound movements, accelerates fat loss by keeping your heart rate elevated and burning more calories.
Mental Toughness: Strongman training is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Pushing through the discomfort of a grueling medley develops grit and determination.
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How to Integrate Strongman Medleys into Your Conditioning Regimen
Start by selecting two to four exercises that target different muscle groups. For example, a simple medley might include:
Pullups: Engages your back, shoulders, and arms while also improving grip strength—an essential component in any strongman event.
Squat Variation: Whether it’s a front squat or a back squat, this movement targets the lower body, building foundational strength in the quads, glutes, and hamstrings.
Overhead Press Variation: Involving the shoulders, triceps, and upper chest, this movement is crucial for developing upper body strength and stability.
Farmer’s Carry: This simple yet brutally effective exercise improves grip strength, core stability, and overall endurance as you carry heavy weights over a distance.
The goal is to complete each exercise back-to-back with minimal rest, then rest for 2-3 minutes or as needed before repeating the circuit 3-5 times or for a specific duration of time. Adjust the weight and intensity according to your fitness level, and gradually increase the difficulty as you become more conditioned.
Strongman Medleys Training Guidelines
Full Body Warmup
Before jumping into the medley, it’s essential to prime your body with a comprehensive warm-up. This should include:
Foam Rolling: Loosen up tight areas and improve tissue pliability by rolling out major muscle groups.
Dynamic Stretching: Incorporate stretches that actively move joints through their range of motion, enhancing mobility and flexibility.
Corrective Movements: Focus on exercises that address any muscular imbalances, ensuring your body is balanced and ready to perform.
Core and Stability Activation: Engage your core and stabilize your joints with drills like planks, resistance band work, or stability ball exercises.
CNS Activation: Prepare your nervous system for the intense workout ahead by adding in explosive movements like jumps, skips, or light plyometrics.
Medley Setup and Warmup
Station Organization: Arrange your workout area so all equipment is in place and easily accessible, minimizing rest time between exercises.
Gradual Warmup: Perform 2-4 progressive warm-up sets per exercise, increasing weight or intensity gradually. This allows your body to adjust to the load, reducing injury risk. Aim for a Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) that aligns with your workout goals.
Executing the Strongman Medley
Timer and Rounds: Set a timer for the entire session. Your goal is to complete as many rounds as possible, maintaining a brisk pace. Stick to the prescribed sets, reps, and rest periods for each movement, but listen to your body—take breaks as needed to maintain form and prevent overexertion.
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How to Progress With Strongman Medley Training
Initial Setup and RPE Guideline
Starting Point: Begin your first session by targeting a Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) of 6 out of 10. This moderate intensity ensures you have ample room to progress as your fitness improves.
Beginner Duration: If you are new to Strongman Medley Training or just starting out, begin with an easy to moderate 10-minute medley. Gradually increase the duration each week to build endurance and strength:
Week 1: 10 minutes
Week 2: 15 minutes
Week 3: 20 minutes
Duration-Based Progression
One way to progress is by extending the duration of your medley over time. This gradual increase allows your body to adapt and become more resilient, enhancing your overall cardiovascular and muscular endurance.
Load-Based Progression
Alternatively, you can maintain the same duration for a set period (typically 3-4 weeks) and progressively increase the load on each lift. This method focuses on strength gains and muscle hypertrophy. Here’s a sample progression plan:
Tips and Variations
Rest as needed between movements but aim to keep your heart rate up.
Change the exercises every 3-6 weeks to avoid plateaus and prevent overuse injuries.
Scale the weights and reps according to your fitness level.
Incorporate different grip positions, stances, and movement variations to keep things interesting.
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Strongman Medley Training Progression Plan 1: (4 Implements)
Week 1:
Pull-ups x 5 reps: Band assisted
Hatfield Squat x 3 reps: 225 lbs
Log Overhead Press x 1: 135 lbs
Farmer’s Carry x 25 feet each direction: 135 lbs per hand
Week 2:
Pull-ups x 5 reps: Bodyweight
Hatfield Squat x 3 reps: 275 lbs
Log Overhead Press x 1: 155 lbs
Farmer’s Carry x 25-40 feet each direction: 155 lbs per hand
Week 3:
Pull-ups x 3-5 reps: +10 lbs added
Hatfield Squat x 3 reps: 300 lbs
Log Overhead Press x 1 rep: 175 lbs
Farmer’s Carry x 30-50 feet each direction: 175 lbs per hand
Strongman Medley Training Progression Progression Plan 2: (4 Implements)
Week 1:
Barbell Deadlift x 1-3 reps: 315 lbs
Sand Bag to Shoulder x 2 reps: 135 lbs
Circus Dumbbell Overhead Press x 1 rep: 75 lbs
Zercher Yoke Carry x 50 feet: 325 lbs
Week 2:
Barbell Deadlift x 1-3 reps: 335 lbs
Sand Bag to Shoulder x 2 reps: 155 lbs
Circus Dumbbell Overhead Press x 1 rep: 85 lbs
Zercher Yoke Carry x 50 feet: 365 lbs
Week 3:
Barbell Deadlift x 1-3 reps: 355 lbs
Sand Bag to Shoulder x 2 reps: 175 lbs
Circus Dumbbell Overhead Press x 1 rep: 95 lbs
Zercher Yoke Carry x 50 feet: 405 lbs
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Pro Strongwoman Erin Murray’s Favorite Medley’s (3 Implements)
Week 1:
Yoke Run x 50 feet: 405 lbs
Sandbag Run x 50 feet: 200 lbs
Log Press x 1 rep: 185 lbs
Week 2:
Yoke Run x 50 feet: 455 lbs
Sandbag Run x 50 feet: 252 lbs
Log Press x 1 rep: 205 lbs
Week 3:
Yoke Run x 50 feet: 505 lbs
Sandbag Run x 50 feet: 250 lbs
Log Press x 1 rep: 225 lbs
Erin Murray Medley Plan (2 Implements)
Week 1:
Farmers Carry x 30 feet: 200 lbs/hand
Truck/ Sled Pull x 30 feet: Heavy
Week 2:
Farmers Carry x 40 feet: 200 lbs/hand
Truck/ Sled Pull x 40 feet: Heavy
Week 3:
Farmers Carry x 50 feet: 200 lbs/hand
Truck/ Sled Pull x 50 feet: Heavy
Follow Erun Murray for more Medley ideas Erin Murray
