If you’re a functional fitness athlete, chances are your cardio sucks. It’s a harsh statement, I know, and I put myself in this category as well. Functional fitness athletes are pretty strong and mentally tough, with great anaerobic endurance, but they often neglect their aerobic conditioning. This is likely the single biggest factor that is limiting your performance. This article will discuss methods to increase your aerobic capacity, and still keep all your gainz bro.
There is a persistent myth that if you engage in specific aerobic conditioning work that you will become weaker. To be fair, if you only did aerobic capacity work, or if you paired your lifting with conditioning incorrectly, then you could become weaker. That being said, it is not particularly difficult to increase your conditioning without losing strength.
This program is designed to supplement your current programming. I’m assuming that what you are doing currently is probably pretty good for functional performance. You need to continue on with it and simply add in these workouts to target your aerobic energy system specifically.
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I do not recommend doing a ton of extra lifting, sprinting, or any other specific program in conjunction with this. Your body only has a certain capacity to recover, and you can’t get better at everything at once. Remember, if everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority.
Picking Your Poison
There are numerous types of exercise you can use for this program including: running, swimming, rowing, cycling, airdyne, rucking etc. You are only limited by your imagination, as you could conceivably pick any activity that can be done for 30 min or more.
With so many choices, how are we to know what is going to give us the most improvement? Well, I’ll make that easy for you. If you don’t have any injuries precluding you from running, then you should run.
If you happen to be a heavier athlete, or a little older, then you should probably pick airdyne. If you are in the military then you could use rucking, otherwise I just don’t see the benefit for most athletes.
The Functional Aerobic Capacity Program
This program is going to be two days a week, with a little extra work pre and post wod. I like to call this work sandwich training. Don’t get too excited, there’s no mayo involved here.
You’re going to sandwich your normal session with some aerobic conditioning before and after the wod. There will also be two specific training days a week devoted only to conditioning, in this case running, which is the modality I recommend for most athletes.
If you substituted another modality for running, then use it, but make sure that the overall intensity and training duration remain close to what is programmed below.
Week 1 Running Plan
This week is an introductory week, designed to get you used to the extra stress of running. As an athlete, you need to be very cognizant not to make these cardio sessions too hard.
All the sandwich training should be at a conversational pace. If you have a heart rate monitor, I highly recommend you wear it, and keep your heart rate in zones 2 or 3. Click here to calculate your personal heart rate zones.
I can’t overstate how important it is not to go anaerobic. If you would like to get a heart rate monitor you can check these dudes out.
Heart Rate and Fitness Monitors
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- Bluetooth HR Monitor (this is a monitor that pairs with an app on your phone)
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The long run at the end of the week is also at a conversational pace, in zones 2 and 3. The sprints are going to be pretty difficult for those who are not accustomed to this training.
Because they are EMOM style, this will not be a true max speed sprint, which should not be attempted without extensive preparation. Each interval should be completed under 20 sec if possible, and ideally between 15-18 sec.
Week 2 Running Plan
Week two will see an increase in sandwich training length. It will also increase in duration for the long distance run, and the number of reps for the EMOM sprints.
The sandwich training may seem a little strange to some, but I have found that it works very well for a variety of reasons. It warms you up for your session very well, and it also promotes clearing of metabolic waste products after the session, which will have a big impact on your ability to recover from your wods. It’s also a time efficient way to get more aerobic training in.
Week 3 Running Plan
This week will continue to see increases in the sandwich training, and the difficulty of the end of the week running sessions. These sessions are designed this way to really target the areas athletes need. We don’t spend much time working our aerobic fitness, or in our near sprint speed running.
You can see that we are doing a lot of running by this week, and you should be fairly accustomed to it by now. Pro tip, wear some earbuds for those long runs and it will reduce the perception of fatigue during the run, and generally make it a little more pleasant.
Week 4 Running Plan
This week is going to be the most miles you have in the 8 week training plan. It can be rough, but just stick it out. By now you should be feeling the effects of the extra aerobic capacity. Your wod’s should be feeling a little easier and you should be able to go a bit faster than you normally would.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. We will be switching routines next week, so don’t think that you will be running for 2 hours in a few weeks. I’m not that cruel, or am I?
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Week 5 Running Plan
In week 5, we have finally leveled off with our sandwich training. It will not increase from here, but we have changed our running workouts at the end of the week greatly.
You’ll notice that the long easy run is gone, and a tempo run has replaced it. A tempo run is designed to practice running a little faster than your aerobic capacity will allow.
Your body will need to produce lactate to augment the energy production from your aerobic system. This is beneficial because it ensures that you are using 100% of your aerobic system, and it allows your body to get better at clearing the waste products from anaerobic energy production.
This run is at a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) level 7. Which is generally described as comfortably hard, but not max effort. Likewise, the 200m intervals are at the same level of exertion. For these 200m intervals you should rest as much as you feel necessary to continue on at the desired RPE.
Week 6 Running Plan
In this week, our tempo run gets a little longer, and the rate of exertion increases to an 8. This is going to feel hard, but something that you could maintain for a half hour if you had to.
The sprints are going to be the same as last week with the exception of some additional intervals. Again, rest as you need to complete the next interval at the desired RPE.
Week 7 Running Plan
This is the hardest week in terms of intensity. The tempo run is very close to all out effort, and the sprints are going to be fairly tough as well.
This is going to be the last week before our testing week, week 8. By now you should be feeling much faster on your runs and your wod performance should be much higher.
Week 8 Running Plan
You’ve made it to the final week. We are keeping the sandwich training and are leaving our time trial to the end of the week.
I recommend completing the 5k time trial on a track or on a level course. Hill runs are fine for your other training, provided they aren’t pushing you to go anaerobic when you shouldn’t be, but for this kind of running test you need to find a flat course.
I also recommend going to your local high school on the weekend. Most leave the track unlocked for the community to use, and if you decide to jump the fence you will sure score a hell of a PR when the cops are chasing your ass for trespassing.
Nutrition
If you like carbs, then this is the program for you. For running, there is no way around eating carbs. I know a lot of athletes think that they will get fat and their performance will suffer, but that’s just flat out wrong. Read this article covering carbohydrate research for athletes.
For protein, I recommend eating at least 1 gram per pound of lean mass, up to 1 gram per pound of bodyweight. Any more, and it is like being stored as fat.
Fats should hover around 60g for the lighter athlete, up to 100g for a heavier athlete. Overall I recommend tracking your food intake with a free app called My Fitness Pal. Ideally you should be eating enough calories to cover all your training. This is a performance enhancing program, not a weight loss one.
If you are really an over achiever, you can track your exact mileage using a running gps (Fenix 3 HR from Garmin Recommended), and use this formula to figure exactly how many carbs should add to your diet.
You can also use a free app called Map My Run to track mileage and other running related variables.
Bodyweight x .66 x miles per day = extra calories needed / 4 = grams of carbs
Here’s an example: 200lb male x .66 = 132 x 3 miles = 396 cal / 4 = 99g carb
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your macronutrient requirements, but do not skimp on the carbs if performance is what you are after.
Final Thoughts
I know many of you are secretly thinking that you will waste away to nothing if you run this much, and you will, if you don’t eat enough, or pay attention to recovery.
Remember the goal of this program is to enhance your performance through increasing your aerobic capacity. As long as you are eating appropriately, and still busting your ass with your lifts, you will not loose any appreciable amount of strength. Don’t skimp on the food, keep your fitness goal in mind, and pretty soon you will be crushing your metcon’s.
It’s not too late to put together your own custom program.
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Just finishing up week two and have been feeling great.
Awesome man. Let me know how you feel as it keeps going. I find after about week 4 you can start to tell a real difference in your wods.
After the 8 week program, then What? Start over?
I would recommend that you take a second and figure out your goals. If you need more aerobic endurance then you would need to keep working on that. But it might also be a good time to cycle to a different plan for a bit. Let me know what you are going for and I can probably steer you in the right direction.
I’m on week 4. I usually can’t exercise on weekends, so I do long run on Wednesdays and sprints on Friday instead of a WOD. Does that sound okay, or would you suggest a different breakdown for a Monday to Friday only schedule?
No thats fine. It won’t make any difference. I wrote it that way because most folks have more time on the weekends to do that kind of workout. The consistency is much more important than scheduling in my book. Let me know how it goes and if you have any other questions.
Thanks for the quick responses. I don’t have a specific goal. I would like to maintain a modicum of aerobic fitness. It’s challenging to fit in strength, anaerobic (metabolic conditioning AKA WODs), and aerobic into an hour or so of training. Thanks for the info. Keep up the good work on the articles.
I think I’d probably check out the Open prep program. That’s going to be a good all around program for crossfit. You could also stick with 10 min or so of pre and post work on an airdyne, rower, or jogging for aerobic fitness on days you WOD.
CrossFit Open? Lol. I didn’t mean to give you the wrong idea. I’m a 45 year old father that works out during lunch. Just trying to stay in shape and make sure I get a good balance of strength, aerobic, and anaerobic in limited workout time. I think once the program is over, I will stick with the running sandwich and mix in some sprints, long runs, and tempo runs here and there.
No worries man. The open plan is just a good all around plan for crossfit. It’s not some kind of secret competitive program.
Jake
I just found this site while searching for online programming to increase the capacity of my aerobic conditioning. I’m a 50 year old CF athlete who follows my gym’s programming five days a week (M-F). I’m thinking seriously about following this program for the next 8 weeks to see if I can improve my aerobic conditioning. If I’m successful with this program, would you be available to write additional programming for me? I’d be willing to pay for your services. The CF Open starts next February (?) and I want to build as much of an aerobic base as possible that will extent through the Open / Master’s Qualifier.
Thanks for putting this information out there!
I am available for writing programing. I’ll email you shortly.
With work and training, some days might not work for the sprints and long jog, So Just getting them done each week works?
I can’t wait to start. Thanks for the help.
Jason,
Yep, you can adjust them however you want to fit your schedule.
Jake, looking forward to this.
I’m not sure I’m going to be able to sandwich the training – but I can commit to doing it after the WOD. Should I double the time since I won’t be able to do the running before, or simply just do the second portion without doubling time?
I’d start small and if you feel like its working you can increase. So start with like 7-10min and increase a couple of minutes every week. Don’t go too crazy here. lol
This may be nit picking a little But lots of days I cannot get to my place early enough to fit in the pre workout run. I tend to do a accessory work out later in the day. It’s not intense at all but would sandwiching the running Before & After that still have the same benefits?
Chris,
Yes this would still work. This training doesn’t have to be done around your main workout period, it’s just scheduled that way for most folks. Feel free to rearrange it to suit your needs.
Started today and am excited to see how it works out for me. To stay in the right zones it was a VERY slow jog. I had to slow down to a fast walk various times to keep within the right zones especially post-WOD. Does this seem OK or do I need to adjust my zone limits? Should the sandwich runs continue being in zones 2-3 when the tempo runs are added in the later weeks?
You’ve got it right. I was jogging like at a 10 minute mile pace and I’d walk when my heart rate got too high. This is fine, and to be expected. Keep the zones where they are for now. IF you start to push them into tempo runs you are going to get some interference with your normal strength and conditioning programing.
I’m going into the 4th week and just did 11.1 and that was the first time real wod I could tell my cardio was better. Insane.
For week 5-7, For the 7 and 8 RPE. I don’t see that zone in the list. Mine only goes up to 5. Am I over looking something?
Also, any maintness tips for the legs, stretches, etc.
Thanks again for the help.
Congrats on your success. RPE just means rate of perceived exertion or in this case 7-8 out of 10 with 10 being max. It’s not a heart rate zone or anything. For recovery I recommend just going for an easy walk or bike ride. Think barely moving. Let me know if you have any questions.
this looks like a great program, thanks for sharing your insights. I’m planning to do this program. one question. the article states the program is 2 days a week but the graphic included with the piece shows 4 days plus the weekend tempo run and next day sprints. can you clarify? I really appreciate the quality information on this site. keep up the great work.
Thanks for the kind words,
The program is 2 days per week of aerobic only programming. Otherwise it’s just the sandwich training before and after the WOD. Let me know if you have any questions as you go through, and feel free to post your results after you finish!
Is it reasonable to mix up the cardio? So, maybe run WOD Row or row WOD row or Row WOD run? Then cycling/running/swimming as the longer steady state session but the sprints/tempo running?
You can do this, but the draw back is your probably won’t advance as much in one particular skill. But if you simply want the cardiovascular fitness I don’t really see an issue.
I have junk knees so ill probably use the damn assault bike. Should I increase the times or distances due to this?
For the timed workouts, just keep those the same. I generally use this conversion for assault bike to running wods. Each quarter mile is 25 cal on the bike. You can also just pick intervals that are close to what it would take you to run. Let me know if you have any other questions.
I’ve been tripling the meters on running wods if I use the bike. That about right?
How soon does the run before and after the WOD need to be completed? We do a lot of stretching, drills, etc…before the WOD begins and I’m just wondering how to fit it all in. Thanks.
If you have a 5pm class I would generally arrive there at like 4:45 go for the run then relax for a few minutes and begin the class. If you are going after, I’d make myself take at least 5 min break after the wod, then go for the run.
Thank you. I’ve struggled for sometime trying to get a decent aerobic engine. I’m hoping this is what I need.
We normally stretch then do 30 mins of strength then a word.
Thinking about getting there, stretching then doing mobility work until I can do the sandwich run before the wod. How does that sound? Or should I run, do the strength work, wod, then run?
Carlos,
Personally i like to run then stretch, but there’s no issue doing it the other way. Do it which ever way you find most convenient.
Hello jake!!this program helped me a lot and I am on the 8 week,now I am starting to do a muscle endurance cycle!i just wanted to ask what week should I follow in order to maintain the aerobic capacity that I gained?also would u mind I recommend that program on my YouTube vlog?
See above
Hey jake,I am glad to tell u,this program helped me a lot,but I know I finishing the program and I am a muscle endurance cycle!But I want to maintain my gained aerobi capacity what should I do?also can I recommend your program in my YouTube vlog?
This looks great and how you explain things is awesome. I did have a couple of questions, whats your definition of tempo runs? (is it where you run and walk then repeat). And, what strength training phase (hypertrophy/Strength/Power) would this program best fall under in order to maintain muscle strength and size while not interfering with running performance? My thought is maybe doing the first 4 weeks in hypertrophy phase and then the final 4 weeks of your running program in the strength phase. Thoughts?
Thanks for the kind words Gabe. Tempo runs are steady state runs at around 70-80% effort. I would put this ideally in a strength maintenance phase and furthest away from hypertrophy as it will have the most interference with running. Hope that helps.
Why do we want to not go anaerobic during the before and after the WOD? also, can I switch the long/tempo run days with the sprints?
Anaerobic energy systems are much less inefficient but they do produce more power. IF your aerobic system is more efficient then you don’t rely on your anaerobic system as much at the same power output. I would not recommend sprinting in lieu of a tempo run. If you want a faster paced plan then check out the running plan. Its almost all intervals.
Jake,
If I understand this correctly the “meat” of the program is the weekly long run and the intervals. The sandwiching is extra, whenever you’re at the box/gym, regardless of the number of times you go in a week and what you get up to when there. Is this the correct understanding?
Kind regard and many thanks
Michael you are pretty close. Don’t discount the sandwich training as it can really add up. But you are right that the long run and intervals probably count for a little more.
Ive been working the muscular growth programs for a while now as a way to keep up strength while Im training for endurance races. Most days I am sandwhiching the WOD with 10-15 mins with hour long plus runs on the weekend. I have recently added a mid-week run in place of one of the work outs to up my miles of running. Do you think this is the right kind of programming for what I am trying to accomplish which is to run long endurance runs 1/2 and full trail marathons but also transfer some fat into muscle. Can I expect to increase muscle strength and increase running endurance. Sorry for the long winded question. For context; Im 46 years old and 6′ 195lbs. I would like to drop 10lbs for my running but still keep up my strength.
Good question Mike. You’ve hit on what I would recommend. As long as you are eating enough you can still make progress both in endurance and muscle mass, but both will be slowed somewhat. Check out this article for all the details. https://www.tierthreetactical.com/how-to-combine-cardio-and-strength-training-research-review/
Hey Jake, I’m about to start this program and wanted to know if there was a specific wod routine you recommended using for this program. Or if it’s just a week’s worth of random full body wod’s. Thanks
This program is in addition to whatever you are currently doing. It has no wods or lifts. Pick a program you like then add this on.
Hi Jake,
My aerobic capacity does need some work. I’m just about to hit week six of your premium 12 week muscle builder. I’m using it for fat loss, would this be a good addition?
Also, I’m using your calorie calculator too but feel like I’m losing weight a bit too fast. If I add this in should l include the extra time in the activity calculator?
If you feel like you have the time and energy to add on to the 12 week program you can do that with this. You do need to add in the extra work to make sure you aren’t in too big of a caloric deficit. Ideally you should losing no more than 1% of your body weight per week.