Welcome to Invictus Engine! You’ll see below the new format of our program puts the power in your hands to structure your training schedule around your priorities. You can now choose from multiple training modalities; you still have three running sessions per week, but also have the option of mixing in other lower impact training modalities to supplement or replace your running sessions. For example, a three-day/week training schedule might look like this:
- Monday – Running Session 1 – VO2 Max Priority
- Wednesday – Rowing Session 2 – Lactate Threshold Priority
- Saturday – Running Session 3 – Aerobic Threshold Priority
Alternatively, if you would like to train 6 days/week, your training schedule might look something like this:
- Monday – Running Session 1 – VO2 Max Priority
- Tuesday – Mixed-Modal Session 1 – Lactic Endurance Priority
- Wednesday – Rowing Session 2 – Lactate Threshold Priority
- Thursday – Swimming Technique Session
- Friday – Cyclical Session 2 – VO2 Max Priority
- Saturday – Running Session 3 – Aerobic Threshold Priority
The power to choose is yours, but your coaches are here to help! Please let us know how we can best guide you in the comments, and via the private Facebook page – which is now titled “Invictus Engine.” Please also continue to post workout results to comments, simply noting the sessions as “Running Session 2” or “Mixed-Modal Session 1” followed by your results (times or distances). We look forward to following your progress and helping you get the most benefit from this program!
Running Sessions
Session 1 – VO2 Max Priority
Every 4 minutes, for 40 minutes (10 sets) for times:
Run 300 Meters
Your goal should be to run these at a pace at least 5 seconds faster than your 400m splits for your 1600 meter PR. Try to maintain consistent pacing across all sets, but if you feel good after the fourth set, pick up your pace and see if you can hold it for the remainder of the sets. Walk or jog during your rest periods.
Session 2 – Lactate Threshold
Every 8 minutes, for 32 minutes (4 sets) for distances of:
5 Minutes of Running @ 1-Mile PR Pace
(walk or jog during the 3-minute rest period)
Session 3 – Aerobic Threshold
For distance:
10 Minutes of Running @ 70-75% effort
12 Minutes of Running @ 80-85% effort
10 Minutes of Running @ 75-80% effort
If you have a heart-rate monitor, start to note heart-rates at your various effort levels to ensure that your perceived rate of exertion is aligned with your physiological exertion. This can be a great learning tool for athletes with a little bit of awareness and note-taking.
Rowing Sessions
Session 1 – VO2 Max Priority
For distance:
1 Minute of Rowing
2 Minutes of Easy Recovery Row
2 Minutes of Rowing
4 Minutes of Easy Recovery Row
3 Minutes of Rowing
6 Minutes of Easy Recovery Row
3 Minutes of Rowing
4 Minutes of Easy Recovery Row
2 Minutes of Rowing
2 Minutes of Easy Recovery Row
1 Minute of Rowing
Push your pace on the work intervals – somewhere between 90-95% effort; back off to 55-60% effort on the recovery portions.
Session 2 – Lactate Threshold
Every 8 minutes, for 32 minutes (4 sets) for distances of:
5 Minutes of Rowing @ 2k PR Pace
(easy recovery rowing during the 3-minute rest period)
Session 3 – Aerobic Threshold
For distance:
8-10 Minutes of Rowing @ 70-75% effort
8-10 Minutes of Rowing @ 80-85% effort
8-10 Minutes of Rowing @ 75-80% effort
Compare results to week of July 1-7, 2019.
If you have a heart-rate monitor, start to note heart-rates at your various effort levels to ensure that your perceived rate of exertion is aligned with your physiological exertion. This can be a great learning tool for athletes with a little bit of awareness and note-taking.
Cyclical & Mixed-Modal Sessions
Session 1 – Lactic Endurance Priority
For time:
20/15 Calorie Assault Bike
10 Double Kettlbell Front-Racked Reverse Lunges (24/16 kg)
40/30 Calorie Assault Bike
20 Double Kettlbell Front-Racked Reverse Lunges
60/40 Calorie Assault Bike
30 Double Kettlbell Front-Racked Reverse Lunges
80/55 Calorie Assault Bike
40 Double Kettlbell Front-Racked Reverse Lunges
Session 2 – VO2 Max Priority
Against a 60-second clock…
15/10 Calorie Assault Bike
Max Dumbbell Box Step-Overs (50/35 lbs to 24″/20″)
Rest 2 minutes and repeat for a total of SIX sets.
Swimming Technique Session
Swimming Tip of the Week: I highly recommend purchasing a Finis snorkel so that you can swim without worrying about breathing. This will keep your hips lifted and your head in the proper position.
Warm-Up Technique Drills
Four sets of:
50 Meter Breathe Every 5th Stroke (working on body position)
Rest 20 seconds
Followed by…
Four sets of:
50 Meter Pull – work on smooth roll with hips lifted
Rest 20 seconds
Followed by…
Four sets of:
25 Meter Stroke Count
Rest 10-15 seconds
Main Set
Two sets of:
50 Meter Finger Tip Drag
Rest 10 seconds
100 Meter Breathe Every 3rd Stroke – emphasize rotating your head, not lifting it
Rest 20 seconds
200 Meter Breathe Every 3rd Stroke
Rest 30 seconds
100 Meter Breathe Every 3rd Stroke
Rest 20 seconds
50 Meter Finger Tip Drag
Finishers
Four sets of:
25 Meter Breathe 1-3 times – focus on body roll, head and hip position
Rest 30 seconds
Followed by…
Four sets of:
25 Meter Pull
Rest 10 seconds
Followed by…
Four sets of:
25 Meter Kick
Rest 10 seconds
Cool Down
200 Meters Finger Tip Drag and focus on body position – waterline at the crown of your head
(If your head is lowered into the water, then the hips and feet rise towards the surface. Rather than having the water line at your eyebrows, forehead or hair line, drop your head so that the water line connects with the crown of the head.)