Benchmark WOD

Barbara

The Workout

5 Rounds For Time: 20 Pull-ups, 30 Push-ups, 40 Sit-ups, 50 Squats, Rest 3 mins between rounds

Primary movement: Bodyweight Endurance

What is Barbara?

Barbara is a five-round bodyweight grinder: 20 pull-ups, 30 push-ups, 40 sit-ups and 50 air squats per round, with exactly 3 minutes of rest between rounds. Your score is total time including rest (12 minutes of it). The forced rest makes each round an all-out effort - but with 250 reps of upper-body pushing and pulling, the later rounds expose any weakness in muscular endurance. Round times typically slow dramatically after round 2.

What is a good Barbara time?

Level (Time)MenWomen
beginner45:00+48:00+
intermediate36:0038:00
advanced29:0031:00
elitesub 24:00sub 26:00

Times include the 12 minutes of mandatory rest.

Tips & Strategy

Record each round time separately - the goal is consistency, not a fast first round. Break push-ups early (e.g. 10-10-10 from round 1); they degrade faster than any other movement here. Use the 3 minutes fully: walk, breathe, shake out your arms. A good target is keeping every round within 30-45 seconds of your first.

Scaled & Beginner Versions

Scaled: 4 rounds of 12 pull-ups (banded or ring rows), 20 push-ups (knees if needed), 30 sit-ups, 40 squats with the same 3-minute rest. Keep working rounds under 5 minutes each.

Track your Barbara PR

Log every result, see your progress over time, and know exactly where you stand.