Who does Lumberjack 20 honor?

This workout honors 20 American soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in the Tangi Valley, Afghanistan on August 6, 2011, during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Why 20 reps of everything?

The number 20 represents the 20 fallen soldiers. Each rep is performed in their memory.

The deadlift is really heavy. Can I scale?

Yes, scale to a weight you can do for 20 reps safely. The goal is to honor the fallen, not to get injured. 185/125 lb is a common scale.

How long should this take?

Most athletes finish in 30-45 minutes. Under 25 minutes is elite. If it takes longer than an hour, consider scaling next time.

Lumberjack 20

For Time

In honor of 20 American soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011. This chipper workout features 20 reps of seven movements, each followed by a 400m run. The workout commemorates their sacrifice through 2.8 miles of running and 140 total reps of varied movements.

Hero Benchmark Barbell Gymnastics Running Chipper

The Workout

For time (chipper)

120 Deadlifts (275/185 lb)
2400m Run
320 Kettlebell Swings (70/53 lb)
4400m Run
520 Overhead Squats (115/75 lb)
6400m Run
720 Burpees
8400m Run
920 Chest-to-Bar Pull-ups
10400m Run
1120 Box Jumps (24/20 in)
12400m Run
1320 Dumbbell Squat Cleans (45/30 lb each)
14400m Run

Equipment Needed

BarbellWeight platesKettlebellDumbbellsBoxPull-up barRunning route

Target Time

Beginner

45-60 minutes

Intermediate

32-45 minutes

Advanced

25-32 minutes

Strategy & Tips

Lumberjack 20 is a chipper with seven movements, each followed by a 400m run. Created to honor 20 fallen soldiers, the number 20 appears throughout.

Heavy deadlifts first—break into sets of 5 or 4
Use the runs as recovery between movements
Overhead squats at this weight require mobility—know your limits
Pull-ups after all that running will be hard—break early
Dumbbell squat cleans are technical—focus on form

Pacing

Controlled and steady. With 7 runs of 400m, cardiovascular endurance is key. Don't redline on any single movement.

Scaling Options

Scaled

20 Deadlifts (185/125 lb)
20 Kettlebell Swings (53/35 lb)
20 Overhead Squats (75/55 lb)
Chin-over-bar pull-ups
Box Step-ups (20 in)
Dumbbell Squat Cleans (25/15 lb each)

RX+

20 Deadlifts (315/225 lb)
20 Kettlebell Swings (88/70 lb)
20 Overhead Squats (135/95 lb)
Bar Muscle-ups
Box Jumps (30/24 in)
Dumbbell Squat Cleans (55/40 lb each)

Benchmark Times

Elite

sub 23:00

Advanced

23:00-30:00

Intermediate

30:00-42:00

Beginner

42:00-60:00

Workout Variations

Half Lumberjack

Reduced reps

Lumberjack Row

Indoor substitution

Lumberjack 10

Commemorating specific losses

Related Workouts

Filthy 50

For Time

For time

50 Box Jumps (24/20 inch) • 50 Jumping Pull-ups • 50 Kettlebell Swings (35/26 lb) • 50 Walking Lunges (50 steps) • 50 Knees-to-Elbows • 50 Push Press (45/35 lb) • 50 Back Extensions (or Good Mornings) • 50 Wall Ball Shots (20/14 lb) • 50 Burpees • 50 Double-unders

Murph

For Time

For time (partition pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed)

1 mile Run • 100 Pull-ups • 200 Push-ups • 300 Air Squats • 1 mile Run

Whitten

Rounds

5 rounds for time

22 Kettlebell Swings (70/53 lb) • 22 Box Jumps (24/20 in) • 400m Run • 22 Burpees • 22 Wall Ball Shots (20/14 lb)

Frequently Asked Questions