Program Details

BUILD is our most strength-focused program, delivering maximum muscle and power gains for serious lifters. With higher volume sessions (75-90 minutes) and an optional 4th power day, BUILD creates the perfect environment for significant strength development while still accommodating light to moderate cardio. Ideal for experienced lifters (1-2+ years) prioritizing strength goals or endurance athletes in their off-season looking to build a powerful foundation for future performance. This program is not for those doing moderate to higher volumes of running or race training. Please see PERFORM or RACE for those goals.

I'm ready
Perfect for the Person Who
  • Has at least 1-2+ years of consistent lifting experience
  • Prioritizes strength development and muscle building as primary fitness goals over endurance
  • Is in an endurance off-season or wants to focus on building a strength foundation
  • Can dedicate 75-90 minutes to quality training sessions 3-4 times weekly
  • Wants to maintain some low level cardio/running without compromising strength gains
Weekly Split
  • 3 lifting days with an optional 4th power/dynamic day
  • Lower, upper, full body, power variants split for optimal stimulus and recovery
  • Higher training volume for maximum hypertrophy and strength adaptations
Monthly Progression
  • Periodized blocks refreshed every 4-5 weeks for continued progress
  • Strategic testing phases every 3 blocks to quantify and celebrate strength gains
  • Balanced programming targeting both absolute strength and muscle development
Run or Cardio Pairing
  • Pair with any run plan or in-app cardio inside the app at no additional charge
  • Pairs best with lower volume running (5K distance or less) or Base Build programs
  • Recommended combinations:
    • 1-2 mile for time
    • 5K-10K beginner plans
    • 5k-10k intermediate/advanced for off season 26.2-50k+ runners
    • Base build 10-20 mile/week plans
  • NOT recommended for half marathon or longer distance training. Please sign up for PERFORM or RACE if you have more serious running or racing goals. BUILD with these goals will be too much volume and may risk injury, over training, or excessive fatigue.
  • Perfect for strength-focused athletes who still want cardio benefits without excessive fatigue

Equipment Needed

We keep equipment at TLM minimal and include all suggested movements swaps directly in your programming so that everyone can train with the equipment they have. TLM is designed to be done from almost anywhere. If you don't have a barbell, you can do it at home with just dumbbells, swap the barbell for a machine, or use a smith machine. Many clients do TLM from home with basic equipment and crush it!

Barbell, smith machine, lifting machines & plates (optional)

Pull-up bar (optional)

Bench, box or surface to lay on or step onto

Dumbbells and/or kettlebells

Med balls, wall balls, or slam balls (optional)

Long loop bands or cables

For in-app cardio workouts: A way to do cardio, a treadmill or place to run, a rower, ski erg, stationary or air bike, and/or jump rope.

Encouraged but optional for HYROX: A sled, a rower and/or a ski erg.

Included with full access Hybrid Memberships:

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Lifting Program (can change at any time)

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Demo Videos & Instructions

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Group Community & Form Feedback

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Travel
Workouts

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TLM App
Access

Red weight icon

Lifting Program

demo icon

Demo Videos & Instructions

Community icon

Group Community &  Form Feedback

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Travel Workouts

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TLM App Access

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Cardio Programs

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Coaching Support

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Resource Library

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Running or Hiking Plans (at no additional cost)

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Mobility Library

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Cardio
Library

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Coaching
Support

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Resource
Library

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Running or Hiking Plans (no additional cost)

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Mobility
Library

IT’S MUSCLE AND STRENGTH BUILDING SEASON

Learn about

BUILD

Our most strength-focused program delivers dramatic power and muscle gains for experienced lifters (1-2+ years). With 3-4 weekly high-volume sessions (75-90 minutes), BUILD combines powerlifting and bodybuilding techniques to maximize strength adaptations while still accommodating light cardio or lower-distance running (up to 10K). Perfect for off-season endurance athletes building their power foundation or dedicated lifters pursuing serious strength gains. Not suitable for first time race training or half marathon or longer training—choose PERFORM or RACE for those goals.

A peek inside
our app

No barbell? No problem

SWAP ANY EXERCISE

Customize your workout with TLM app: Swap any exercise based on your preferences, equipment availability, or location. Whether you prefer leg press over squats, dumbbells over barbells, or need Smith machine alternatives—we've got options that let you train your way.

Find your program
No more guesswork

INSTRUCTIONS & DETAILS IN EVERY LIFT

TLM app eliminates workout guesswork: Each exercise includes clear instructions, effort prescription (RPE/RIR) guidance, rest periods, demo videos with text descriptions, and home/dumbbell modification options—everything you need to train confidently.

Find your program
How much did I lift?

EXERCISE HISTORY

Access your complete lifting history with one tap in the TLM app. View last week's weights, warm-up sets, main sets, RPE ratings, rep counts, estimated 1RM, and weekly volume—making it easy to track progress and pick up right where you left off.

Find your program
Learn as you go

RESOURCE LIBRARY

Every TLM plan includes our 50+ resource library covering weight selection, exercise effort (RPE/RIR) implementation, cardio-lifting combinations, post-illness training, injury management tips, and video tutorials for challenging exercises—everything you need for successful training.

Find your program
No barbell? No problem

SWAP ANY EXERCISE

Customize your workout with TLM app: Swap any exercise based on your preferences, equipment availability, or location. Whether you prefer leg press over squats, dumbbells over barbells, or need Smith machine alternatives—we've got options that let you train your way.

Find your program
No more guesswork

INSTRUCTIONS & DETAILS IN EVERY LIFT

TLM app eliminates workout guesswork: Each exercise includes clear instructions, effort prescription (RPE/RIR) guidance, rest periods, demo videos with text descriptions, and home/dumbbell modification options—everything you need to train confidently.

Find your program
How much did I lift?

EXERCISE HISTORY

Access your complete lifting history with one tap in the TLM app. View last week's weights, warm-up sets, main sets, RPE ratings, rep counts, estimated 1RM, and weekly volume—making it easy to track progress and pick up right where you left off.

Find your program
Learn as you go

RESOURCE LIBRARY

Every TLM plan includes our 50+ resource library covering weight selection, exercise effort (RPE/RIR) implementation, cardio-lifting combinations, post-illness training, injury management tips, and video tutorials for challenging exercises—everything you need for successful training.

Find your program

BUILD

FAQs

How does BUILD differ from PERFORM?
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BUILD offers higher volume, longer workouts, and more intensive focus on powerlifting and bodybuilding principles. While PERFORM balances lifting volume and cardio equally, BUILD emphasizes strength and hypertrophy development with cardio as a secondary consideration.

If you are doing moderate to higher volumes of running (20-30+ miles/week) you should not do BUILD and should do PERFORM. If you are 12 weeks or less out from a race, please check out or RACE program.

Can I still run or do cardio while doing BUILD?
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Yes, but we recommend pairing BUILD with lower volume running (under 20 miles per week) or general cardio rather than intensive race training. The program is designed to be more lifting-dominant in the hybrid balance.

BUILD pairs best with:

  • Beginner runner
  • 5k or 10k Beginner
  • 1 or 2 mile for time programs
  • 10-15 mile/16-24 km per week base build program
  • For very experienced runners: 15-20 mile/24-32 km or 20-30 mile/32-48 km base build programs, or 5k-10k intermediate plans may be okay.
  • SUMMIT hiking program
  • All cardio programs
  • Not recommended to pair with novel running distance goals or high mileage training programs such as  13.1 plans, 26.2 25-30k, 26.2, 50k or 50-mile or 100k programs
What kind of movements are programmed in TLM?
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TLM utilizes a mix of classic strength movements, powerlifting barbell compounds, power training, and muscle-building accessories. We program with minimal equipment, so all workouts are friendly to almost any gym space or at-home training. We use a mix of barbell, dumbbell/kettlebell, banded or cable, or bodyweight-based training.

Please note within every TLM workout; you can swap any main compound for a machine or non-barbell variation based on your preference or equipment.

You will see main lifts and movement patterns such as

  • Bench
  • Squat
  • Deadlift
  • Overhead press
  • Row

Other movement patterns you will see in TLM:

  • Split Squats, Lunges, Cossack Squats, Step Up variations, or similar
  • Single Arm Shoulder Press, Incline DB Chest Press, Lateral/Front/Rear Shoulder
  • Raises, or other Shoulder or Chest Pressing variations
  • Single Arm DB Row, Cable or Banded Rows, Lat Pull Downs, Inverted Row Rowing Variations 
  • RDLs, Nordic Curls, Hamstring Curls, or other Hamstring Accessories Variations
  • Pull Ups, Push Ups, Chin Ups, Dips
  • Upper and Lower Body Plyometrics
  • Fast Bar or Weighted Speed-Strength Movements (Skipping, Hopping, Jumping, Exploding Variations)
  • Dumbbell Based Olympic-style or Power Movements like DB Snatch, DB Clean, DB Push Press, DB Jumps

You will ONLY see barbell-based Olympic-style lifting in later blocks of METCON on the optional 4th day, so it is not required. There is no other Olympic lifting in any TLM program.

How much time should I allocate for BUILD workouts?
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BUILD workouts typically take 75-90 minutes to complete, with 3 workouts per week and an optional 4th day. The higher volume and intensity require more time and recovery compared to our other programs.

Who is BUILD best suited for?
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BUILD is ideal for individuals with at least 1-2 years of consistent barbell experience who want to prioritize strength and muscle development. It's perfect for those in an off-season from endurance training or who prefer to focus more heavily on lifting with only light or moderate cardio.

Compare Lifting Programs

Description
Can I pair this with running?
Is this for beginners?
Can I make this program DB-friendly?
Minimum lifting experience recommended
Is this a good strength program for runners?
Has cardio built into it
Can be done while race training
Cardio it pairs with
FOUNDATIONS
No or minmal lifting experience needed
Run plan or on demand cardio
PERFORM
6-9 MO
Run plan or on demand cardio
BUILD
Lower volume
12+ MO
<20 MPW RUN PLAN OR ON DEMAND CARDIO
LIFESTYLE
6-9 MO
RUN PLAN OR ON DEMAND CARDIO
RACE
6-9 MO
RUN PLAN OR ON DEMAND CARDIO
HYROX
6-9 MO
Not made to pair with additional running

Other programs you may like

PERFORM
Cardio or running included
Lifting experience recommended
At-home or gym-friendly
Strength, hypertrophy & power
Perfect for the person who:
  • Our #1 most popular program (loved by thousands of members!)
  • Has at least 6-9+ months of lifting experience
  • Wants to excel at both strength training and endurance activities without compromising either
  • Seeks balanced programming that builds muscle and strength while leaving energy for endurance goals
  • Needs efficient workouts that still get results and that help them balance lifting and endurance
Learn More
HYROX
Lifting, hyrox event-specific cardio, and running
Equipment encouraged
Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced option
12 weeks
Perfect for the person who:
  • Is preparing for an upcoming HYROX competition (first-timer or returning competitor)
  • Has previous lifting and running and cardio experience (at least 6 months recommended)
  • Can run for at least 30 minutes
  • Can commit to 5 training days per week for optimal preparation
  • Wants a complete program that addresses all HYROX-specific movements and demands
  • Prefers an integrated approach rather than piecing together separate programs

Learn More