Skipping for power training. All photos on this blog post by Ben Porter Photography.
Do you ever feel like your training needs a bump? Are you in a rut more than you are in a groove? Take your training outside! It’s becoming better weather by the day and it’s a great opportunity to challenge your body in a different way.
Power movements and sprinting increase calories burned, increase conditioning and cardiovascular capacity and build muscle. Have you ever seen a skinny fat sprinter? Probably not. These are all reasons to take your training to the track.
I’m going to give you to protocols here, and I want you to take the more conservative one if you haven’t been including jogging in your program in the last three weeks.
Training Session
Walk a lap.
Jog a lap.
Build ups:
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100 meters. Start at 50% and build to 60%
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100 meters. Start at 50% and build to 70%.
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100 meters. Start at 50% and build to 80%.
A build up is where you begin the distance at a certain sub-max pace and accelerate into a harder run. It is not a sprint.
Important: If running is new in your program, skip the hard runs and move right to skipping. (After you have done this program three times asymptomatically and pain-free, you can add the hard runs.)
If you are currently conditioned for running, then do two harder build ups:
Start at 70 and build to 90%. Repeat.
Skipping
Skip 50 meters, walk back, and repeat. These should be powerful! If you have to slog through these, your session is over! Moved to the cool down and stretch.
Broad Jumps
Want more? Still have some pep in you? Do 7 broad jumps.
Power! Fast! Commit! Big execution and stick the landing. Knees as wide as feet, not caving in. Like skips, these jumps should be powerful. If you feel like this is a grind, stop there. Slogging through power exercises defeats the purpose.
Cool Down
Jog or walk two laps.
Stretch hamstrings, quads, and glutes.
Try It!
Try out this session and let me know how it goes! Once you’ve done this session a few times, try Part 2. It is similar but slightly advanced. As always, email me if you have questions! Happy training!
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