Plyometrics...Building your Running Speed and Power

The other day I got the bright idea to call up my old personal trainer, Dave Jacob.  I had heard he has developed some sort of Plyometrics system that he's uses with some NBA and NFL athletes and I thought maybe he could give me a few free tips over the phone.  I've been reading a lot lately not just about plyometrics but about different cross training exercises to add to my marathon training.  Plyometrics just seems to keep making it to the top of the list.  Dave is a slave driver awesome trainer!  He is the one who kicked my butt got me ready for my first fitness competition here:

I trust that whatever Dave tells me to do will work.  If Dave told me to eat dirt for a week and stand on my head because it would make me a better athlete....I would do it.
By the end of the phone call I had set up weekly training sessions with him.....still not sure how that happened.
Monday was my first session and it was NOT at all what I expected.  I had been used to his past sessions....a LOT of lunges, some squats, weight training, some cardio.....but this was different.
This was a lot of hopping. That's pretty much it. Hopping.  I felt like a kangaroo. I joked with him that this was like playing hopscotch in grade school...15mins into the session I was eating humble pie and very aware that I have very little power, balance, or agility.  20 minutes into the session I was almost spent!  How is it that I can run 18 miles without stopping but I can't hop for 20 mins!!??!  Needless to say, he pushed me through the next 20 mins.
Today I'm sore from my core to my toes. Thank God I only had an easy 3 miler on the schedule today!

So, what are Plyometrics?

According to Wikipedia : Plyometrics is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, providing explosiveness for a variety of sport-specific activities.

Check out this article on Plyometrics and Distance Running by Iain Hunter, PhD from Brigham Young University HERE.

If you haven't added Plyometrics to your training schedule maybe you should think about it.  And while your thinking about it check out Dave Jacobs website HERE.

So, what do you do on your cross training days?

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Grace and peace,