Running Tips and Tricks - Mini Trampoline and Jump Rope

I've done 2 Sprint triathlons now - both this year, and my running is still my weakness. My running time actually got worse. Realistically, I haven't concentrated on my running per se. I have been running, but not in a way that would generate improvement.

Since my time was slower, I started thinking about what I used to teach my athletes about speeding up the legs. I have endurance, but not speed. I have started incorporating the warm-up work out drills into my running routine ... but completely forgot about the benefits of jump roping!! Back to the mini tramp this morning and on to the jump rope. As I suspected, my jump roping skills have lagged!! I did 500 jumping jacks on the mini trampoline to warm myself up and get my legs in the mood to bounce. When I tried jump roping, not so good.

The trampoline and jump roping help build the springiness in your ankles and feet needed to push you forward quickly. I can build power in my legs, but I need my feet and ankles to cooperate too. The mini tramp felt good - and is supposedly a good way to stimulate weight loss too.

I'm excited because my workout times are increasing. When I first started last February, I was only running, biking or swimming 20 minutes at a time. I was worn out by then. I have increased my workouts to 50 minutes at a time on a short day without getting wiped out and going to bed!! That is a huge improvement in my endurance. I may not be hitting the times I want in the races yet, but day to day I am seeing improvements. Looking forward to the progress that the minitramp and jump roping will bring!