Plyometrics: Good For Weak Butts

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Ya know in Napoleon Dynamite when he's looking for Chapstick because his "lips hurt real bad"?  Well ... my butt hurts REAL BAD!!! And I have pro fitness model (I think that's her correct title) Melissa from www.melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com  to blame.  I've read her blog over the years, and the woman is probably the fittest person I follow.  Recently she sent me a new Plyometric Workout to try.  It's been 24 hours since I completed it.  It hurts to sit down. Well, it's not quite that bad, but I definitely got a good workout.

As with most Plyo work, it included a lot of jumping, squatting, and lateral movements, which are great for the glutes and hips.  I do a ton of hip specific work, but probably neglect my glutes a little, which is not good for a runner.  Hips and glutes help generate power and speed, and strong healthy muscles in these areas are a must.  And I knew about half-way through Melissa's workout that I was going to feel it the next day.

For a while now, I've tried to do some sort of Plyo work on Mondays, one of my non-running days.  But my workout  usually only consists of some box jumps, toe taps, and a few other movements that I've become comfortable with.  Changing up the routine really isolated and activated some areas that I haven't hit in a while.  And although my backside is a little tight now, I know it will help me be a stronger runner as I make it part of my routine.

As runners, it's easy to get in the rut of "running in straight line" for all of our exercise.  But I found that when I really started to increase my lateral and explosive movements, largely from Plyometrics, I gained overall strength and stability, and became a better runner.  Maybe it will work for you too.
... Be Great Today!