“Off Season" is the perfect time to work on your endurance and footwork off skates. Here is a way to work your cardio and agility 3x a week to keep you fit and on your toes during a break. Take one workout from each category and mix it up. Try to do each day at least once a week to get all types of training in.
I tried the agility workouts on skates and most can apply.
There are a few variations you would need to do in order for them to work, but
its still a great way to get your feet moving quicker.
Endurance: On treadmill, elliptical or outdoors running or skating. Each cardio workout should take 20-30 minutes. Make sure to warm up for approximately 5 minutes before hitting the harder intervals.
Day 1: Straight endurance: Keep your heart rate at a steady
68%-82% max heart rate for 20-30 minutes. NO stopping for breaks. Pick a pace
that you can work with for a longer period of time.
Day 2: Interval Training: Alternate 2 minute intervals (the
longest your jam will be), at 70% max heart rate and 85-90% max heart rate.
This is a run/walk interval. You should be able to get at least 6-7 intervals
in a 30 minute training session.
Day 3: Power Training: 1:2 minute ratio intervals: Work your
1 minute intervals as hard as you can around 90% of your max, with a 2 minute
rest/walk of a 65-70% max heart rate. As your body gets warmer and your
adrenaline builds, which it will, your max will get stronger and quicker. Never
underestimate your power. Add more resistance to the elliptical, more incline
to the treadmill or more speed to your run/skate. Do whatever it takes to work
as hard as you can for that 1 minute. You should be able to get at least 8-9
intervals in a 30 minute workout.
Agility/Footwork: These workouts should take no more
than 12 minutes. Perform each interval 3-4 times.
Day 1:
1.
Quick Grapevines/Karaokes back and forth 1 minute
intervals.
2.
Quick steps or slides right and left. Go about the
length of the track side (inside to outside of track) and back. Keep your hips,
knees, feet forward when doing this. 1 minute intervals.
3.
Gallops side. Use your power foot, steering foot theory
by keeping your right foot forward while the left foot is facing left (inside
line) and gallop to the inside line. Then galloping to the outside line you
would turn keep your left foot facing forward and turning your right foot
toward the outside line. 1 minute intervals.
Day 2: Ladders: If you don’t have a ladder, imagine one J
Repeat each exercise once then repeat rotation 2-3 times. You can increase your
time to 1 minute intervals.
1.
1. Run in each square forward, then turn around and run
forward again. Both feet should go in each box. Repeat 30 seconds.
2.
2. Run forward to the end, then run backwards. Both feet
in each box. Repeat 30 seconds.
3.
3. Facing sideways: Side step each foot into each box to
the left, return to the right. Repeat 30 seconds.
4.
4. Facing forward: Side step inside the box with both feet
then outside to the right. Repeat going to the left on the next box. Keep
moving forward till you hit the end. Turn around and repeat for 30 seconds.
5.
5. Facing sideways: Cross over into each box. One foot per
box. Go the right, then repeat going back to the left. Repeat for 30 seconds.
6. 6.
Facing forward starting on the left outside of the
ladder: Crossover left leg into the box, right leg out of the box then step
left next to right. You should be out of the box at this point. Repeat crossing
Right over left into the box, then left out and then right out. Repeat 30 seconds.
Day 3: Line Drills: Imagine a line or use a crack in the
ground. Perform each exercise then repeat rotation 2-3 times.
1.
Side step back and forth over the line. Try to keep
your head up and stay in derby low the whole time. Repeat 30 second.
2.
Hop one foot over the line keeping your inside foot up
before switching to the other side. Repeat 30 seconds.
3.
Hop both feet over the line back and forth. Repeat 30
seconds.
4.
Face the line: Step on the or over the line Right, left
then step back behind the line right left. Repeat 30 seconds. Then Repeat
starting with your left foot first.
5.
Crossovers or drunken sailors: Standing beside the line
with the line on your right side: Cross step left leg over right passing the
line, (you should now have the line on your left side) then cross step right
leg over left crossing the line. Repeat
30 seconds. You can do this slower and work on your deeper crossovers or you
can do these quicker and work on your grapevine/karoakes.
Work on form and precision before working on speed. It is
better to get the footwork down properly than try to go fast and cut corners.
Stay fit,
Michbehavin’ .5 pint
Written by : Michelle Rotell
Owner/Personal Trainer Sweat Cardio and Yoga
Training Coordinator/ Wine Town Rollers
