Part of every Monday training session includes some plyometrics. They are exercises designed to produce fast, powerful movements. I think they are a lot of fun and I can feel the increased power when I run up hills. This week’s session involved standing jumps up onto a step – 15 jumps at a time alternating with various other exercises. We started with nine steps and moved up one step each successive rep. A couple of weeks ago I had set a record for myself of eleven steps. Eleven steps is pretty high and I was fairly nervous about each jump. Santi, the other trainer at the gym, gave me some advice. Basically it boiled down to, “You’re strong enough to do this. Your fear is holding you back.” I don’t like having fears, so I jumped.

We got to eleven steps this week and I just kept that in my head. “Don’t be afraid.” For the next set, Shawna asked me if I wanted to go up to twelve. “Do you think I can do it? “ I asked her.

“You did 15 clean jumps at at eleven steps. I think you can do it.” We went to twelve steps and I did 15 clean jumps.

Final set, Shawna just looks at me. I nodded my head and we went to 13 steps.

http://www.tandemhearts.com/wordpres...0/11/steps.jpg

Thirteen steps is 26 inches high and comes to about my mid thigh. I finished up with 15 clean jumps. I guess next time I’ll be looking for fourteen steps.

Veronica