19 Comments
User's avatar
Ed's avatar

I’m definitely incorporating these into my routine. On a side note, I signed up for my first spartan race next summer. I’m going to do the sprint race for my age group.

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

Aroo! That's incredible. Which venue did you pick?

Ed's avatar

Grand Rapids, MI at Cannonsburg ski hill

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

That should be fantastic. Can't wait to hear how it goes.

Ben's avatar

In your book you mention a warm up where you jump rope with a resistance band around your ankles. That means you were doing the Side Straddle jump?

Thanks

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

Hey Ben — you are testing my memory here! What page in the book was that on? Can't recall which specific one I was doing there but in general if I'm doing this move, it's with a light resistance band around my ankles and different movement like in this video. I'm not super coordinated, so ones like the scissor jack are harder.

Ben's avatar

Hi - you mentioned that on page 95. Thanks so much for the info and taking the time to respond. Great books, and great posts! :)

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

Forgot to give you the video link above ^^ Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx19UCUx_sk

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

Thank you! I'll re-read page 95...:)

Kyle Shepard's avatar

Aroo! Multiple reasons to be excited about a challenge like this one when you have an adorable ball retriever like yours!

Fantastic progression in a challenge you’ve motivated me to do more.

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

You can probably juggle 10 balls against the wall @kyle.

Kyle Shepard's avatar

😂. I’m still working on trying to do 3 without a wall while standing on both feet.

Randy Basinger's avatar

A slack board from Gibbon does a nice job of balance training, but your ball video is less expensive and more fun for the pets.

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

So true on the pets! I have a Slackblock ... and a Fitterboard. But there's something with these balls and catching them that makes it like a game.

Marshall R Peterson's avatar

Hmmm, I thought my balance was good, but you’ve proved I need some work. I guess balance is more a journey than a destination. The last one was a killer. Not so much the balance as being consistent with where the ball hits the wall. Where do you get one of those ball retrieval devices?😁

I just finished a 6 day, 67 mile hike through the Swiss Alps. A lot more up and down than I care to even think about on very uneven, steep terrain. (16,226’ Ascent 18,459’ Descent) needless to say balance is critical, ameliorated only somewhat by use of poles. I think it would be useful to extend some of your balance exercises to the point that your legs are tired. I think that’s when you’re more likely to stumble.

Thanks for this post and your links to earlier posts, I’d forgotten some of those.

As an aside, in Europe, steps and curbs are different heights than what we’re used to in the States. I stumbled more than once because my feet expected different height and depth steps.

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

Congrats on that hike. I am jealous. That sounds epic and boy do you need balance. Totally agree on doing these exercises when your legs are more shot. I now do them at the end of my training and ... well ... let's just say the dog gets his exercise those days too.

Are the steps higher or lower in Europe? Interesting observation and means your brain has to work harder I'd imagine.

Marshall R Peterson's avatar

Are the steps higher or lower in Europe? It varies. My friends have a house that’s over 200 years old. The steps are very shallow and not very deep and they’re cupped from 200 years of use. Even in more modern buildings, the steps don’t seem as high and often they’re shallow. Happy to report the train station and airports have escalators and steps. Michael Easter would be pleased. Anyway, there doesn’t seem to be the standard in step height across Europe that we see in the US. Same with curbs.

TomD's avatar

Great advice. Will add tennis ball to my one leg stands. Also, I use the wobble ball whenever I go to the gym

Gwendolyn Bounds's avatar

Thanks for the note. I'm a big fan of the wobble ball/Bosu myself for lots of things, including lateral skaters! But, I hate having to blow it up when the air gets low and I'm in the middle of a workout ... :)