Skipping

I thought I was reasonably fit, but flipping heck, I did 3 x 3 minutes skipping with a rope in the gym this morning, and it was knackering.

It's clearly a really good cardio work out.  But are there any disadvantages to skipping for runners?

I have a slightly troublesome achilles, any thoughts on whether skipping would cause problems, or help?

Hiya BBP - long time no speak - as it were !!  How's it going..... wotcha got planned next ??

As it happens I've also got an onoing achilles prob at the mo - I'm hoping some recently-acquired orthotics will sort out the underlying problem!! In the meantime, I've been doing circuits a couple of times a week, mainly for the cardio  but I substitute anything that involves sudden or rapid ankle twists or jarring to the ankle.... I've found the skipping generally not to be too bad tho... apart from knackering that is !

If you run on your forefoot its very good for your form, gives the calves a cracking workout.

Not sure how good it is for an achilies problem though.

Hey Teuchter,

Nice to hear from you

Nothing planned until October, then I've got a 15km trail race in Coniston, and the Dublin marathon - busy month!!!

And of course, I assume Wesham will be on in November - got to try and crack that 50mins

Sorry to hear you also have an achilles problem. I got some orthotics earlier this year, I'm a bit sceptical about how much good they do,but touching lots of wood, as long as I don't overdo it, the achilles hasn't been too bad. Just never seems to get better either though - hey ho, maybe that's just getting old

Glad it's not just me who finds skipping hardwork. I can't believe kids do it for FUN!!!????

if youre bouncing off your toes and forefoot  it will affect your achilles. (hard not to do otherwise). How much or badly is hard to say, but I doubt the tendon will escape some degree of a work-out. Proceed with care!

Skipping is otherwise a great workout and as you land on both feet to a certain extent you do lessen the impact on joints.

It is however hard to go long and get a great aerobic workout - but you will improve with practice.