Franny Benedetto of Boston Marathon (CIA 7005) returns with a vengeance with this 90-minute workout, consisting of 35 tough minutes each of hi-lo and step followed by a cooldown and very brief (not worth doing) abs. Both segments feature power drills in the middle to jack your heartrate up. As on Boston Marathon, the step segment outshines the hi-lo, in this case by several thousand watts. The awesome first combo includes a reverse-V-over the step, knee up, knee straddle and a "pogo straddle". It took me awhile to learn but it was well worth it! Franny keeps on delivering super new steps, and the power drill consists of repeated, turning jump-squats across the length of the step that will set your legs on fire. The soundtrack really fires me up also - dance hits including Wannabe, Call Me, Like a Prayer and a disco version of Unbreak My Heart. The hi-lo isn't bad, but it isn't among my faves. I think it's mainly because Franny spends too much time on one foot before switching to the other. It also takes up lots of room and I had a hard time adapting it. But it's not hard to learn, and Franny includes boxing and running-in-place drills to burn extra fat. If you liked Franny in Boston Marathon, or just want another dancy, kick-butt step workout to add to your collection, this is a great choice. I give the step a big A+, the hi-lo a B.

Instructor Comments:
Franny's attitude is that of a personal trainer rather than a perky cheerleader. She's a Reebok Master Instructor, and it shows - professional, down-to-earth and down-to-business, like a Karen Voight with East Coast sass.

Sue B