Strong Stride

This dvd has a ton of options & is chaptered very well! There are two ~50 minute workouts & two ~30 minute workouts to choose from. All are strength workouts that focus on improving your running - but are not limited to runners and includes a non-running muscle focused workout as well. Lisa works out with 4 backgrounders in a gym room and you will need dumbbells & tubing for some of the workouts. Modification options are performed by some exercisers.

Program One: (46 min) This pilates inspired floor routine really hits the legs & core. Exercises include: reverse pushups adding a leg lift, bridge variations, a tough pilates leg series performed leaning to one side while kneeling, single & double leg lift, reverse crunches, plank variations, and a low back series.

Program Two: (50 min) This floor routine will REALLY burn out your entire lower body!!! Exercises include: a long set of: donkey kick variations, side lying leg raise variations, and supine leg series. Core & lower back work includes: a supine core routine, a plank series including plank jacks, and breast stroke & cat cow.

Strength: (31 & 26 minutes) One focuses on running muscles and one on non-running muscles. Both segments include a weighted and non-weighted workout. Each workout is divided into three sets with a cardio burst in-between each set (jacks, plyo lunges, Mt. climbers). Exercises include: reverse fly, kickbacks, plank row & press, lat raise, plank side raise, bi curls, dips, pushup variations, band overhead press, curtsys, dead lift, dip lunge combo, bridge & pec fly, squat jumps, deadlifts, plank frog hops, side lunges, tuck jumps, & pushups.

I rate these program one high intermediate, program 2 as advanced, and the strength workouts as intermediate. They are pretty much nonstop and really burn out the muscles! Lisa is a great instructor & I found the dvd to contain some really unique exercises & plenty of variety (weighted, non-weighted, pilates inspired, traditional dumbbell exercises, etc). Very inclusive program at a great price. A lot of workout minutes that are easy to break down or add together (also includes a separate warmup). This dvd comes in a cardboard sleeve. I received this dvd to review.

lindseylu8

This is a 2011 release by Lisa Watson. At the time of this release, it comes in a thick paper sleeve, not a plastic dvd case.

Initial thoughts:
There is a lot of material on this dvd -- I foresee it being an add-on lovers PARADISE! It has many moves that look like they'd compliment barre & TA, not to mention (duh, the obvious) running...

Main menu screen:
Program 1
Program 2
Strength Training
Dynamic Warm-up

DYNAMIC WARM-UP (2:30)
Lisa quickly runs through some moves that she does pre-run. I can't tell if this is meant to be follow-along, or for your reference to do on your own, at your own pace. SOME moves include: heel walking, tip toe walking (straight leg), hamstring pulls w/ arm reach, walking lunges, lateral lunge, high knees, butt kicks

STRENGTH TRAINING:

RUNNING MUSCLES (31:00 all)
~Running Muscles - WEIGHTS (17:20) -- curtsey lunge, bridge w/ chest press, weighted crunch, deadlift, forward/back lunge, bridge w/ chest flies, mountain climbers (2nd and 3rd sets are repeat footage)
~Running Muscles - NO WEIGHTS (14:20) -- squat jumps, push-ups, single leg deadlift, tuck jumps, lateral lunge, plank jump through, high knees (set 2 and 3 - repeat footage)

NON-RUNNING MUSCLES (25:45 all)
~Non-running Muscles - WEIGHTS (14:45) -- reverse flies, kickbacks, plank/row & press, lateral raise, plank/side-raise, biceps curls, jacks (set 2 and 3 - repeat footage)
~Non-running Muscles - NO WEIGHTS (10:50) -- dips, shoulder pushups, wide rows, shoulder press, biceps curls, pushups, jump lunges (set 2 and 3 - repeats)

PROGRAM 1 (46:00)
(can chose individually or play all):
~GLUTES/HAMS (10:39): lots of moves in reverse plank, bridge or table top
~HIPS (5:25): single legged moves/lifts -to the side- from a kneeling position (on knees)
~HIP FLEXORS/QUADS (8:20): on the back, "triangles" (bicycle?), leg lift variations, leg circles
~CORE(Core Back) (10:00): pilates leg stretch and crunch variations
~CORE (PLANKS) (6:00): several plank variations on elbows
~BACK (4:45): move on stomach such as Y lifts, superman, flutter swimming

PROGRAM 2 (50:00 all)
~GLUTES/HAMS (9:00): leg lifts variations on all 4s
~HIPS (15:30): side-lying pilates leg work, a la Winsor Bun & Thigh sculpting
~HIP FLEXORS/QUADS (5:45): on the back with lots of open-close moves for inner thighs
~CORE (Core Back) (9:30): crunch and V-sit variations, Russian twists, etc.
~CORE (PLANKS) (5:50): plank variations on hands
~BACK (4:14): back stretches/strengthening moves from a stomach down position


CONS:
You cannot skip a set, no chapter points between sets in the strength training circuits
echo-y at times
segments lack cool-down and stretch
some segments show pretty poor form by some of the backgrounders

PROS:
nice set (wooden floors, dark walls in back)
4 backgrounders in modest attire: charcoal fitted capris, yellow tanks
timer bar at bottom of screen, plus segment name
modifications shown to remove impact or make easier
Program 1 and 2 do include some stretching in between movements

OVERALL:
A dvd with great potential. The only major flaw is that there is no "program" or outline (that I have seen) to tell how to use it all. For the strength training, no info on when or how to use the different workouts (running muscles vs. non-running muscles...) or how to mix it in with running days.

Instructor Comments:
The 2 "total body" strength workouts would be great for light days or days I'm time-crunched (they're both under 30 min.). The add-ons (program 1 and 2) are useful in so many ways! Are they new moves? No. Particularly innovative/unique? Nah. And the production quality (*sound*) could stand improvement...but I like having all this variety on 1 disc. This has become my new favorite travel workout.

Alisoncooks