Okay, so, I saw this thing online about using a mile run for basketball conditioning and thought, “Why not?” I’m no pro athlete, but I do like to stay in shape and I enjoy playing basketball with my friends. Plus, I figured it would be a good challenge. So, I decided to give it a shot.
First, I warmed up a bit, did some stretches, you know, the usual stuff. Nothing too crazy. Then, I started my run. I used a regular track at a local high school. I started off jogging for about 20 seconds, like the drill mentioned. Then, I picked up the pace and went into a full sprint for another 20 seconds.
Man, that sprint was tough! I was definitely feeling it. But I kept going. The idea is to run a mile, alternating between jogging and sprinting. Honestly, I had to walk a few times, especially towards the end. I’m not used to that kind of intense running.
After I finished the mile, which felt like it took forever, I did some bodyweight exercises. I knocked out a few sets of push-ups. I don’t have knee or hip pain so I also added some lunges and squats. My legs were already feeling like jelly from the run, so these were extra challenging! I even tried some single-leg squats, which are way harder than they look.
- Jogged for 20 seconds
- Sprinted for 20 seconds
- Repeated until I hit a mile
- Did some push-ups
- Did some squats
- Added some lunges
- Threw in some single-leg squats for good measure
Overall, it was a killer workout. I was completely wiped out by the end. But, I felt pretty good afterward. It was definitely a different kind of challenge compared to my usual workouts. I think if I keep doing this regularly, I’ll definitely see some improvements in my stamina and endurance on the basketball court. I am also wondering if I can get in basketball shape by doing this.
My takeaway
This “basketball mile” thing is no joke! It’s a great way to push yourself and build up your conditioning. But if you’re gonna try it, make sure you listen to your body and take breaks when you need them. And don’t forget to warm up properly beforehand and cool down afterward. I might try this again next week, maybe see if I can improve my time. We’ll see how my legs feel tomorrow, though!
