Nike+ Training Club is Continued by Defender Ali Krieger

U.S. Women’s National Team defender, Ali Krieger, continues the Nike+ Training Club 90-Day "Better For It" Challenge after Christen Press kicked off the program in April. For this second installment, Nike & Krieger collaborated on her "Summer Strong" workout which incorporates strengthening and balance drills crucial for a defender at her level.

Broken Leg Leads to Much More
Almost 10 years ago, when Krieger was a 20-year old defender at Penn State, her soccer career suffered a major setback when she broke her leg late in the season. During her recovery time she noticed she was having trouble breathing, and a hospital visit later revealed she had blood clots in her lungs which led to a pulmonary embolism and a series of minor heart attacks. Krieger survived the life-threatening ordeal and went on to have an incredible senior year at Penn State. This struggle motivated Krieger as she looked towards her future as a soccer player:

“It was a second chance... It put my career in perspective. I then knew exactly what I wanted to do. It really pushed me to want to get better, get back out on the field and reach for my goals and dreams.”

Not Back in it For Long
Krieger's motivation and push to improve brought her far, and she became a real force in the back line for the U.S. Women's National Team. However, in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics, Krieger suffered another devastating setback when she tore her ACL and MCL in her right knee. Although she was unable to compete for a medal, she continued to cheer on the team throughout the recovery process. Krieger loved the game too much to allow this injury to hold her back once again. She credits her dad with having  a big impact on her persistent and optimistic attitude:

“What my dad always taught me is to control what I’m able to control, and that’s two things: my work ethic and my attitude. And I’ve tried to carry that throughout my whole career.”

Prepare for Summer with Krieger's Workout 
The workout inspired by Krieger isn't just for elite athletes.  It includes a wide variety of exercises for people at all levels of athletic capability. The workouts are focused around what skills are crucial for a defender to perform at the highest level on the field: positioning, footwork, and timing. A small sampling of the workout includes: touchdowns, single leg dead lifts, lunges, and push ups. Download Krieger's Summer Strong Workout now on the Nike+ Training Club app and get ready to train through those long and hot summer days. 

Images & Video Courtesy of Nike and US Soccer.

Christen Press Headstarts Soccer-Inspired Workouts for the Nike 90-Day Challenge

The U.S. Women's National Team is working hard to prepare for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer. As part of the Nike+ Training Club 90-Day Better For it Challenge, key U.S. players will be sharing some of their best workouts. The series of workouts are meant to be outside women's comfort zones, but they will be "better for it" by accomplishing the challenge. This is a complete fitness program meant to quickly increase endurance and build strength, which are crucial necessities for soccer players. Christen Press is the first to release a workout on the Nike Training Club App, with workouts from Ali Krieger and Carli Lloyd to soon follow. 

Rekindled Romance
This summer Christen Press will be participating in her first major tournament as part of the USWNT. Press is a graduate from Stanford University, and is known for her intelligence on and off the field. While her intelligence benefitted her in the classroom, this same cerebral nature put her soccer career in jeopardy. During her collegiate career, Press says she was constantly over-thinking her actions on the pitch, re-watching videos and obsessing over her mistakes. Winning games and championships became a focus in her life:

“There were times in my life when I felt like if I didn’t win, I was not a winner. My entire identity was tied to championships."  

Despite her success in college achieving both All-America honors and the title of Stanford's all-time leading scorer, Press's overly critical mentality put her career at risk. Rather than staying in the states to play after graduation, she moved overseas to play in Sweden for a team that was not highly regarded or ranked. This move allowed Press to control many of the stress triggers that she had developed playing in America, and she was able to rekindle her love for soccer. 

Striving Striker’s Workout
As a striker, Press has a need for explosive movements on the field. Her workout will focus on strength, mobility, and stability exercises. Examples of the exercises include Lateral Forward Jumps and Side Plank with Forward Backward Touches. The regimen, inspired by Christen Press and the role of the dynamic striker, was designed by Nike Master Trainer Emily Hutchins. It is now available on the Nike+ Training Club App.

Images & video Courtesy of Nike.