Am I doing Interval Training correctly?
admin | Jan 08, 2009 | 2 comments
Jacinta Moonbeam asked:
I’m trying to do some interval-type training every day. My fitness level is not brilliant so I do 30 seconds of running followed by 44 seconds of jogging and repeat this for 20 minutes.
I’m trying to do some interval-type training every day. My fitness level is not brilliant so I do 30 seconds of running followed by 44 seconds of jogging and repeat this for 20 minutes.
Is that the correct way to do it?
Filed Under: Cardio
Yes, that is pretty much the idea. Are you using a treadmill? If so, try increasing the intervals a little bit, and changing up the intervals some too. Like do 1 minute walking, then 1 minute jogging, then 1 minute sprinting, then walking, then sprinting, then jogging, then sprinting, then walking. See what I mean, switch it up quite a bit.
If you are running outside, you can do the same thing with landmarks like mailboxes or light poles. Walk to one mailbox, then jog to the next, then sprint to the next, then jog to the next, etc.
Interval training is the best-keep it up!
Yes. You are heading down the right track! Fartlek training hhas long been known to improve fitness and is less structured than intervals. It would involve sprinting to the next tree then jogging to the one after, then sprinting again etc.
Interval training tends to be more structured. To get the best from it you may want to consider getting and using a heart rate monitor. These devices let you see exactly how hard you are working and enable you o track your improvement.
Below is a link to a cycling site that discusses heart rate monitor training. The principles are the same for running. Good luck!