Interval Training
The Shortest Distance Between You and the Hitch Fit Lifestyle
Interval Training used to be “all the rage”, but over the years has lost its popularity. Rumblings have once again been heard, however, and Interval Training is back on the scene! No longer for just the elite athletes, interval training has caught the eyes of many average joes.
What is it?
Interval Training is a specific aerobic exercise that involves short bursts of high intensity activity, followed by lower intensity activity. For example, 2 minutes of walking, then one minute of running, followed by 2 minutes of walking again. By doing this kind of interval activity, you will be moving your body from high to low intensity, and back again in a continuous pattern. Always make sure you start with a warm-up. Once you begin your intervals you’ll start to see why these workouts are generally shorter! The first few rounds may take the breath right out of you. Instead of a walking/running interval, try sprints. Sprint as hard as you can for 20 seconds, and follow with a 3 minute walk/jog. Do this 5 times in a row, feeling the burn. With a 10 minute cool-down, complete your intense workout.
Why Should I Try It?
- For Your heart: Interval Training is the best activity for your cardiovascular system, giving your heart some great exercise. Going from working hard to working lighter, and then back again, works that heart muscle better than a straight 30 minutes of running.
- Shorter Workouts! We all love a short workout, right? With Interval Training, you are actually working for a shorter amount of time. Instead of running for 30 minutes, you are sprinting for a total of 2 minutes, and walk/jogging for a total of 15 minutes. 17 instead of 30 seems like a great idea to me!
- You Work Harder: By switching between an intense exercise and a less intensive one, you will be more likely to push harder during the intense portions. Since it’s for a shorter amount of time, you will likely work as hard as your body will allow for those short portions.
Give Interval Training a try, and see how you feel when the work is done. Check out what other Hitch Fit Athletes are saying about their workouts of choice.