Advice On Interval Running

by dove2679

posted on 06/29/2009

As a personal trainer, I am often asked the question of how to utilize interval running in order to maximize your workout. For most people who exercise on a regular basis, you have become familiar with this term. For others, interval running may sound completely foreign and need a bit more of an explanation. Herein, I will explain what exactly this method is, and how your body as well as metabolism can benefit from incorporating it into your every day workout routine.

Running in general promotes a good foundation for cardio workout, it increases your metabolism as well as burns off unwanted caloric intake. However, your body is a living organism, and can think for itself as well as make adjustments to compensate for what it may perceive to be a low calorie count. When you train your body to follow a routine, such as waking up at the same time each day, running at the same pace for a set amount of time, etc. then you body will begin to notice a pattern, and thus will adjust your metabolism, and the rate that you burn off what you have taken in to balance, and even sometimes, counter act the good that you are trying to do.

With interval running, you are speeding you body up, making your heart rate extremely fast, and then suddenly and deliberately slowing it back down again, only to allow it to settle in and then get kicked immediately back up into high gear once again. This shakes off the mundane rut of routine that your body will become accustom to, and allows you to burn fat and calories at a higher, faster rate for longer.

One of the most effective methods is the 15/30 ratio. Utilizing this as a basis for your run, it simply calls for you to do a warm up run for approximately two minutes, same pace, moderate speed. Then, at the end of these 2 minutes, you quickly increase your jog to an all out sprint at top speed for 30 seconds. After you have reached the 30 second mark, you decrease your speed to a jog again for 15 seconds, and then again back up to a sprint, and so on and so forth, continuing this cycle for a total of 10 minutes. At the end of which you return your speed to a light jog for another, final 2 minutes and then rest and drink lots of water to rehydrate.

Besides being great for your heart, this extreme form of exercise forces your body to work at its optimum performance level, and pushes even that to its limits. Your metabolism is then kicked into high gear, and your body is thrown off of the trail of unlocking the key to your workout regime, allowing you to make better progress in a shorter amount of time. And as a result, ultimately leading to a happier, healthier you.

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