As the name suggests, Interval Training is a combination of short, high intensity sprints, alternated with slower-paced recovery phases.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a brilliant form of exercise \u2013 not just the most efficient way to improve your cardiovascular endurance but also the quickest way to reduce body fat. It gets such impressive results because it is constantly challenging the body and doesn\u2019t allow it to plateau as it would in any other consistent exercise regime.<\/p>\n
There are plenty of ways to do interval training; in the pool, on pretty much any piece of cardio equipment in the gym, or easiest of all, outdoors.<\/p>\n
One of the great advantages of the last option is that the only equipment you really need is a good pair of running shoes. Other than that, you\u2019ll need some markers to show you where to start or stop each phase – trees, lamp posts, or even a couple of jumpers on the ground will do, just as long as they\u2019re relatively evenly spaced, about 50m apart.<\/p>\n
If you fancy giving it a go, here\u2019s a simple programme to get you started.<\/p>\n
As you get more comfortable with it, feel free to up the ante by increasing the distance between markers (anything up to 150m) or adding extra elements in between runs – press-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, squats or anything else that takes your fancy.<\/p>\n
Warm up:<\/strong> walk to the first marker, jog to the second and sprint to the third. Repeat 3 times. (Just bear in mind that the warm-up is just that. So wait until you\u2019ve got the first couple of sprints under your belt before you unleash your inner Usain Bolt.)<\/p>\n Warm-up complete, it\u2019s time to get into it.<\/p>\n Doesn\u2019t sound too bad, does it? But believe or not, by the end of phase 3, you\u2019ll have run around 5.4k.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the thing about exercise. Stick at it and it\u2019s amazing how it all adds up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As the name suggests, Interval Training is a combination of short, high intensity sprints<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":7864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,97],"tags":[65,62],"class_list":["post-2041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-fitness","tag-fitness","tag-training"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPhase 1
\n<\/strong>And you\u2019re off…<\/h3>\n\n
Phase 2
\n<\/strong>Picking up the pace<\/h3>\n\n
Phase 3
\n<\/strong>Come on, Usain<\/h3>\n\n