Interval training or Jogging

pavb2

Hi All

Am looking for general fitness and lose belly so i'm in the middle of the 100 push up programme and some pull ups.

I can train 5 days a week but regarding running is it better to say run/jog constantly at 6mph for 40 - 60 mins or do 10 - 15 x one minute sprints up hill with rests of 1 minute in between.

I need targets so was considering 5k - 10k running programme or would I see more benefit from intervals

Any advice appreciated


PaB

aye

Personally i prefer intervals, high intensity, take less time, and i feel like i've done a better workout.

if your goal is to jog 10k tho then really you should train for that by jogging mostly, and you could throw in an interval day to mix it up if you like.

if you want interval targets, you can go from doing 10 srpints to 15 in a session, or lower the jogging time between sprints.

pavb2

Thanks

Is it better to set a distance for interval sprint or time?

Jamie32

pavb2 wrote: »

Thanks

Is it better to set a distance for interval sprint or time?

I have recently started HIIT on the treadmill for 25 minutes in total per visit to the gym. I run at a moderate pace of ~9km for 2 minutes and then ~16km for 1 minute, back to 9km for 2minutes and so on for 25 minutes in total. I used to use this format in a similar way on the exercise bike and the x-trainer for my cardio routine and it has delivered pretty good results thus far. I'm hoping for even better results now from the treadmill as IMO it's more difficult to run HIIT for 25 minutes than the same on X-Trainer.

So what I do is set a time I know I can achieve and sustain and make sure you break a massive sweat! I always do a session on the weights before HIIT and I do this at least 5 times per week so it's tough work but the results are astounding if you put in the work. Don't forget about the diet as well has to be good.

mickmac

Jamie32, what do you mean by good results from the HIIT? Are they good for belly-busting or has your fitness improved noticably, or both?

I ask because I'm curious about doing something like that myself. Long stints of cardio (running etc) bore the life out of me and a hard 25-minute session sounds like something I could do before work in the morning.

Cheers

nice_guy80

here is what i do
warm up on bike and rower for 4 mins.
then hit the treadmill - jogging for 2 mins, then sprint for 45 secs bit of jogging again.

stretches - lower and upper body

jog for 2 mins again then into the tough stuff
sprinting for 1 min and then 30secs jogging - do that 4/5 times

take another little stretch to make sure muscles are working!

back to sprinting for 1 min and then 30secs jogging - do that 6/7 times (if I can)

cool down
stretch

have found it gets me fit and it gets rid of fat fast

Khannie

pavb2 wrote: »

Am looking for general fitness and lose belly

My advice: Jog 'til the belly's gone (keep doing the pull ups and press ups), then switch to interval training.

Jamie32

mickmac wrote: »

Jamie32, what do you mean by good results from the HIIT? Are they good for belly-busting or has your fitness improved noticably, or both?

I ask because I'm curious about doing something like that myself. Long stints of cardio (running etc) bore the life out of me and a hard 25-minute session sounds like something I could do before work in the morning.

Cheers

Hi Mickmac. I find the HIIT good for both losing fat and for fitness. It's the only way to go IMO, it's hard for your body to get used to these type of exercises so it's always guessing and can never become "comfortable" with your workout. I keep increasing and decreasing my high intensity speeds also just to keep the body guessing. Give HIIT a try for a week or 2 and I guarantee you, you won't go back to the boring jogging.

Best of luck.

J.

pavb2

Thanks for all replies

At the moment I am running 5k per session ,I think I will increase this to achieve a 10k (is 4 weeks acheivable?)as there are some very good programmes (which I need) to keep going and then do the HIIT.

I don't think I'm ready for HIIT as yet as I might get de motivated, but would be nice to have a programme or goals if any one can recommend

Thanks again all advice helps and I have better idea for going forward