What is Interval Training?

Do you wish to know of a training technique that intersperses high density work with periods of complete rest or low activity?  If you do, it is time for you to get acquainted with Interval Training.  Interval Training is a hit with coaches of many athletics teams or individuals who are athletes.  Please note that any individual could do interval training customized to their needs. 

Interval Training is mostly used by athletes especially individuals who run long distance (for example 5 kilometers and more).  Running for such long distances would require the individual’s leg, calf and heart muscles to be in top shape.  If the athlete aims at running the entire distance without tuning his body by training, it is quite likely he/she would be unable to complete the task. 

Athletes implementing an Interval Training regimen would need to follow a step by step mechanism of doing these exercises.  Typically, an athlete’s interval training workout program could start with hard running for about 400-500 meters.  This would get the leg muscles attuned to the sudden start in the races.  Hard running shall also prepare the muscles for a hard grind and endurance.

Typically, if you subject your legs to a sudden burst of about 400-500 meters, there are bound to be some muscles that do not cope well.  A warm up before you start running is extremely necessary as the warm up will stretch your muscles and prepare you for the tough training regimen. 

The sudden run of 400-500 meters could be followed by a convenient jog for about 50-100 meters.  This jog will allow your muscles to relax from the sudden jerk caused due to the initial burst run.  It is important that your muscles relax as they have a threshold that you do not want to exceed.

Individuals are advised to repeat this mode of exercising for about 10-12 times.  In most cases, the athlete’s body warms up to the task in the 2nd or the 3rd repetition.  Individuals who do these exercises need to understand that the objective of interval training is not to tire your body but to prepare your muscles for a lot of hard work ahead.  Thus, it is extremely important that individuals stop the training when they feel tired or exhausted.

The other techniques to interval training are rowing, stationary bike cycling and much more.  These techniques help in relaxing the cardiac muscles and are hence called categorized as cardiovascular workouts.  The technique of interval training is considered to be highly effective in inducing fat loss in the body that can be hardly accomplished by training methods of moderate density.

Individuals do need to take certain precautions before they start doing interval training sessions.  It can be helpful if sportsmen who do interval training take this training methodology under the supervision of a sports therapist.