Interval training is a technique that combines short periods of high-intensity exercise with longer periods of lower intensity exercise. The lower intensity phase is called "active recovery". The Swedes refer to this type of training pattern as "fartlek," which means speed play.

Unlike traditional interval training, farlek training does not involve precisely-measured intervals. Instead, the high- and low-intensity intervals are determined randomly by the athlete and how he/she is feeling. Each high-intensity phase can be an individual choice (ie., "I am going to run as hard as I can all the way to that stop sign.")

For example, during a 10-km run, an athlete would increase the pace to a brisk run for 1-2 minutes, then drop it back down to his/her previous pace. These "bursts" of higher intensity effort are repeated several times during a single training session.

BENEFITS OF INTERVAL TRAINING

Interval training utilizes both the aerobic and the anaerobic energy systems.

Interval training has been used by coaches and serious athletes for decades, but this technique can also be helpful to non-athletes as well. One of the benefits of interval training for non-athletes is that, by limiting the higher intensity exercise to just 1-2 minutes, you can gain an improvement in aerobic fitness (cardiovascular capacity) without making the session too unpleasant. In doing so, you will be more likely to stick with the program and achieve the end result.

Some other potential benefits of interval training include:

• Improved cardiovascular fitness
• Improved aerobic power
• Increased speed
• Overcome an exercise program plateau
• Increase workout threshold
• Increase workout duration
• Burn more calories
• Expand your workout options

INTERVAL TRAINING FOR "WEEKEND WARRIORS" AND NON-ATHLETES

The key principle regarding interval training is to raise your exercise heart rate for a brief period of time. Thus, for people who are not elite athletes, running speed or cycling speed (ie., in miles per hour) is not important. Instead, you simply need to push your exercise HR up to a higher rate.

An example of interval training for someone who does not run regularly (but wants to) might be to walk for 6 minutes at a moderate pace and then jog for 1-2 minutes, repeating this pattern several times.

This type of training strategy has other benefits; one of them is that it is less "painful"....not only on your joints, but also on your psyche. You don't need to exercise at a punishing level of intensity for an uninterrupted 30-40 minutes to obtain improvements in aerobic conditioning.

Consider this study from Columbia University:

Healthy, but relatively out-of-shape women were entered into an 8-week interval training program. The group had an average age of 47.3 yrs, an average weight of 76.6 kg, and an average BMI of 27.2. Each session involved repeated bursts of jogging on a trampoline alternating with a "relaxation" phase where the subject actually sat down and rested until her HR had returned to baseline.

During a typical session, 5 successive bursts of exercise were designed to produce heart rates of 117, 141, 146, 160, and 176 beats per minute, in that order. Each exercise burst lasted no longer than 60 seconds. The total time for each session took about 30-35 minutes. Subjects trained like this 3 times per week for 8 weeks.

At the end of 8 weeks, the average VO2max increased 14.8%. Actually, this sounds a little more impressive than it really was because these subjects were not aerobically fit at the beginning of the study: VO2max averaged 24.8 ml/kg/min at the beginning of the study and increased to only 28.3 ml/kg/min after 8 weeks of training (Goldsmith RL, et al. 2002).

Nevertheless, this study is proof that spending a relatively minor amount of time at higher-intensity exercise can still produce noticeable improvements in aerobic fitness.

QUESTIONS

Q: What is the difference between "interval" training and "circuit" training?

ANSWER: Interval training is simply a brief increase in the intensity of a specific exercise. Generally, this technique is applied to aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, running, and biking.

"Circuit" training is much different. Circuit training is an exercise routine that groups both aerobic and resistance exercise together in rapid sequence. It is usually done in a gym or fitness center since it requires the use of weight-stack machines in order to progress quickly from one exercise to the next. See Articles for a separate story on Circuit Training.

SUMMARY

If you want to add interval training into your workout, then keep the following in mind:

• Be creative. If your goal is to add variety to your workouts, there is no magic formula. Alternate between higher-intensity and lower-intensity phases 3 or 4 or 5 times during a given exercise session. As your fitness improves, you will probably be changing your pattern anyway.

• Monitor your heart rate. Calculate your maximum exercise heart rate. Then, multiply that by number by 40-60% if you are relatively sedentary. This would be your target exercise heart rate during the lower intensity phase. During the higher intensity phase, you should push yourself, but, if you are breathing too heavily to talk, then you are working too hard.

• Get a check-up. If you have heart disease, haven't exercised for years, or, are over 40 years old, it is wise to see your physician before increasing your exercise routine.

Interval training is a great way to avoid workout boredom. In addition, not only are workouts often more enjoyable, they go by quicker, and improvement results come faster. If you want a workout that can help you burn more calories, improve your power, and increase your aerobic capacity, then interval training may be for you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Readers may also be interested in these related stories:

• Circuit Training
• Exercise and Heart Rate
• Health and Fitness Targets

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REFERENCES

Goldsmith RL, Dardik I, Bloomfield DM, et al. Implementation of a novel cyclic exercise protocol in healthy women. Am J Med Sports 2002;4:135-141. (no abstract)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stan Reents, PharmD, is a former healthcare professional. He holds Personal Trainer and Lifestyle Counselor certifications from the American Council on Exercise and has been certified as a tennis coach by USTA. He is the author of Sport and Exercise Pharmacology (published by Human Kinetics).  He can be reached at: Editor@athleteinme.com.