What Is Interval Training

Interval training is divided into two categories. Strength interval and speed interval. The term interval means the workout is design for few sets and woth short resting time, usually 20 to 30 seconds in between workout.

The purpose of strength interval is to built muscle endurance so that we can enjoy our sports for a longer period time. For example, 5 sets of 20 reps of barbell curl with 20 seconds rest in between.

Meanwhile for speed interval, the objective of this workout is to build explosive speed for your sport. For example, 400m x5 sprint interval. This workout is to build bursting speed for your sports, such as sprinter. But for long distance runner, we also do speed interval for additional burst of speed upon reaching the finishing line. Many athletes don't like interval training because we need to do the workout in fast motion and limited resting time.

Long distance runners also do strength interval training, but with light weights. The reason behind is because we need to build additonal strength endurance especially running uphill. Besides buildibg muscle endurance and explosive speed, interval training also got for losing weight.