ALUISLUGO
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Just read this...
TREADMILL HITT - NO THANKS
It’s only been around a week since I posted up a poll (you can see it on the right side of the site) about where people prefer to do their HIIT, and unfortunately it’s clear already that running on the treadmill the most popular way to train - I say unfortunately because it’s not really the ideal environment to HIIT.
In order to HIIT effectively it is important that your high intensity intervals are explosive, short, bursts of speed and power. On a track or elliptical trainer this poses no problems, you can simply run faster or pedal harder because you are in control of all variables, on a treadmill however you are limited by the rate of the treadmills acceleration and deceleration, aswell as it’s max speed. So often I hear from people saying that have been doing HIIT on a treadmill alternating between 8mph and 2.5mph. THIS IS NOT HIIT. Not only is 8mph too slow for a high intensity interval, but the treadmill cannot go straight from 2.5mph to 8mph and back quickly (and why would they? That would be dangerous).
Treadmills just too slow for HIIT and they also make it too easy to run. They put a spring in your step in order to reduce the impact on joints, and while this is good for your 45 minute low intensity cardio sessions, it’s only going to hinder your ability to get to that high intensity level that is necessary for HIIT.
To top it off, it’s risky business trying to do HIIT on a treadmill. If you slip and fall during a high intensity interval then you might find yourself through the wall behind you. Treadmills are great, they let you run rain, hail or shine and in the comfort of your living room but they don’t belong in your HIIT sessions. Hop on the elliptical or get out on the track and you’ll thank me when your skipping belt notches like college classes.
Fact or Fiction? Please discuss.
TREADMILL HITT - NO THANKS
It’s only been around a week since I posted up a poll (you can see it on the right side of the site) about where people prefer to do their HIIT, and unfortunately it’s clear already that running on the treadmill the most popular way to train - I say unfortunately because it’s not really the ideal environment to HIIT.
In order to HIIT effectively it is important that your high intensity intervals are explosive, short, bursts of speed and power. On a track or elliptical trainer this poses no problems, you can simply run faster or pedal harder because you are in control of all variables, on a treadmill however you are limited by the rate of the treadmills acceleration and deceleration, aswell as it’s max speed. So often I hear from people saying that have been doing HIIT on a treadmill alternating between 8mph and 2.5mph. THIS IS NOT HIIT. Not only is 8mph too slow for a high intensity interval, but the treadmill cannot go straight from 2.5mph to 8mph and back quickly (and why would they? That would be dangerous).
Treadmills just too slow for HIIT and they also make it too easy to run. They put a spring in your step in order to reduce the impact on joints, and while this is good for your 45 minute low intensity cardio sessions, it’s only going to hinder your ability to get to that high intensity level that is necessary for HIIT.
To top it off, it’s risky business trying to do HIIT on a treadmill. If you slip and fall during a high intensity interval then you might find yourself through the wall behind you. Treadmills are great, they let you run rain, hail or shine and in the comfort of your living room but they don’t belong in your HIIT sessions. Hop on the elliptical or get out on the track and you’ll thank me when your skipping belt notches like college classes.
Fact or Fiction? Please discuss.