Maggie's Farm

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Thursday, April 2. 2020

Fitness: I went out for an HIIT run Tuesday morning in the dark


Well, sort-of a run. Since I did my heavy weights on Monday, I had my choice of doing a cardio on Tues or calis in my living room. Decided to get outside (35 degrees F, and forgot gloves) and do 40 minutes of HIIT road running (alternating 30-sec semi-sprints with 120-sec fast walk). I haven't done that for years.


I remember doing 1-mile sprints for training. Long ago. Also remember my 20-mile morning runs. Lucky me - no joint problems. I quit it in time.


Readers know we oppose road running for the toll it takes on joints, but a month, twice a week, is fine with me although I'd like to get back to the treadmill and stair machine for my HIIT. 


What did I learn from it? The pounding surprised me, even though I was a road-runner and racer in my youth. I also learned that a hat and gloves might be nice when it's chilly, despite the sweat from the sprints. Finally, it is so much more interesting than watching CNN in the gym.


Maybe I should try biking, but our bikes were all stolen and I will not wear that biking gear. 


Your thoughts? 


Posted by Bird Dog in Physical Fitness at 13:26 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

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My thoughts regarding training outside versus inside for cardio?

I guess it depends on your goals.

If your goal is to improve walking on a treadmill or stairclimber, do the inside stuff on those machines. If your goal is to be better at real world activities - like walking/running on solid ground or navigating real staircases - then train those activities.

Aside: My personal and (former) professional activities involved navigating varied terrain with a backpack - so that's how I trained and I still think rucking with or without a weighted pack is a great way to exercise (and to train if you schedule it as such).

Sure, there's some carryover between stairclimber and real stairs or treadmill and real ground, but it's not 100%. Guess which is generally more taxing? You know the answer.

So, why pick the less efficient and more costly method? No, weather isn't a good excuse. There's plenty of data suggesting that the "stress" of working out in inclement weather has health benefits (just like the "stress" of intermittent fasting).
#1 mike m on 2020-04-02 15:29 (Reply)
At 5 AM, no rucking with weighted backpack.
#1.1 BD on 2020-04-02 16:41 (Reply)
5 AM rucks are what headlamps were made for. Stay well, my friend!
#1.1.1 mike on 2020-04-02 20:05 (Reply)
Just be careful out there. In 2001, I went trail running, tore my left meniscus, and my knee has never been same since. The uneven surfaces are a good workout; I'm starting to do more trail walking since I'm not walking around the office, and sitting in the house.
#2 Mark on 2020-04-02 15:56 (Reply)
If you can run (especially on softer surfaces) once or twice a week I don't think you can ever get an equal benefit on a machine (or a bike). And if you do 10x 1 minute hard, 1 minute rest; you'll get a great workout without much pounding at all (but you need to not cheat on the hard minutes!).
Plus, its just better to be outside if the weather is not completely miserable.
#3 bk on 2020-04-02 21:25 (Reply)
Regarding abuse of the knee joints, I am 72 and stll running, the key is not to over stride where you spear your foot into the ground in front of you, rather land with the foot under the body and what will seem to you at first as too short a stride. The way to learn it is with a running watch that logs cadence . keep adjusting your stride and turnover until you approach 90 strides ( 180 landings) per minute , You also need to run frequently enough to learn the coordination to do it. You could view all injuries as overuse injuries, so do less distance and or back off the intensity, I think there is nothing like running for clearing the lungs area of grunge, so worth the effort in these times.
#3.1 George F on 2020-04-04 00:52 (Reply)
Watching CNN at the gym? That gym I'd definitely avoid.
#4 olds mo william on 2020-04-05 16:16 (Reply)

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