HIIT, Feel Like Dying To Improve?

[stuartSan]

I don't have a timer and I don't like carrying things around, since I just run around my local park. What I do is sprint the straights, and jog the bends. This gives me approximately 45/30 secs of HIIT intervals, which I usually do for 6 sets.

Problem is, by the third interval, I start feeling really exhausted and my jogs turn into walks.. and by the fifth and sixth, I actually stall for time before sprinting the straights again.

I wonder if doing that is beneficial, as I've heard you actually have to think you'd be carried out the field on a stretcher for this to actually work.

So I guess my question is, is it okay to catch my breath before sprinting again? Or would that reduce the effectiveness of HIIT?

Thanks.

[MikeMartial]

Originally Posted by stuartSan

So I guess my question is, is it okay to catch my breath before sprinting again? Or would that reduce the effectiveness of HIIT?

Thanks.

Hey, you're out there running sprints, and working your lactate threshold. I'd say you are working hard enough. If you still feel like crap and you are starting/stopping, that's still "high intensity" and "interval", no?

What I would do, though, is keep track of your sprints. Track when you starting walking vs jogging, stalling vs continuing on. And keep pushing hard, of course.

[Revok]

Aerobic base training and fartleks will help your interval running tremendously - work on your ability to 'recovery jog' and you'll find you don't need to walk between sprints anymore.