Sprint vs. Marathon Workouts: Interval Training

Every time I go to the gym, I can spot at least one muscle man pumping the machines while red in the face, without fail.

While I enjoy high intense workouts, I've never understood the rush or sprint approach to working out incorporated with longer resting periods in between.

Generally speaking, your higher intensity workouts are geared to increase muscle size by training the body to respond to the activity quickly. Exercising at a slower pace, is going to promote more of your lean muscle while lengthening the muscle across your frame instead of bulking it.

This interesting article in the New York Times talks about the benefit of incorporating some sprint work into your workouts, called interval training or burst exercising. The addition of some high intensity work into your normal routine is a surprise to your body, which over time can benefit by increasing endurance and fat burning.

Switching up your workouts or adding an interval burst can help with your variety while at the gym. It also can fuel a competitive side, for a mid workout race or continue to serve as a challenge in your day.