Episode 21 – How to spice up your cardio training
Today is about cardio. Most people like to skip it so let’s discuss how to spice up your cardio training and make it more exciting.
Cardiovascular (or cardio) training is a type of physical activity that involves the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the body.
Some benefits of cardio include:
- Better recovery from physical and mental exertion
- More stamina through the elimination of waste by-products (metabolites) and more efficient fuel (nutrient) delivery
- Better thinking processes (better delivery of fuel and efficient removal of wastes)
- Lower chronic disease risk for conditions such as diabetes type II, heart complications, obesity, and cancers, etc.
1. Mix it up and start with some interval training
This is probably the easiest tip to adopt into your current cardio training. Instead of just doing 10 mins on the bike or 2000 metres on the rower, try one of these techniques:
- Pyramid
- Ramp
- Reverse Ramp
Pyramid
If you can think of a pyramid (or triangle), what does it look like? It starts from a point and then builds to a peak and then finishes to a point again. You can also apply this pattern to rowing, jogging, cycling, hill sprints – you name it, the pyramid works!
This is how you can start to build a pyramid interval program for running. For example,
- 1 min Run, then rest
- 2 min Run, then rest
- 3 min Run, then rest
- 2 min Run, then rest
- 1 min Run, then rest.
Ramp
The second type of interval pattern is a ramp. This pattern gradually gets longer in duration as the session progresses. This pattern might start out fast and intense, then steadies into a longer high-moderate intensity as time progresses. Let’s have a look at an example:
- 1 min Run, then rest
- 2 min Run, then rest
- 4 min Run, then rest
- 8 min Run, then rest
- 16 min Run, then rest.
Reverse Ramp
The reverse ramp would simply be the opposite to the ramp. The pattern would start out moderate in intensity and longer in duration and then builds into a faster, more intense but shorter timeframe of cardio.
For example,
- 16 min Run, then rest
- 8 min Run, then rest
- 4 min Run, then rest
- 2 min Run, then rest
- 1 min Run, then rest.
2. Try different types of cardio
Get involved in different types of cardio workouts. This is called cross-training and while the activity is different you’re still essentially doing cardio. Some examples include:
- Cardio classes
- Resistance based group classes
- MMA classes
- Outdoor boot camps
- Dance classes
- Pairing up cardio equipment, eg. bike, and rower
- Circuit training
What’s the other two ways to spice up your cardio training? Read on!
3. Join a club or sporting group
Test yourself with cardio in a different arena to what you’re comfortable.
They will have a mixture of people in the group such as senior, more experienced individuals who can act like pacers and leaders as well as other beginners just like you.
Some great examples include:
- Zumba
- Sports
- Bike, running or swimming club
- YMCA
- Or even visit an indoor or outdoor sports facility to see what they can on offer (indoor netball, indoor cricket, indoor table tennis, squash, volleyball, etc.).
4. Go out in nature
Test yourself by going out into nature. Not only will it make a difference in your cardio workout but it’s also a great way to get your mates involved – make an event, have a picnic and take plenty of photos. It might even turn out to be a weekend of great memories as well. Give these a try to make your cardio more exciting.
- Ocean swim – Instead of swimming in a pool where it’s a 25-50 metre pool, try swimming in open ocean water. Note: be careful, read the waves, understand the currents, swim between the flags.
- Climb mountain terrain – the variable height, size, steepness, challenges, and elevations will no doubt spice up your cardio. It’s the unpredictable terrain that you will enjoy and push you to the limit.
- Bike off-road – great challenge because it’s in a completely different environment and believe it or not, off-road biking is absolutely different from road biking as well as the stationary bike in the gym.
Cardio
There you go guys and girls, a few easy tips to spice up your cardio training to make it more exciting.
Here are the top four tips to keep in mind:
1. Mix it up and start with some interval training
2. Try different types of cardio
3. Join a club or sporting group
4. Go out in nature
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Feel free to watch the video
Bibliography
- Chek, P. (2009) How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy!
- Erhman, J. Gordon, P. Visich, P. Keteyian, S. (2003) Clinical Exercise Physiology. Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
- Myers, T. (2009) Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists (2nd Ed.). Churchill Livingstone
- Scientific Publishing, Ltd. (no author) (2006) Scientific Publishing’s Anatomy Chart Book. Scientific Publishing Limited
- Sherwood, L.(2004) Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (5th Ed.) Thomson, Brooks/Cole
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