Uphill Spints? Ouch!
November 25th 2006 14:45
I was just reading an interesting article by a famed diet guru who suggested that the perfect exercise might be uphill interval sprints. My first reaction is that he has got to be kidding. Is there anything more difficult than sprinting? Add uphill to it and you have something for only the most hardy exercise fanatics preferably who are simultaneously genetically suited to running.
I am not genetically suited to running and most of you probably aren't either. If fitness depends on your affinity for running most of you will never be fit or even close. I watch people who jog past my house. It is absolutely none of my business what they are doing or think they are doing. However, I think they are wasting their time if they really are trying to maintain or improve fitness. Many are moving so slowly that I could keep up with a brisk walking pace. One woman I see is gaining weight by the month even though she apparently covers a great distance. Is that really what she wants?
Listen, there are people who are born runners and if that's you, I envy you. If it is not you and you are 35 you are making a mistake if you start serious running from scratch. In my opinion you will garner the following results: You will tear down you muscles to the extent you run. Lots of running =lots of muscle loss. Those muscles eat calories like crazy and you won't have them anymore. You will also be putting tremendous pressure on joints. That pounding is not innocuous. If you are overweight you are just going to do damage in capital letters. I won't suggest that you are probably decalcifying your bones, but that's what I suspect. Finally, you won't stick with it. The excuse machine in your head will fire up the first time you feel tired or sore. Pretty soon you won't be doing anything.
But the article had a tremendous subtext. It emphases the power of intense exercise for legs as a whole body elixir. Boy, do I agree there! The short, intense pressure on your legs is the way to exercise. Your legs mirror your general fitness. If they are mountains of flab, you.... So, the bottom line is that working your legs hard is really a great idea. Not long ...hard.
How? Try 10 deep knee bends all the way to the floor and you will get the picture. In a gym there are all kinds of neat leg training equipment. Thats where to start. Do serious work on a leg press machine or some alternative and build up you thighs with hard,short all out effort. Beginners .. not too fast. If want to try uphill sprints, really take it easy or your feet and ankles will stop by to complain. I think you know how that will feel. Your servant, as always.
I am not genetically suited to running and most of you probably aren't either. If fitness depends on your affinity for running most of you will never be fit or even close. I watch people who jog past my house. It is absolutely none of my business what they are doing or think they are doing. However, I think they are wasting their time if they really are trying to maintain or improve fitness. Many are moving so slowly that I could keep up with a brisk walking pace. One woman I see is gaining weight by the month even though she apparently covers a great distance. Is that really what she wants?
How? Try 10 deep knee bends all the way to the floor and you will get the picture. In a gym there are all kinds of neat leg training equipment. Thats where to start. Do serious work on a leg press machine or some alternative and build up you thighs with hard,short all out effort. Beginners .. not too fast. If want to try uphill sprints, really take it easy or your feet and ankles will stop by to complain. I think you know how that will feel. Your servant, as always.
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Comment by Adele
Lost Fanatic
Day Break TV
Uphill sprints used to be fun, but now I'm, er, chunky.
Comment by JohnR No-Myth-Fitness