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Expert: - 6/5/2004


Question
I watched the Golf Fitness Academy tv show on saterday. They were talking about fitness and they said that a 22 minute interval run is better than a constant pace/heartrate 45-60 minute run. The 22 minute run they were talking about goes like this: 2 minute warm up, then every minute for four times, increase speed, then every minutes for four times, decrease speed--do this till you've done it five times total. do you think this 22 minute interval run is better than a 45-60 minute constant pace/heartrate run?

Answer
Yes, this particular interval run you have described can be more beneficial in some ways than the constant pace run.  But you must keep many factors in mind, such as:
**did the interval training elevate the heart rate in the high end of the THR (Target Heart Rate) range?
**Does the interval training stress my joints/body, where the risk of injury could increase?
**Am I working towards a particular overall cardiovascular fitness goal?
**Do I like interval training?

I am a strong advocate of mixing cardiovascular interval training and steady state cardiovascular training each week.  

Here's a good website to read that offers a good explanation of interval training:
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/conditioning/a/aa030802a.htm

Please feel free to write again if you need additional information.  Hope this helps you.  Take care.

Sincerely, Daphne

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Daphne E Brown MS CPRP

Expertise

I will answer questions concerning exercise, nutrition, health and diseases related to obesity or sedentary lifestyle. I can also answer questions about being an aerobics/group exercise leader or questions about getting certified with AFAA.

Experience

Receiving my Masters of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology, I have been Fitness Director on board Royal Caribbean luxury cruise ships, I have given training seminars for aspiring group exercise leaders; I am certified and I work for Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). I was Senior Exercise Physiologist and lecturer at the Internationally renowned Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa at Turnberry Island Resort in Miami, Florida for almost 10 years and I was also the Fitness Assessment Coordinator at the exclusive Fisher Island Spa Internazionale on exclusive Fisher Island in Miami Beach (famous residents of the island include Oprah Winfrey, Andre Agassi, and Sharon Gless). I've competed in AAU and NAC Aerobics competitions. Currently, I own a Fitness/Lifestyle planning business. I have been in the Fitness industry for almost 20 years and here on AllExperts since 1999.

Education/Credentials
B.S. Biology/Chemistry M.S. Clinical Exercise Physiology AFAA Certified and Examiner

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