No. Not that kind of interval!
As those of you who run regularly will know, there are a great many ways to try to improve your performance most of which work on the premise which goes something along the lines of
"If you want to run fast, then you have to run fast" - Not rocket science obviously, as most things in life include a practice, practice, practice clause in order to facilitate the adaptation of the body to the requirements demanded of it.
So what is the catch? Well, as usual and especially for running, it being a load-bearing sport, too much, too soon or too hard will cause problems, so all of the training schemes and models around seem to attempt to reduce the risk of injury simply by reducing the work carried out (i.e. effort over time) but while still attempting to introduce the body to additional demands, such that it can adapt and improve in anticipation of the next time those demands are placed on it.
The
Runner's World site quotes a number of standard techniques for improving performance, either endurance and / or speed. For example
- Easy Runs - to build aerobic fitness and muscular and skeletal strength
- Tempo Runs - to improve running economy and form
- VO2 Max Runs (intervals) - to improve running economy and racing sharpness
- Speed-form Runs - to improve running economy, form and leg speed
- Long Runs - to build confidence, discipline, improve fat-burning and endurance
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I have started doing some interval training once or twice a week in order to try to improve my 10k and hopefully marathon times
Had a great run with John and Tim today (Sunday) as rather than a long run we did a 'VO2 Max Run' 11.5 miles which included 5x800m intervals in the middle.
We all complained about it during the run, but it felt good afterwards
