Short Sprints As Beneficial As Long Jogs?

Rickshaw · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 4:35 pm

A few repeated bouts of intense sprint-type exercise during the week provides endurance benefits similar to an hour of moderate activity daily, according to a recent study from researchers at McMaster University. Test subjects followed a two-week program consisting of about five 30-second bursts of "all out" cycling followed by four minutes of recovery three times a week. Endurance capacity of the subjects roughly doubled by the end of the program. While not a substitute for serious athletes seeking maximum performance, this type of program may be a good alternative for those who cite lack of time as an excuse to avoid workouts.