Comments on: Exercise Intensity

By: Jeremy Johnson

Jeremy Johnson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:02:23 +0000

I love seeing people who are well past their 60’s exercise and stay in great shape. I think it smashes a general consensus that you just have to get older and wither away. I firmly believe we can get stronger as we age. Your mum is very inspiring!

By: Tess The Bold Life

Tess The Bold Life — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:19:32 +0000

You’re talking about me! I’ve ran for 20 plus years. My body certainly has adapted. I need strength training but will do it for a couple of months and quit. This has been my story for the last 5 years. Auuuggghhh!

By: Fitness Plateaus | Fitness Information/ Free Tips / Training and other Usefull Resourses...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:30:12 +0000

[...] Exercise Intensity [...]

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:21:30 +0000

Hi Craig. Great article. I’ve always believed that to increase intensity to keep my body guessing, I’d need to train for longer but over the last 6 months, I’ve done something different: I’ve just gone harder not longer. And you know what? I can now burn more calories in the same amount of time. Very cool. And to top it off, I’ve taken my VO2 max from 44 to 53! As a 34 yr old woman (and now 64kg lighter), I’m very pleased with that progress.

By: Tony Little Personal Trainer Fat Free Abdominal Reduction | Kangen Water Challenge: Sports Hydration is Key to Top Performance Stamina and Endurance

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:34:08 +0000

[...] Exercise Intensity [...]

By: Steven Aitchison

Steven Aitchison — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:38:57 +0000

Hi Craig. Great article and a timely one for me as well. I’ve recently started walking 2 miles every morning as a way to stay fit without going to the gym and am now wondering if my body is going to get so used to walking 2 miles it will not change in the way I had hoped.

By: em from jem

em from jem — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:13:13 +0000

Hi Craig,
Nice article! I like it when you put your exercise scientist hat on … even if it is beige! Also, that guy in the first pic has rooly rooly nice legs!!! Still … he’s no Buff Boy …
Good advice in your post. I like that you mentioned the other ways you can progressively overload – it doesn’t have to be about pushing more weight every time. Like you say, shortening the recovery intervals, increasing (or reducing) speed etc are all good ways to manipulate intensity.
Nice advice … I think I’ll take my body for a spin at the gym today (like I wasn’t gonna anyway!).
Have a nice Monday everyone.
Em
( ) x

By: Liam

Liam — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:08:06 +0000

Liam the lurker.
I had to comment on this one.
As a ex-marathon runner I can vouch for high intensity interval training being an integral part of my program. Especially when the going gets tough and you need to dig deep.

By: Mia

Mia — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:04:48 +0000

I had never thought of the difference between good stress and bad stress when thinking about one’s body. Makes a lot of sense.

By: Nat

Nat — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:45:00 +0000

great post Craig, I love the physiology stuff.

Alex – there is a brilliant free training program written by Pat Caroll (ex Australian marathon champion and running guru) on the Gold Coast Marathon web site. (sorry I’m not that technically minded to give you a direct link but the address is below). It has all the elements of changing intensity and rest days.

Several years ago I followed Pat’s program to the letter. Initially I was only able to run for 30seconds at a time and after following this program I ran my first half marathon in a semi-reasonable time of 2hours 8minutes.

Despite HATING the increased intensity of sprint training I just do it when I have to because this year I am going to break the 2 hour time. As you said Craig, short term discomfort for long term benefits.

http://www.goldcoastmarathon.com/default.asp?PageID=7669