HIIT vs HIRT | How to Do a Sprint Workout the RIGHT Way

preview_player
Показать описание
In this video we show you how to do a sprint workout the RIGHT way, rejecting the popular HIIT approach in favor of something called HIRT - High Intensity Repeat Training.

Comparing HIIT and HIRT

The problem with a typical HIIT workout is that it’s too strenuous—too many repetitions of hard effort that (each) last too long, and with insufficient rest between hard efforts. This results in cumulative fatigue during the workout, a diminishing quality of performance over the course of the workout, increased cellular damage due to this cumulative fatigue, and extended recovery time afterward. These kinds of sufferfests are a great source of satisfaction and personal growth when you high five your fellow bootcamp classmates after an hour of power, or cross the finish line of a big event in which you’ve trained for months to prepare. But including them as a major and recurring element of your training program is a really bad idea. Unfortunately, the sufferfest mindset is incredibly common these days, perhaps suggesting that the ego has more influence that strategic planning or intuitive decision making.

A HIRT workout stops short of the exhaustive nature of HIIT. The essence of HIRT is to conduct maximum efforts, typically of shorter duration, with much longer recovery, and fewer total efforts than a HIIT session. The word “Repeat” in the acronym suggests that you maintain a consistent quality of effort on every repetition of hard work. This means not only the same performance standard, but also the same level of perceived exertion.

For example, say your workout entails running 100-meter sprints across a football field, and you hit 18 seconds for your first sprint. This is a nice controlled, explosive effort with excellent technique, and you assign a perceived exertion level of around 90 out of 100. Hence, you’ll want to do successive sprints in 18-19 seconds each, preserving explosiveness and excellent technique—delivering what you still discern to be 90 out of 100 on the effort scale. If you have to “dig deep” (the implicit objective, and badge of honor, with a HIIT session) just to arrive at 19 seconds on your fourth effort, that’s it, you’re done. If you notice a slight attrition in explosiveness or breaking form during the effort, you’re done. Typically, this might be a little twinge in the hamstrings or lower back, a tensing of the face or chest, or any other indicator that you have played your best cards of the day.

This admonition applies to everyone from elites to novices. Elite athletes are notorious for constantly pushing the envelope and frequently succumbing to injuries or periods of declining performances. Novices generally don’t concern themselves with training strategies, often leaving their fates in the hands of the bootcamp instructor. Without sufficient experience or reference points, they exercise themselves into exhaustion, believing that pain and suffering are part and parcel of the fitness experience.

The (too often) result? Ambitious, well-meaning enthusiasts burn themselves out and then are down for the count. The most dedicated keep going to their detriment, all the while accumulating fatigue, injuries and even pounds. Others simply stay away from the gym by invisible magnetic force. Alas, the subconscious is very good at avoiding sources of pain and suffering. Can we dump this suffering-and-attrition dynamic already?

How To Transition From HIIT To HIRT

To transition into a more effective, less stressful high intensity workout pattern, pick the sweet spot of 10-20 seconds for your explosive efforts. Take what Marker calls “luxurious” rest intervals to ensure that your cells have a chance to partially or fully regenerate ATP (takes around three minutes) and minimize the disassembling and deamination that occur when you ask your body to perform again and again with rapidly depleting cellular energy.

Finally, conduct between 4 and 10 sprints. You should be able to manage four shorts sprints even if you’re a novice. If you claim you can complete more than 10 and feel great, you’re better off going faster and doing fewer more explosively.
Рекомендации по теме
Комментарии
Автор

1. intense sprint 10-20 sec, more will cause cellular breakdown
2. 1:6 work to rest ratio
3. appropriate volume start 4 intervals go to 8 or until performance or motivation drops down. should all be good
4. creates anti aging hormones

TruePhil
Автор

Wow, so glad to find someone who preaches the importance of proper rest between intervals/sets. Not enough people understand this concept for training!

Squabblebottom
Автор

This guy is in better shape than the average 21 year old. Good for you coach

OscarGonzalez-ihvc
Автор

Ive become an overweight grandma. I tried sprinting in my backyard but was afraid of injury. I purchased a rebounder for the living room. I’ve begun sprinting on it to get my renewal journey started; love it! I can get super intense and still feel safe. I’ll incorporate your technique beginning tomorrow as I’ve already completed this mornings plan. TY ❤

Marigold-ipgw
Автор

Due to my severe scoliosis, running did not agree with my back. But strangely enough when I started this kind of sprint training, no problems with my back. So its quick, effective and no pain to my back. The perfect exercise for me.

RobinChee
Автор

I call it Sprint High Intensity Training or S.H.I.T. for short. 24 sprints every other day, about 100-103 yards, 65 strides south, 123 steps walking back north. Age 68. Will cross 1, 000 in July, at 438 today, since beginning of May. Takes about 60-70 minutes, I don't exercise for this decade, I exercise for my 70s, 80s, 90s. No dr no meds.

M
Автор

Very true. I was a sprinter in hs and we had a set number of sprints to do. Wanting to get it over with and go home the sprinters were wanting to go one after another. Our coach wouldn't let us though. He made us wait until our breathing was back to normal before performing each sprint. So yeah, he's absolutely right. Explosion is trained when well rested and recovered for max exertion.

lxf
Автор

I love sprinting as a compliment to my weight lifting but as an older participant I found that I was prone to injury in sprinting within the knees especially. I realized it was happening when always at the start of the sprint. My work around has been to ease into the sprint with maybe a 10 to 20 meter jogging start and then ramp up to full sprint. It’s made a huge difference. Hope this strategy can help someone else.

sofarleftturnigright
Автор

This is the most practical workout advice I have ever heard!

donphillips
Автор

I'm going to start this training today! This was part of my workout when I ran high school track & field about 40 years ago, and it helped me become a 400-meter dash city champion. I appreciate the very instructional video.

deejay
Автор

Hey Mark,
I’ve been training like this for a few years now. I never believed in killing myself during training, quality not quantity. I always try to finish on a high and apply that to my coaching too. Thank you for the validation.👍

Juiceian
Автор

I've never run before in any athletic capacity, but I'm really drawn to sprinting. This video is so very helpful to me, as I want to start out right and respect my body and not push it too far. Most importantly I want to have fun and leave the workout feeling good. Thank you so much I'm inspired!

Bintjax
Автор

I run up four flights of stairs in my apartment building in 30 seconds, walk down in 60 seconds. I get 5 circuits done in 10 minutes. 2 or 3x per week.
BPM 120. Drenched in sweat.
Thanx Brad and Mark. 😁

dalequale
Автор

When I sprint I also pay attention to my arm and head movement. It saves energy.

Thank you for this video !

denelektrieker
Автор

Excellent video. Really changed my thinking about HIIT and how it actually reduces performance.

peterwoods
Автор

I've seen and done this before, though when I learned about this, it was called SMIT - Supra-Maximal Interval Training.
A nice stationary alternative for sprinting is burpee push-up jack + tuck jump.

Tomato_Dragonzord
Автор

What an awesome video. This is exactly what i needed to see. Ive been running sprints in my backyard for a few months. I usually perform 10-15 sets and i can tell you my last 5-8 sets are very uncomfortable and not as "good" as my first 7-10 sets. Thanks coach. You look phenomenal .

GregPaxson
Автор

Thank you for the science behind sprinting that I really never knew or wasn’t taught about when I did sports back in the day. This is some very vital information even for the MMA world that we can use sprints to mimic moments inside the cage. Thank you again!

eduardodelmoral
Автор

Dr. Sean Omara advocates sprinting to eliminate visceral fat.

carrotgold
Автор

I have been running the wrong way my whole life til I watched this Video. Thanks for this great video. Love it. Thank you Mark Sisson and Youtube. 😉

kervinSanjiv