HIIT

I logged 65 miles this week. A good weekly mileage, but I didn't take an 'off day'. Oops. Honestly I really hate taking rest days. However, after years of running, I have learned the hard way that they are completely worth it in the long run. I've definitely had my fair share of overuse injuries simply due to this hatred of rest. So for the past few months I have stuck true to taking rest days, even just one a week. Except this week that is. So tomorrow it is a going to be a day off. Now I can't manage just taking a day to sit on the couch, so when I say 'day off' I mean just off running.

So what exercise will I being doing tomorrow? P90x. I am determined to get more toned and work on HIIT workouts in addition to my endurance training. HIIT is praised by trainers and scientific research to be the best at building definition due to the increase rate of fat burning these workouts cause. Supposedly they burn calories for days after the workout is completed (EPOC).

This is a hard concept for us endurance athletes to grasp... How can doing some jump roping and mini sprints be better than a 12 mile run?!?! Well it may not in fact be 'better', but these intense short bursts will definitely help create a well rounded athlete. HIIT will help preserve the muscle tissue that endurance breaks down, which in the long run will help to increase speed over a longer period of time.

I can't help it, I still remain slightly skeptic. But I'm willing to put this to the test. So my 'rest days' will now be HIIT workouts. I'm going to begin with these P90x workouts. I hear they're rough though all workout DVDs make me think of leg warmers and sweatin' to the oldies.

I'll let you know how it goes.