The best things come in pairs – vodka and soda, peanut butter and chocolate, getting ALTR’d followed by getting brunch (for real). The same can be said for running and cross training. They key to crushing your next big race? Varying up your exercises.
Enter ALTR. ALTR and running? A match made in the fitness heavens.
Runners, you know the general benefits of cross training (and the list is long) – injury prevention, rehabilitation, enhanced motivation and rejuvenation etc.. Plus, it helps work other muscles you don’t necessarily activate while running.
But adding HIIT workouts to your cross-training routine? That’ll take your training to the next level. All it takes is 2-3 times per week. Trust us, you’ll see the difference.
Build explosiveness and speed: Incorporating fitness routines that involve jumping and plyometrics can increase your stride as you run. Every squat, lunge and jump directly impacts your speed and explosiveness. Plus, the short bursts of intense exercise increases the strength of your cardiovascular system, which pushes more oxygen-rich blood through your body and increases your muscle and stride strength even more.
Increase muscle retention and fat burn: Typically, cardio-only workouts can lead to muscle loss. However, incorporating HIIT workouts in addition to steady cardio (i.e. running) allow you to both build and preserve muscle by burning fat instead.
Build a balanced body: First and foremost, HIIT helps use muscles you don’t necessarily use when you run. The result? A balanced body (i.e. your biceps are as powerful as your legs). Plus, using muscles other than the primary muscle groups you use while running helps prevent injury while helping to rehab old injuries.
Increase your metabolism: HIIT stimulates production of your human growth hormone (HGH), and not just a little bit (up to 450 percent) during the 24 hours after your workout. HGH directly impacts your caloric burn and helps slow the aging process (that’s a win-win in our book).
Runners, try incorporating HIIT workouts into your routine, and get ready to seriously shred your running game.
