Recovery Intervals verses Repetitions

by Kevin
(Columbus Ohio)

Thanks for a great site! Interval training works! I have completed two cycles - one 12 week cycle where I worked myself up to 15 30 second sprints with one minute recovery periods. The second was an 8 week cycle where I worked myself up to 8 one minute sprints with 2 minute recovery periods. Both cycles kicked my butt at times and I lost good weight with each. My question is - is it more important to do more sprint intervals or to do less sprints intervals while shortening the recovery periods? Is the idea of the recovery periods to fully "catch your breath"? Thanks!!

Answer: Especially when you start out the recovery is there to catch your breathe, as you get fitter you can start bringing this recovery time down. An example of this is Tabata training where you only get 10 seconds of rest for 20 seconds of interval. Think of it this way, don't compromise on your intensity and with that see if you can bring your recovery times down.
As far as number of sprints, if you are doing more than 15 then you are putting enough intensity into them, rather work at going harder for each interval.