Conditioning is the learning process of information from a stimulus and a response. Each day we condition our minds either for the better or for the worse. The same goes for our body, we need to condition our bodies to be in the best health possible, we need our metabolisms to function efficiently, we need to keep our systems in tip-top shape.
Many people go to the gym and they do long-duration cardio. Now I am not knocking it as a bad thing, it is beneficial to the body and health system but if that becomes the only method of training then it can be disadvantageous. Yes, chronic cardio can work against you. Enjoy jacking up the cortisol bath of stress hormones and staying there, yeah not good in the long term.
Think again about your choices of cardiovascular work
Let’s put the treadmill, or long bike ride aside and let’s get SPRINTING
How does increase brain cognition sound?
How does increased growth hormone sound?
How about increased telomere length aka more longevity better and stronger genes
How about Increased Muscle Fiber strength?
How about increased muscle mitochondria?
The list can go on and on but you get the idea. Yes, sprinting enhances all of those and most people are not doing it on a weekly basis. The ability to produce high amounts of force and energy tells the body it is time to adapt and change. It makes the body more efficient at utilizing energy substrates (glucose and fats), it demands more growth of type II muscle fibers which great a rock-solid metabolism.
Sprint days are going to suck but for all the good reasons. It’s going to leave you physically and mentally drained but the perks of it are going to be a short workout, 15 minutes maybe 20 minutes top, and you are done. Sprints are going to be no longer than 20 seconds and then a rest period.
Here’s how to step up your conditioning
Sprint Workout Day 1
Fan Bike- 10 seconds sprint
Rest 50 seconds
Rower- 10 Second Sprint
Rest 50s
Ski Erg- 10 Second Sprint
Rest 50s
5 Rounds
Sprint Workout Day 2
10 yards sprint- walk back to the start line slowly- 4 reps
Rest 2 min
20-yard sprint- walk back slowly- 4 Reps
Rest 2 min
30-yard sprint- walk back slowly- 3 Reps
40-yard Sprint- walk back slowly- 3 Reps
References
- Sellami M, Ben Abderrahman A, Kebsi W, De Sousa MV, Zouhal H. Original Research: Effect of sprint and strength training on glucoregulatory hormones: Effect of advanced age. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2017 Jan;242(1):113-123. DOI: 10.1177/1535370216662711. Epub 2016 Jul 28. PMID: 27470931; PMCID: PMC5206978.
- TaheriChadorneshin H, Cheragh-Birjandi S, Ramezani S, Abtahi-Eivary SH. Comparing sprint and endurance training on anxiety, depression and its relation with brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rats. Behav Brain Res. 2017 Jun 30;329:1-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.04.034. Epub 2017 Apr 23. PMID: 28445707.
- Turner, Anthony N. MSc, CSCS*D1; Stewart, Perry F. MSc, CSCS2 Repeat Sprint Ability, Strength and Conditioning Journal: February 2013 - Volume 35 - Issue 1 - p 37-41
DOI: 10.1519/SSC.0b013e3182824ea4
- Wesley, C., et al. “Sprints to Smarts: The Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Various Executive Functions.” International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings. Vol. 2. No. 6. 2014.
Learn more about your bodies different energy systems HERE