Change Up Workouts Between Seasons With Interval Training

It’s the calm between winter and spring sports for many high school athletes.

Or is “calm” really the word I want to be using?

If you’re anything like me, the biggest fight of the off-season is struggling against the training lull. And, like I was just a few months ago, you might be frustrated or downright bored with your workout regime.

And what does a boring regime lead to? Little to no motivation to even make it to the gym at all.

This is where I found myself on New Years Eve. Not with a resolution to be more fit, but bored with working out.

It’s a bad place to be.

Until something magical happened. I discovered interval training at a Chicago-based gym. Offering classes morning, noon and night, the trainers at this gym lead me through an hour-long combination of high-intensity treadmill and weight training, switching between the two every 10-15 minutes. It’s been a game-changer (well, coupled with smoothies) for me.

Seriously. High Intensity Interval Training gave me new motivation to train.

You guys have probably heard of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) before. While study after study supports this growing high-intensity interval training trend, my personal favorite reasons why everyone should give it a try are these:

• It strengthens a major muscle — your heart.
• It’s a two-for-one deal: cardio and strength training.
• You can tailor your session to your fitness level (you always choose your own weight and speed).
• It doesn’t require a gym (anyone can run outside and body weight exercises can replace free weights).
• Proven to help control blood sugar better than continuous exercise.
• It skyrockets your metabolism.
• Rapid changes in high-and-low-intensity activities t burns more fat in less time.

Still unsure? Check out your local gyms and studios to see if they offer free introductory or trial classes. Another great option is to look up some regimens online and get a few teammates together for a class of your own.

And don’t forget that you can always check out sport-specific workouts that professional athletes use from Go Pro Workouts.