First HIIT done outside...

[Yvonne]

So I've been doing HIIT on my treadmill for a few weeks now and I really wanted to do it outside for a few reasons.

1) I really didn't know how fast I could go without flying off the machine. I was scared to go any faster.

2) I knew my last sprint needed to be slower because I just couldn't keep that same pace. But on the treadmill I'm able to do each sprint at the same pace...not quite an all out sprint.

3) I really wanted to push myself as hard as I could. Really get that fat to fry off.

And boy oh boy!! eek2.gif I Never knew just how hard it really is! I thought I was going to die. I was up to 5 30 second sprints on the treadmill and figured I could do at least that much outside.

When all was said and done my chest burned so bad and my neck and throat felt like somebody stomped on it. Then I had this cough that wouldn't go away for about 45 minutes.

Please, somebody, tell me it gets a little easier. Or maybe not as painful. I'm concerned I won't do it if I'm dreading every HIIT session. :baby:
Yvonne

[glittergal]

Yup, definitely harder outside!
Your cough, though, makes me wonder about exercise-induced asthma. I have a mild case, only brought on by HARD outside running. My symptom is the same as yours; a cough that lasts quite awhile after I stop running.
My symptoms went away after my doc gave me an albuterol inhaler to use before exercising. Makes HIIT much less awful!!!

[Yvonne]

Originally posted by glittergal@Jun 20 2006, 02:21 PM
Yup, definitely harder outside!
Your cough, though, makes me wonder about exercise-induced asthma. I have a mild case, only brought on by HARD outside running. My symptom is the same as yours; a cough that lasts quite awhile after I stop running.
My symptoms went away after my doc gave me an albuterol inhaler to use before exercising. Makes HIIT much less awful!!!
Thanks for the reply.

I had thought of asthma. But is phlegm associated with asthma? I had pneumonia as a child and most always have bad coughs when I get a cold. I've wondered if they were connected. Come to think of it I've always had coughs (with phlegm) when I start any cardio back up again.

One thing is for sure, if I'd have eaten before the HIIT, I would have left quite a mess at the track!

[glittergal]

I think near-puking is par for the course with HIIT if you're doing it right. (And since I am not preparing for a competition I do this to myself for what reason exactly :scratch: ??? Oh yeah, cause I am a wee bit crazy!)

I think phlegm could definitely be part of an asthma/allergy thing. Check it out with your doc!

Also, here's a nice summary of the problem at emedicine:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main...370&pf=3&page=1 (http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=59370&pf=3&page=1)

[Yvonne]

Yeah, I think I'll look into the asthma thing.

OK so it's hard. But does it get even a wee bit easier? I mean will I adapt at some point at least enough to enjoy it afterwards? Or does everybody pretty much hate it at the time but like the affects?

[kjinwa]

I :love: HIIT outside. I mainly like it because the people I sprint past on the trail in town look at me like I'm crazy-and that's always fun. :wacko:

Sure it will get easier at the pace and intervals that you run now. But you should always sprint as fast as you can on any given day.

[FloridaKaren]

Congrats on your first HIIT outdoors!

I can't say that it gets EASIER since you are supposed to push yourself to run as fast as you can for each sprint, but you will eventually be able to complete more than 5 intervals!!!

I love HIIT. I recently started the 8x30:60 intervals and found that I can run the 30 way better than I can run the 12x20:40 intervals (go figure?) but I try to alternate each HIIT session between those two.

About two weeks ago, I reached my "turn around" point on my trail and started my sprints back towards home. Just as I was getting ready to start sprint #5, some guy who was jogging caught up to me. I started my 30 second sprint and blew him away. After my rest period, he had just about caught up to me again when I was ready for the next sprint. This happened for all 4 of my last sprints and I was mentally laughing like crazy because I was sure he was wondering what the heck I was doing running away from him so fast!!!!

Good luck with increasing the # of sprints you can do and I hope that your cough doesn't give you any more trouble!