Yeah right. How many times have you read something that claims to be the “be all” and “end all” to a popular and important topic? It’s like Al Gore saying the discussion on climate change is over. Let the demagoguery begin.

When I ran for most of my fitness objectives, it was all about “LSD”, long slow distance to best improve your cardiovascular fitness and performance. Throw in an occasional fartlek session and you were good to go.

Fast forward to a few years ago, for me at least, I learned about “metcon”, or metabolic conditioning where now the hot ticket was interval training in it’s various forms including Tabatas. Crossfit advanced the metcon idea and generally dissed cardio in the form of running if it was over 10K in distance. Interestingly, they seem to be backing away from that now that they offer a “certification” in running.

Of course, cardiovascular training is more than an “either or proposition”. People who love running long distance would benefit greatly from various types of interval-style training and not just from running either. The metcon people could occasionally chill a bit and enjoy a long bike ride or a hike and still improve performance.

Joel Jamieson, of EndZone Athletics Training Performance Center balances out the two and in fact endorses volume over intensity in the beginning stages of developing work capacity. He doesn’t bash traditional cardio and asserts that interval training isn’t the whole enchilada either.

Like the variety of training that makes up a good GPP, there is room and great benefit from both main types of cardiovascular training and their variations. Read both Part 1 and Part 2 of Jamieson’s cardiovascular system training principles over at EliteFts. They are both good reads.

**UPDATE**

Lyle McDonald also has a similar, more detailed take in his “Interval Training Versus Steady State Cardio” Part 1.

Visit and subscribe to his blog or newsletter to get Part 2 and a wealth of additional diet and fitness research. McDonald has some pretty cool stuff there. Now go out for a run or bike ride and have fun!

Technorati Tags: metcon, LSD, intervals, fartlek, cardio

Related posts:

1. What Kind of Cardio is the Best?For years, I have read Usenet postings from Lyle McDonald, mostly, but not exclusively on the nutritional aspects of fitness. I have appreciated his approach from published scientific research and not current fads or copy from supplement companies. He has a great site at BodyRecomposition.com and really gets into the subject of diet...
2. “Alternate” CardioMy gym like any other is loaded with expensive, high tech devices designed to improve you cardiovascular fitness. Some, like the treadmills, have magazine holders so you can read "People" magazine while the high tech versions have tv screens built right in so you can watch "Oprah". The stationary bikes...
3. The Cardio Debate ContinuesImage via Wikipedia  With all types of training I do, I would be considered to be in good cardiovascular condition, yet when I go out for a skate or a run, which I don't do as frequently, there is not an equal transference of that conditioning to those activities. To...
4. Metcon ChaosMetcon is not something like "neo-con'. You know the terms "cardio" and it's predecessor, "aerobics'. Neither of those terms could ever describe how we like to get our cardiovascular kicks. I like "metcon" (metabolic conditioning). It sounds sort of military techy, like "We are now moving to Defcon 4 status"....
5. Fitness Has To Be Fun!Yesterday I had a conversation with a Type-A motivated and driven runner who says running hasn't been very much fun lately. This competitive athlete is vexed by self-imposed pressure in the drive for splits and PRs, heart rate measurements and getting in time at the track and gym. Often, for...
6. Marty Gallagher Pens A New ColumnThe Purposeful Primitive himself, Marty Gallagher is now writing a weekly column called "Marty Gallagher's Primitive Synergy-Iron, Mind, Cardio and Nutrition". It will appear at the Dragondoor site every Tuesday. Marty's first installment is The Purposefully Primitive Manifesto-Who we are-Why we do the things we do in the way that...
7. Sleep Well And Perform BetterLast year, I posted an article and a hilarious video on the importance of sleep. (Check out the video, you may be in it). If you want to improve at anything you do athletically, competitively or anything in life, it should be obvious to you by now that getting plenty...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.