104 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2024
HIIT up these
local landmarks
BY SHAWN MCCLENDON
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as the spring fever hit you
yet? As the weather warms
and cherry blossoms bloom,
you can meet your fitness goals
while enjoying the scenery with High
Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
These adaptable, take-anywhere,
no-equipment-required routines build
muscle and cardiovascular wellness,
and the intensity means you can keep
your workout quick, freeing your time
for festivals, spring cleaning, end-
of-quarter or school-year goals, and
anything else that puts a spring
in your step.
So, what's HIIT?
HIIT alternates short bursts of high-
intensity exercise with periods of rest
or lower-intensity exercise. Think sprint,
then walk; rapid-fire pushups, then
rest. Cycling the intensity quickly raises
your heartbeat then allows it to recover,
preparing you for the next burst of effort.
As such, HIIT is not for the faint of
heart! The high intensity intervals
are meant to push you closer to
your physical limits, meaning more
breathlessness, muscle burn, and overall
tiredness. So, it's important to check
with a medical professional before
engaging in HIIT, particularly if you
are currently inactive or dealing with a
health issue.
Robin Castro, a long-time Macon
fitness professional, praised HIIT's
efficiency and how it can fit into almost
any schedule. "People talk about not
having the time [to exercise. But HIIT is]
really an efficient way to work out...
Cortney Hickey for My Bike
Photo Series. Photo by
Jave Bjorkman courtesy
of Bike Walk Macon.
