Cardiovascular Improvement - What Type of Running is Best for the Heart?

by Isabel Bergman
(Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil)

Is there research - any article that I can read-that shows what is best for the heart - jogging for more time or running faster for less time???
Thx, Isabel


Answer by Dominique:


Hi Isabel,
Thank you for your running training question. Very cool to get a question from Brazil this time. It is a pleasure to serve so many people in so many different countries!

In short - to get an optimal functioning cardiovascular system and to optimize your running performance you'd need both slower running and faster running. Each different type of running helps a different part of the system to develop.

Getting a stronger heart is best served by easy running and building your endurance. Especially when you are not so fit or are not used to much exercise the best way to improve the cardiovascular system is to do easy paced running (or any other type of aerobic exercise).

For people who are very fit already it pays off to study running training a bit more and to develop a balanced running program in which all components of running training feature.

A particular article of interest to you would be my base running page.
I also recommend you have a read through some of the running training articles in my running training section.

Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Dominique