After a bit of research on how to improve my running experience, I came across an article that used interval training to set down a running routine that not only makes the whole experience more interesting but apparently is more effective at burning calories than the steady pace run. I altered the routine to suit me and it looks something like this:
| Time | Pace | Duration |
| 0 - 1 mins. | 3.5 km/hr | 1 minute |
| 1 - 5 mins. | 5.5 km/hr | 4 minutes |
| 5 - 6 mins. | 6.0 km/hr | 1 minute |
| 6 - 10 mins. | 5.5 km/hr | 4 minutes |
| 10 - 11 mins. | 6.0 km/hr | 1 minute |
| 11 - 15 mins. | 5.5 km/hr | 4 minutes |
| 15 - 20 mins. | 6.0 km/hr | 5 minutes |
| 20 - 24 mins. | 5.5 km/hr | 4 minutes |
| 24 - 25 mins. | 6.0 km/hr | 1 minute |
| 25 - 29 mins. | 5.5 km/hr | 4 minutes |
| 29 - 30 mins. | 6.0 km/hr | 1 minute |
| 30 - 34 mins. | 5.5 km/hr | 4 minutes |
| 34 - 35 mins. | 3.5 km/hr | 1 minute |
I found this routine kept my mind engaged on the upcoming interval and found the 35 minutes go by quicker. In addition, since I am essentially pacing myself, I enjoyed the run a lot more than my usual steady pace (at 5.8 km/hr). This routine can easily be extrapolated to practically any cardiovascular exercise - I have already tried this on the elliptical trainer and found that it worked pretty well and took away some of the monotony.
The most important aspect of interval training is the benefits associated with it. Here is a great article that lists a few of these benefits:
Top Ten Benefits of Interval Training
