Effect of short and long interval running on aerobic and anaerobic capacities

Abstract

This study investigates the comparative effects of short-interval running (SIRA) and long-interval running (LIRA) on the aerobic and anaerobic capacities of female college students. Thirty female students, aged 18-21, from Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education were randomly selected and divided into two equal groups, each undergoing different interval training regimes. SIRA involved 300m runs with active recovery on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while LIRA comprised 600m runs with active recovery on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, both for four weeks. Pre- and post-tests, including a 50m dash and a 12-minute Cooper run/walk test, were administered to assess the impact on aerobic and anaerobic capacities. T-test results revealed significant improvements in both training methods, indicating that interval running effectively enhances physical fitness. The findings contribute to the understanding of structured interval training's role in athletic performance improvement and provide insights for optimizing training programs for female athletes.