New Workout—The 30-20-10—Produces Impressive Results (2024)

It might be considered a controlled “fartlek” workout, but with more rigor.

by amby burfoot

A just-published paper in the Journal of Applied Physiology outlines a new workout that could become as popular as Yasso 800s, because the “numbers” are just as simple. The new workout is called “30-20-10 training” (or 10-20-30). Veteran runners who followed the training for just 7 weeks improved their 5K times by four percent, dropping from 23:03 to 22:16.

They also lowered their blood pressure and their LDL cholesterol. The workout appears to be health-enhancing as well as performance-enhancing.

The study should interest runners, because it didn’t just measure physiology “markers" (some of which improved and some of which didn't change). It measured actual performance, which improved quite dramatically. The 30-20-10 runners, three women and five men, also lowered their 1500 meter times by six percent, from 6:09 to 5:49. They did this while decreasing their weekly training mileage by 50 percent.

Here’s how to do a 30-20-10 workout.

1. Warm up with easy jogging for about a mile. (The studied runners warmed up for just ¾ mile.)

2. Jog for 30 seconds, run normal training pace for 20 seconds, and sprint for 10 seconds. Immediately repeat this cycle four more times, producing one continuous five-minute repeat.

3. Jog for two minutes. Then repeat step 2 two or three more times. (The subjects in the JAP study did 3 x 5-minutes for the first four weeks, and 4 x 5-minutes for the next three weeks.)

4. Cool down with easy jogging for about a mile. (The studied runners apparently did no cooldown, but we always recommend one.)

In the study, 18 moderately trained subjects (12 men, 8 women; average age, 34; normal training, 18 miles a week) were divided into two groups. One, the Controls, continued their normal training, and showed no improvements after seven more weeks of training. The 30-20-10 group followed the above training system, running just three times a week for an average of about 30 minutes per workout. They trained just under 9 miles per week.

An important result of these two training systems: The Control group spent 0 minutes per week running at or close to maximum heart rate, while the 30-20-10 group did about 40 percent of their running at/near max HR, even though they sprinted for only 16 percent of each minute. This occurred, presumably, because their HR stayed close to max as they recovered from each sprint.

The 30-20-10 workout might be considered a controlled “fartlek” workout, but with more rigor. No GPS required. Just run by feel. It would be easy to do on a grassy field or a smooth trail or dirt road. A safe, low-traffic road would be fine too, if you don’t mind the extra pounding.

It’s difficult to say how the workout would perform if you did it just once or twice a week (or four times!), but there’s a general rule for intense training: A little is better than none; and a lot is too much.

The researchers concluded: “Training with 10-second speed intervals can have a major impact on performance.” Also: “The 30-20-10 training led to reduced resting systolic blood pressure and blood cholesterol, suggesting a better health profile for already trained subjects.”

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New Workout—The 30-20-10—Produces Impressive Results (2024)

FAQs

What is the 30 20 10 training workout? ›

Do a short warm-up then 30 seconds of jogging, 20 seconds of running at a regular training pace, and 10 seconds at an all-out sprint, four times in a row continuously. Follow that 5:00-minute routine with a 2:00-minute jog and then repeat the cycle two more times.

What is the 30 20 10 protocol? ›

One popular SIT protocol is the 30-20-10 method. In this approach, an individual performs a 30-second effort, followed by a 20-second effort at a higher intensity, and finally a maximum effort of 10 seconds.

What is the 10-20-30 training concept? ›

For a 7-wk intervention period the 10-20-30 replaced all training sessions with 10-20-30 training consisting of low-, moderate-, and high-speed running (<30%, <60%, and >90% of maximal intensity) for 30, 20, and 10 s, respectively, in three or four 5-min intervals interspersed by 2 min of recovery, reducing training ...

Does 12/3/30 actually work? ›

By that measure, the 12-3-30 can be a good way to ramp up the intensity of regular ol' walking, Brooks said. It may be a solid pick for people who can't do high-impact activities like running, but still want a more vigorous routine, Brooks added. Moreover, the 12-3-30 is very straightforward.

What does 30/20/10 mean in crossfit? ›

Jog for 30 seconds, run normally for 20 seconds, then sprint for 10 seconds. Continuously repeat the routine four times to equal a five-minute workout. Spend a two-minute break jogging before repeating the 30-20-10 cycle two or three more times.

What is the 30 10 30 workout program? ›

Based on Ellington Darden 30-10-30 Technique. That stands for a 30-second slow negative repetition, followed immediately by 10 faster positive/negative reps (one second up, two seconds down) with controlled turnarounds, followed by a finishing 30-second negative rep.

What is the 4/30-10 method for weight loss? ›

The “4-30-10” method is a way of structuring a weekly workout plan: 4 – four strength training workouts per week. 30 – 30 grams of protein at breakfast, lunch and dinner. 10 – ten thousand steps per day (for reference, 10,000 steps is approximately five miles).

What is the 10 20 30 system? ›

The protocol is characterized by intervals of 30 seconds of low-intensity exercise, followed by 20 seconds of moderate-intensity exercise, and ending with 10 seconds of high-intensity exercise, repeated in cycles.

What is the 10 20 30 running app? ›

JogRunSprint is a new and exciting app based on the popular running concept "10-20-30" developed by professor Jens Bangsbo and Thomas Gunnarson from the university of Copenhagen (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22556401). Experience incredible results in just 3-4 weeks of running with JogRunSprint...

What is a 20 20 workout? ›

THREE WORKOUTS IN ONE SESSION

The 20/20/20 class is designed to give you the ultimate challenge and total body workout. Sweat through 20 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes of strength training, and 20 minutes of stretching and core work.

What is the 5 10 20 method? ›

Years ago I developed a rep scheme for super sets known as the 5/10/20 method. In it's simplest form, this is a 3 exercise superset for a single muscle group where you do 5 reps of the first exercise, 10 of the second, then finish up with 20 reps on the final exercise.

Does 30/30/30 actually work? ›

Ultimately, Burrows says, “There is evidence to suggest that the 30-30-30 method will work, but what truly works for someone is a method that is achievable consistently over the long term.”

What is the 12330 method? ›

The 12-3-30 workout was made popular by Lauren Giraldo, a lifestyle social media influencer. The idea is to walk on a treadmill that is set to an incline of 12.0, at a speed of 3.0 mile per hour, for 30 minutes. She credits her 30 pound weight loss to doing this workout five times per week.

How many miles is 10,000 steps? ›

Using 2,000 steps in one mile as an average benchmark, 10,000 steps is approximately 5 miles.

What is the 70 20 10 training method? ›

In fact, it states that: 70% of learning happens through on-the-job experience. 20% of learning happens socially through colleagues and friends. And 10% of learning happens via formal training experiences.

What is the 12 3 30 method training? ›

It requires a treadmill that can be set to an incline of 12 and speeds of at least 3 miles per hour. To perform the workout, start with a five to 10 minute warm-up of walking at a leisurely pace on a small incline of less than three. Next, participants walk at a pace of 3 miles per hour for 30 minutes.

What is the 5 10 15 method workout? ›

It consists of small three-part sets, which are repeated.
  1. 15 seconds Walking or very slow running (jogging)
  2. 10 seconds Running in a moderate or fast tempo.
  3. 5 seconds Fast running [sprint]
  4. Every 15-10-5 part is repeated 4 times, that is four repetitions without rest-pause, so a set (or block) lasts 2 minutes.
Nov 22, 2015

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