Long Slow Distance Running

L.S.D (or Long Slow Distance) running is the preferred method of building cardiovascular stamina for many trained athletes and commited sports people alike. Because of the relatively slow depletion of bodily resources, even people of low fitness levels can perform reasonably well without risking the exhaustion associated with more intense forms of running exercise.

Put simply, this kind of exercise can be very rewarding and is accessible. In spite of this, many are reluctant to perform L.S.D running. In this article, we'll take a quick look at why.

One pair of shorts. One pair of running shoes. One T-shirt. Hardly an extensive equipment list, which is just one of the reasons why L.S.D is such a popular form of exercise for communities worldwide. Another is its usefullness as a weight loss tool. Unfortunately, many people of the people who run in this manner with the main aim of burning fat are misguided.

According to studies, fat is burned at its highest rate when the heart beats at roughly 70% of your MHR (Maximum Heart Rate). On an L.S.D run, the heart will rarely exceed 60% of this number at any point, and the metabolism won't spike to nurture a fat burning environment.

A more worrying charactseristic of this exercise is its ability to inhibit the growth and build-up of muscle mass in the body. For budding body-builders or strong-men, L.S.D is unsuitable because the body will simply refuse to pack-on excess muscle because the added weight causes unnecessary stress whilst running.

In short, for most runners this is a valuable tool. Just remember to use it in moderation and pay close attention to what you hope to achieve!