How to Use an Interval Training Timer
The Set Starter interval training timer is perfect for fitness regimens like running, weight training, building muscle mass and increasing endurance. It can be used in training for law enforcement, firefighters, emergency responders and the military. Its uses can even be applied to health-care procedures, teaching exercises or physical-therapy routines.
| Training Technique | The Set Starter Edge |
| Weight Training. To achieve the best results, your muscles need to reach an ideal level of fatigue before being challenged again. Monitoring your recovery time between weight-lifting sets is the most effective way to accomplish this essential task. | Set Starter allows you to consistently monitor recovery time – and still be able to listen to music or get a drink of water – without needing to watch the clock. |
| Track & Cross Country. Track coaches use a technique called “interval training with equal recovery” during which athletes run and rest for equal amounts of time; for instance, 30 seconds of running followed by 30 seconds of rest, which is known as 30/30. This sequence is then repeated 10-20 times. | Set Starter’s REPEAT feature is ideal for the 30/30 drill. Once activated, it will alert the runner to start or stop every 30 seconds. No more struggling to hear a coach’s whistle from hundreds of yards away. Plus, it allows for individualized and off-season training. The audible beep alert can be used to simulate the start gun. |
| Intensity Training. This type of training involves timed bursts of intensity added to any aerobic activity – like running, cycling, jumping or rowing – in order to build endurance and speed. | Set Starter lets you easily add any number of intensity bursts to your aerobic activity without having to program a digital watch, with the benefit of non-visual cues. |
| Jumping & Speed Drills. For years, amateur and professional athletes have used sport-specific jumping and speed drills to improve performance. For example, basketball players will perform timed dribbling, shooting, running and jumping drills to enhance speed and agility. | Traditionally, athletes have had to rely on coaches or trainers to monitor speed drills. With Set Starter, the convenient one-touch operation and non-visual alerts let the athlete control the timer and allow the coaches and trainers to concentrate on what they do best. |
| Fartlek Training. Fartlek is a type of interval training used by long-distance runners to stress both the aerobic and anaerobic energy pathways. Using this training technique, runners will perform a series of varying timed intervals at different intensity levels. | Set Starter takes the complexity out of accurately timing Fartlek-training intervals. Once you program a time interval into Set Starter, you can concentrate on your run and keep your eyes on the road. |
| Stretching is important for people of all ages. It reduces muscle tension, increases range of movement, enhances coordination and improves blood circulation. Better circulation means a higher energy level, and we can all use that. | With Set Starter, stretching is made easy. Experts tell us that it is best to hold a stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Instead of the endless counting during each stretch, program Set Starter to do the counting for you. You can even utilize the REPEAT feature and change your stretching position at every alert. |
| Planks are sets of isometric exercises that are ideal for working your abdominals, back and shoulders. Isometrics involve muscular actions with no visible movement of a joint. By forcing your body to stabilize itself in a set position for a period of time, planks work multiple core muscles at the same time. | Set Starter allows you to monitor your time without “moving a muscle.” You can focus on maintaining your position and let Set Starter watch the clock. |