Steeper Is Better

Do your treadmill workouts feel like torture? Then make them short but steep: For a fast fitness boost, set a sharp incline and run intervals. In a Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research study, twice-weekly 14-minute sessions on a treadmill set to a 10% incline helped runners significantly improve their oxygen consumption and markers of endurance. They went 30 seconds at a full sprint, followed by 30 seconds’ rest. But don’t sacrifice form for speed; you can dial it back a bit and still make gains.

Edited by Michael Easter, Image by Rodale.