What would "high intensity cardio" entail?

[Denninmi]

Especially if moved out of the gym into the great outdoors.

[Major Nikon]

1. It's really nothing more than maintaining a high heart rate for short periods.

If you're just starting out, the best way to learn IMO is with a heart rate monitor. The basic strategy after warming up is to put out near maximum effort until your heart rate reaches your target level, and then alternate between periods of low effort and medium effort to keep your heart rate at that level.

It's pretty easy to do on a bike. Just find a hill that will take you about 15 minutes to climb. Start putting out a good effort until your heart rate reaches your target, then alternate your efforts to maintain that rate. Do your warmup and cool down on the ride too and from the hill.

[onehandle]

2. Spirited hiking or mountain biking nt

[hay rick]

3. My rule of thumb- if you can talk comfortably it's not high intensity.

Or you can get a heart-rate monitor and do it scientifically.

[pscot]

7. Recommended

[kudzu22]

4. Basically it's getting your heart rate close to maximum

Look into interval training -- mixes high- and moderate-intensity for short periods. Supposed to be very good for you.

[DFW]

5. In my case, probably dying on the treadmill n/t

[GoCubsGo]

6. All of the stuff mentioned above, plus...

...shoveling snow, outdoor skating, tennis, basketball, touch football... Rollerblading, bicycling, jumping rope also come to mind.

I am taking this post as an unintentional hint to get off my ass and get to the gym for my Sunday swim...

[Denninmi]

8. Thanks. I'm trying to come up with ideas.

I'm hiring a trainer in April to take me out and do this, but trying to figure out just what. Of course, that's his job, but I want to have some good input and good ideas of what I would enjoy. Rough terrain/rough trail hiking for one, we have trails less than a mile away that would be perfect.