30 Seconds Is All You Need To Get Fit(ter)

Hitting a plateau in fitness can be frustrating -- you're still challenging yourself, yet you're not seeing the results that keep you motivated. But recent research shows that busting through that plateau is much easier than you think -- in fact, it could take as little as 30 seconds.

Studies from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark have found that 30-second sprints can have a big impact on your overall fitness, much more than a long workout at a continuous pace. Exercise physiologist Jens Bangsbo studied a number of runners and found that those who added six to 12 sprints to their regular runs had, over a span of just six weeks, improved their 10K run times by a minute. But this doesn't just go for running either -- sprints are classified as short, very intense bursts of physical endurance, whether you're running, swimming or biking.

So next time you're heading out for a run, add some sprints to your regular route -- if you run with a partner, race them to the playground. There's a catch, though: that 30 seconds of sprinting has to be really tough -- think burning-lungs-want-to-fall-over-and-die kind of tough. You've got to give it your all, but hey -- at least it's only for 30 seconds.