Supertraining

I would think the answer to this is relatively simple. Your coach is 
probably adhering to the accepted principle that the higher the load, 
ie, the lower the number of maximum repetitions in a set (RM), the 
greater the rest period. Ths is consitent with your "max strength 
cycle". This is often in the range 2-5 minutes.

Over 2 minutes rest may be less than ideal for hypertrophy, but 
depends on the RM, and your coach knows you best of course.

Paul Rogers
Gympie, Australia

--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Susan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> My name is Susan, I'm 43 years old, and this week is my 12th week 
in a gym.
> Ever. I'm a marathon kayaker and in order to get ready for races 
I've always
> just gone out and paddled. I never set foot in a gym in my entire 
life until
> 12 weeks ago. Now I have a kayak coach who has me on a 
periodization weight
> training training program and I've been totally surprised at how 
much I'm
> enjoying it. Please keep in mind that I don't totally understand
> "periodization," I just follow her directions and I trust her 
implicitly and
> do exactly what she says. The results are already paying off, I've 
already
> won two races (last week and the week before) and I credit the extra
> strength I've gained from weight training for my wins.
> 
> I'm now in the "max strength" cycle of periodization. (I started 
with
> "anatomical adaptation" then moved to "hypertrophy" and now am 
in "max
> strength.") The ultimate goal is for me to complete a 70 mile race 
on
> Memorial Day.
> 
> My "rest interval" between sets is a full 2 1/2 minutes (it was 2 
1/2
> minutes for hypertrophy too, but 30 seconds to 1 minute during 
anatomical
> adaptation). I got talking to one of the personal trainers at the 
gym I go
> to and he said I didn't need to wait that long between sets, and he 
was very
> insistent about it. I'm not about to change anything that my coach 
has me
> doing, I totally believe in her, and the results are already 
showing, but it
> got me thinking about rest intervals and their meaning.
> 
> My question is: Can you help me understand the "rest interval" 
between sets,
> and what the different lengths of time mean? What does 2 1/2 
minutes between
> sets mean versus 1 minute between sets? I do not understand the 
mechanics of
> the rest interval and what a longer versus shorter rest interval 
does for
> the body. Any help in understanding rest intervals is appreciated!
> 
> Thank you,
> Susan Williams 
> Just west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
> http://pennkayaker.com/wiki/members/members.asp?
db=MemberPages&o=Lady%20Justice
>