Quick Cardio Workouts to Get In Shape For Valentine's Day

All year round, it’s important to take care of your body. A big part of that is getting in the suggested amount of cardio, roughly 150 minutes a week at a moderate-intensity effort. Investing in your heart health with cardio workouts won’t just pay off aesthetically, but it can also boost your mood, according to the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion—a bonus that everyone could use, whether or not they’re attached this Valentine’s Day.

“The benefits of cardio are endless,” says Gregory Nieratka, head endurance coach at Solace New York. “If you want to age more slowly and have a healthy heart, incorporate some quick cardio workouts into your routine. It’ll elevate your heart rate, which makes your heart work harder, which makes it stronger.”

3 High-Power Quick Cardio Workouts

Here, Nieratka offers us three different cardio workouts perfect to get your heart pumping. Remember: if you feel like you’re going too hard, it’s OK to take a step back. Breathe. Then get back into the swing of things. Your body, heart, and mind will thank you.

1. For the love of running

Nieratka says: “These runs are to be done at ‘hair on fire’ pace. These will get you breathing heavily and get you out of your comfort zone. That is where the magic happens.”

The Workout

8 × 200-meter sprint

Rest: 90 seconds between each interval

2. Fuel your fire

Nieratka says: “There’s nothing like a few classic movements to absolutely get your heart rate up. Cycle through all the below movements right after the other. If you finish before the minute expires, you’ve earned yourself some rest.”

The Workout

10 minutes, EMOM (every minute on the minute):

5 push-ups

10 sit-ups

15 air squats

3. Cardio crush

Nieratka says: “In total, this workout covers one mile and gives you a healthy dose of bodyweight work. Brace yourself for that second 400-meter run. You will have some Gumby legs after those 50 air squats.”

The Workout

Run 400 meters

50 air squats

Run 400 meters

50 push-ups

Run 400 meters

50 sit-ups

Run 400 meters

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Emily Abbate

Emily Abbate is a writer and editor who's written for Self, Shape, GQ, and Runner's World (among others). As a certified personal trainer and running coach, she's often found tackling long runs, lifting heavy things, and diving into loaded bloody Marys that, to some people, might be considered an entire meal.