After-competition rest period: how slow do you go?
I ran a half-marathon last October, and I think I slept the whole day afterward, and didn't run for at least three weeks following the race. You deserve it, I told myself. You need to rest, recover.
Then came the Hood-to-Coast, and my far superior conditioning. Remember how I thought I could run six miles every 12 hours, forever? Instead I napped for a half-hour that day, and didn't run again... until Tuesday. And I was running downtown to meet another mama and teammate in the Hood-to-Coast, who was herself running at lunch.
Rest periods: they just don't make 'em like they used to! Our team's brief recovery time made me revisit some truths I've always held dear, like the two-week recovery period after a major competition. I'm not the only one who believes in that truth; several physiologists used two weeks as their hypothesis in a study of Ironman athletes, and found much to their surprise that only three days was needed for a complete physiological recovery.
So the three days Olivia and I took to bounce back was plenty ... and there goes my justification for missing the run on Friday. Drat.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-06-2006 @ 3:53PM
meshcount said...
I used to take time off between runs, but now that I'm enjoying my long runs and physical activities more, I'll rest a day or two after a 13 mile run and in the meantime go paddling to keep my cardio up while letting my legs take a break. I think before, I saw running as a chore, but now that my body is better conditioned, I'm eager to be out and about.
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9-07-2006 @ 1:22PM
Stephanie said...
Thanks for this article. I started kickboxing earlier this week and my muscles are sore and I was tempted to talk myself out of going again tonight but I think it might be just the thing I need.
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