Don’t Burn Out: Avoid Overtraining
The problem isn’t a matter of too much training, but of too little rest.
Early signs of overtraining include loss of energy and frequent fatigue. A runner’s legs also might feel heavy and tired, even after a day off. Anxiety and irritability are other indicators. And at the extreme – but not uncommon – end, a runner who blasts through all the warning signals may wind up sick or even depressed.
When athletes start to see their performance slide, they often panic and train more. They do exactly what they should not do.
Before you go too far, learn how to recognise – and avoid – the most common overtraining pitfalls:
- You want to amp up mileage too soon after an injury.
- You decide to enter a race that’s just a few short weeks away and are now trying to train in a condensed time frame.
- You’ve set a lofty goal but haven’t adjusted your personal life to accommodate your additional training time.
- You want to keep up with hard-core runner friends.
- You decide to enter a race that’s just a few short weeks away and are now trying to train in a condensed time frame.
- You’re living in the past.
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