We’ve all been there. It’s the heart of a training season, or even a racing season. We’ve been working hard. We’ve been seeing results. But then we aren’t. Somehow we get “flat” or “burnt,” and we can’t keep up anymore.
“DAMNIT! How am I so out of shape,” we cry!
To answer that question, we need to step back a little and speak more precisely about the factors at play. There are many ways to get “out of shape,” how can we be more precise?
To break it down:
- “Fitness” is the accumulated strength/ability of the structures and functions that limit endurance. Fitness comes from training.
- “Freshness” is how well rested you are. Freshness comes from not training.
- “Performance” is the relationship between Fitness and Freshness. In order to maximize performance, you need to maximize BOTH fitness and freshness.
In that vein, performance declines come from three main areas:
1. Not training (lack of Fitness)
2. Not enough rest (lack of Freshness)
3. Not healthy (also often a lack of Freshness, but lots of possible factors)
Fitness is gained slowly. It is also lost slowly. If you are in the middle of a training/racing season and you lose performance, IT IS BECAUSE YOU’VE LOST FRESHNESS.
Want to get faster in the middle of your training season? Take 4-7 days of REST, and I’ll bet money you’ll spring back quickly.
REST TO BE THE BEST.
~Coach Howdy
