Recovery

Recovery is the Most Important Part of training

Recovery is non-negotiable in order to be successful in your training and it plays a big role in your results. If you don’t take a break, your body will end up doing it for you through injury or burnout.

There is a difference between true recovery and simply resting. Recovery involves what we do post-run. It can be anything from stretching and mobility work to applying heat or ice to our joints, or even what we consume after the run. All of these affect how we repair our bodies after runs and how we progress in our training.

On the other hand, rest is giving your body a break. Whether that’s decreased activity (or active rest) or simply doing nothing. It’s important to listen to your body and do what works best for you. When you overwork your body, it is more susceptible to injury. Resting will help you avoid this. If you are a person who has the mentality of “no days off,” active recovery is for you. Active recovery involves performing low-intensity exercise after a strenuous workout. Examples include walking, yoga and swimming.

Flexibility and Mobility

Keeping your muscles and joints loose is key to performing well in your runs. Start with dynamic moves to warm up your muscles pre-run and then do some static stretching post-run. On days off from running, try cross training with a low-impact, multipurpose recovery session like pilates or yoga. 

Massage Therapy

If your muscles are sore or tight, it’s crucial to make sure they heal during your recovery days. USATF-certified running coach Jason Fitzgerald recommends scheduling a massage after a hard run. Post-run massages help stimulate your circulatory system, improve blood flow to your muscles and release waste products at the cellular level in your body. Just be sure to take it easy for 24 hours after the massage so you don’t ruin the recovery process.

Learn more about recovery here: https://www.fleetfeet.com/blog/the-lost-art-of-recovery?srsltid=AfmBOorLAQLilcN59UHdDdsoSn1ODV-S93kAou2i7frrRAHmi4l8hYNL