Embrace recovery weeks

Because we all need a little rest

Can I let you guys in on a little secret? I love recovery days. Can’t get enough of ‘em. Give me a well-timed recovery day in the middle of a stressful training cycle, and I’ll come out blazing the next time I head out the door for a run. 

The only thing I like better than a recovery day is a recovery week. Once a month, and sometimes more often, my mileage is cut 40-60 percent while the intensity level lowers to a simmer. That means fewer running days and more time to do literally anything else. 

The reason I love recovery weeks so much is that my body needs them after a grueling 3-week cycle of monster workouts, long runs, and heavy mileage buildup. The specific training details may change from cycle to cycle, but the basic formula remains consistent: Stress + Rest = Growth. 

That’s how this stuff works. Strip away all the statistical noise, fancy gadgets, and  cutting edge methods, and it’s really not that complicated. Unfortunately, too many runners avoid rest at all costs. Rest is for the weak. Rise ‘n grind, etc. etc. 

I’m not judging, by the way. That was my attitude when I started getting serious about running. In my mind, I needed to run every day, or nearly every day, if I was going to make any progress. 

While one can acknowledge the commitment, the results left a lot to be desired. Burn out, stagnation, and overuse injuries are nobody’s idea of a good time. Embracing rest required a complete mental overhaul, starting with the reason why it’s so important in the first place.