"Not Running" vs. Recovery

3 Minute Read

What’s the whole point of recovery?

Time for the body to work through soreness?
Get the adaptation from training?
Because you have to?

All of those reasons are true. There are a lot of different ways you could think about recovery, but they all converge on the same general point - we recover, so that we can do more.

Prioritizing recovery is an investment. The better our recovery process, the more time we’ll be able to spend doing what we love - running.

But recovery isn’t just time spent “not running.” Recovery time needs to be truly restful, and if between training sessions our lives are filled with stress and anxiety, burnout will soon follow.

“Not Running” vs. Recovery

“Nothing is more restful after a run than spreadsheets and code.” ~ No one ever

The American Psychological Association emphasizes that chronic stress can lead to exhaustion and fatigue, undermining your training efforts. Instead of recovery, you might find yourself feeling restless, never quite being able to catch your breath. This slows recovery time.

If our recovery is slowed, our bodies may not be ready for the next training session. And what do most athletes do? Run anyways. Because burnout isn’t something you feel overnight. It happens over days, weeks, and even months. And when burnout finally sets in, it’s very, very difficult to recover from. So we should all take this seriously!

Prioritizing True Rest

So how do we actually recover between training sessions?

Well first, setting aside work & responsibilities that is going to have the greatest impact. Of course, the 100% removal of responsibility isn’t even possible, but nor is it necessary. We don’t need to completely remove outside work in order to recover - we just have to remove enough.

To do this effectively, consider the following strategies:

Time Blocking: Set specific blocks of time for work, training, & recovery. Work will generally consume all the time you give it - so we need to be deliberate in creating time to mentally rest & physically recover.
Time Management: Identify your most critical responsibilities and focus on those first. Plan your responsibilities and timeline the night before, so you can wake up, hit the ground running, and stay efficient.
Limit Distractions: Create a dedicated workspace and minimize interruptions during your working hours. This can increase productivity, enabling you to finish your tasks faster. When you create a more focused work environment, you're less likely to carry work stress into your recovery time.
Practice Saying No: Be selective about taking on additional commitments that could detract from your recovery time. It’s important to recognize that not every request or task is a priority.
Unplug After Work: Make a habit of disconnecting from work-related emails and messages during your recovery period. This can significantly reduce the cognitive load and help your mind reset.

Building a Routine that Embraces Recovery

A routine filled with running & proper recovery is a fulfilling lifestyle. If your ability to unwind & rest between training periods remain limited, you should still seek to incorporate mindfulness into your routine. Activities like meditation, yoga, or even a few minutes of deep-breathing exercises can serve as anchors, grounding you in the present and allowing your mind to unwind.

Wrap it Up

If what you’re doing outside of work and training isn’t genuinely recharging you, then you’re setting yourself up for burnout. Embrace the importance of rest, not just as a break from running, but as the way to ultimately run more, comfortably.

And with this mindset, we can build a routine we love and train consistently. Because with consistency, we build passion.