The Strivers' Curse

3 Minute Read

When asked what's the hardest part of training, most athletes rattle off a similar list: constant mileage increases, speed sessions, hill repeats, early mornings, long runs, etc.

Interestingly, there's one thing often left off the list. And yet, most athletes would agree, it is an actual, true challenge: rest days, and time off from running.

Rest days and recovery periods can feel like an unwelcome disruption to your running routine, that leaves us feeling restless, agitated, and sometimes anxious. 

Athletes and the Strivers' Curse

The “strivers’ curse” is a psychological principle explaining that high achievers who are driven by ambition and work ethic may struggle with rest, as it can trigger feelings of restlessness and disappointment.

Athletes LOVE to be high achievers. And no, that does not mean we’re all ripping 5 minute miles - all athletes are high achievers because we willingly choose to do something hard. And when compared with the average alternative of doing absolutely nothing, if you run, this concept applies to you.

For athletes, the strivers' curse manifests in difficulty accepting rest days, tapering periods, and prolonged time away from running. The ambition that fuels us to push harder can also make us feel restless when we’re not actively training. Rest days, then, become a mental battle.

The Fix

To overcome the strivers’ curse, we need to reframe our mindset.

Instead of viewing time off as a nuisance and disruption to your running routine, we should be thinking of rest as a challenge - just like anything else in our training. They're a part of the training plan, just like long runs, speedwork, etc. Rest days are something to practice, something to get good at, something to take seriously, and something that can make your running so much better.

This mindset is applicable to both rest days, as well as prolonged rest periods (e.g. injury). Time off from running is a challenge, but where there is challenge, there is something to train for, and improve. And for ambitious athletes, learning to love (or just be comfortable with) rest is a valuable skill, allowing us to build a more sustainable passion.

The Strategy

Relaxation Techniques: Use techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or gentle stretching to help your body and mind unwind. Do this on rest days, in place of your traditional running block. You'll promote recovery, and fill the time gap.

Walk it Out: Taking a “structured” walk is a great rest day activity. It helps establish the mentality that this is part of the training plan, and can be healing (light muscle activation, clearing of lactate buildup, etc.). Just remember to keep it light, of course.

Prioritize Sleep: Ensure you get quality sleep to allow your body to repair and rejuvenate. Aim for consistent, restful sleep patterns to support overall recovery.

Make it Routine: Part of the reason rest days are difficult, is because it is a disruption in an athlete’s routine. And so, the solution is to establish a routine with your rest days/periods. Instead of running will you walk? Stretch? Do some deep breathing? We can’t just remove running from our day - we have to be deliberate to build a routine we love.

Wrap it Up

The strivers' curse is an important phenomenon to be aware of. If rest periods make you restless (and kind of uncomfortable), it’s time for a mindset shift.

Take rest seriously, as though it’s just another thing to practice in your training - because it is! With this mindset we can build a routine we love, and train consistently. Because with consistency, we'll fuel our passion.