Tip #16: The Ultimate Recovery Run

Published on 11:59 pm by in Triathlon

2

picture-100These little piggies…never got up!

As I mentioned in an earlier tip, run recovery needs to be one of your highest priorities. Our sport is an endorphin-filled journey of fun…until something goes wrong. And as the veteran runners/readers will tell you, it’s only a matter of time until something happens to you (sorry!). Left to their own devices, however, the running-addicted runner usually comes up with the most suspect of recovery protocols…the recovery run.

Only in the world of running would this make sense…if you are tired / beat up / run down from all that…running, there can be only one solution: a short, easy run. Clearly, the majority of us runners are seriously lacking creativity here, so Coach P is going to have to crack the whip…

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A RECOVERY RUN.

Period. Think about it from the perspective of your body for a second. Your legs and back and feet have conspired with your heart and constitution to send a message to your brain that you need a break. Your brain gets that info and settles on this “recovery run” strategy. Sounds good to the brain but man aren’t your calves surprised to find they are running again! Didn’t your brain get the memo???

Listening To Your Body
My point here is that while your brain knows the nuances of “types” of runs, your body only really speaks in very short sentences. In this case: ON (Running) or OFF (Not Running). In order to really demonstrate that you get what your body is saying, you need to physically not run.

That’s right…Take a real, bonafide day off. Sleep in. Do a project around the house. Stay late at work (or go in early). Find a new hobby. I care about you, but I don’t really care about your days off…make them off.

If You Love Your Running…Set It Free
Believe it or not, you are probably addicted to running. On some level. And if not running then perhaps to the concept of an active lifestyle.  Trying to force something that isn’t working to work…never works. Running is no different. A lot of really unique things have to intersect for you to have a great run session…and sometimes the easiest way to get things to sync up is to stand down for a bit.

You Will Go Crazy…
Most people do on a day off. But since you know you can’t run today, then you have to fill that time. This leads to the importance of planning your day off. Most of us obsess over gear, food, route, etc, for our workouts….but then have zero planned for our down time.

Make this time off easier for you by actually planning other activities. Whether it’s chilling with the kids, doing chores, or heading out for some errands is up to you. But if you don’t plan for it, it won’t happen.

Conclusion
At the end of the day, the best type of recovery run is…not running. Do your mind and body a favor and take the day off. A tiny, well-placed break now can really help you over the long haul!

What do you do on your days off to stay busy?

  • macona

    Good Stuff. I’m one of those easy recovery run people. I’ve even been known to go for a recovery run in the afternoon after a morning workout or race. Most of the year it is fine, but it alwasy comes to bite me at some point and I end up having to take a few days or more of downtime, that probably could have been prevented.

    I’m working on it this year, and have already taking off significantly more days from running in the last few months than I did all of last year.

  • Joe Ruiz

    AMEN!

    It is way easy to think that “more” is better all of time even though it is clear it isn’t. I am sure, like me, others feel a bit “dirty” when we miss a day from our plan but you couldn’t be more right. I have done a few real unscheduled day’s off and it has been like a breath of fresh air.