Signs That You Have Recovered

Anne and Colin talk about the signs to look out for that will tell you that you have recovered from your last run and are ready to go again!

What do you need to recover from?

Whenever you do any form of exercise your body will be tired afterwards. It depends how intense that exercise is as to how tired you will feel. You will need to recover and in this time your body will repair and get stronger. This process makes you a better runner.

If you run the same routes or times every week your body will get used to this level of training. You will recover quickly but you won’t get any fitter.

Increasing your training needs more recovery time

When you do more training either by going further or running faster you should expect to feel tired. Your body needs recovery time to adapt and get stronger for the next run. Generally, if you have run faster you will need more recovery than if you have run further. Recovery is very individual. You might take two days to recover from a faster run and your friend might take three days. As a result, it’s important to be able to read the messages your body is sending you. Learn to recognise the signs that you have recovered.

Key signs that you have recovered

Ask yourself these three questions.

1. Do I have the energy to go out running.

2. Do I feel motivated to put on my running shoes?

3. Does my body feel in good form with no stiffness or aches and pains?

If you answer yes to these questions it is likely that you are recovered. Take note of how you feel part way through your run too. Ask yourself the questions again. If you still answer ‘yes’ then you are recovered. If you start to feel tired, achy or stiff or your motivation drops ease off, as your recovery isn’t quite complete.

Loss of running mojo

Feeling like you have lost your running mojo is a sure sign that your body is not recovered from the exercise you have been doing. Carrying on training when your body needs a rest, pushing on because you feel you should be challenging yourself or you need to stick to the training plan will lead to this downward spiral. Don’t be afraid to rest. You are not being lazy. Listen to your body’s messages as they are better than any piece of technology.

What is a recovery day for you?

Be a ‘feeling based’ runner and resist the push mentality that seems to drive us these days. Don’t be afraid to rest if you feel tired. It is important to recognise what a recovery day for you is. If you are a beginner then rest, a gentle walk, swim or a yoga session may help you recover. If you are an experienced runner, running some faster sessions in the week, then a gentle Chatty run is the perfect recovery day for you.

If you would like more information on the signs that you have recovered, including a table of warning signs, join our Facebook group here.