Don’t fall into the trap of overtraining
The desire to reach peak physical condition and be at their very best for competition is something that drives athletes to push themselves to the limit in training. In a world where fractions of seconds or inches can make the difference between glory and despair, it is no wonder that athletes put themselves through very challenging routines day after day. However, this determination to improve performance can have its negative side as we all know that doing too much training can in fact have the opposite of the desired effect. Pushing too hard in training can lead to fatigue, burn-out and injury, while it is also a significant issue for young athletes as they have the added factor of being more susceptible to injury during periods of growth. However, while it is accepted that over-training can lead to such problems, the big question trying to identify when training becomes too much.
Michael Matthews sums up the dilemma when he states:
Overtraining is an insidious trap because it goes against our natural instincts. In most endeavours in life, you can expect to receive rewards in proportion to what you give in time and effort. Work more and harder in your career, and you’ll usually grow your business or wind up getting promotions and raises
but he warns that when it comes to exercise, it is not so straightforward. The temptation is there for athletes to do too much, particularly when the big event is on the horizon, and research suggests that over 60 per cent of serious athletes will push themselves too hard at some stage during their career and fall into the trap of doing too much.
According to the article How to know if you’re overtraining the notion of over-training can be described as: The accumulation of symptoms caused by the repeated failure to recover properly after training sessions, or indeed cycles of training. There are various symptoms which, viewed in isolation, might not necessarily indicate overtraining. But if you have a selection of the following indicators, it might be time to slow down
Be aware of the symptoms
The next step is understand these symptoms and there are a number that athletes and coaches should be aware of in order that they can take appropriate steps should they become obvious. Here are some of the symptoms you should look out which may suggest that instead of pushing yourself harder, you need to ease off a little as outlined in How to know if you’re overtraining.
Elevated heart rate: Although there are of course other explanations for this particular symptom, make a note of your heart rate over a sustained period and see if you can identify any patterns that relate to blocks of training. This will help you establish whether overtraining is the main problem or perhaps some other medical issue.
Moodiness: Overtraining can affect the body’s hormone production and if you don’t have enough happy hormones, a grumpy, bad-tempered, stressed runner may well begin to emerge.
Loss of libido: Although there are also other potential explanations for this, overtraining could be the reason.
Poor performance: Even though you might feel as if training is going well, if your times start to nosedive or sessions suddenly feel too hard, you could be suffering from training overkill.
Loss of motivation: You may start to lose interest in training or you may succumb to a lack of competitive drive.
Loss of appetite: You need to eat well when you train hard and your body needs the right kind of nutrition but if you suddenly don’t fancy eating much at all, start exploring why.
Lack of sleep: Despite the fact that you feel exhausted, overtraining affects the body’s natural bio-rhythms, so sleep patterns can be disrupted.
Factors leading to overtraining
Rather than waiting until these symptoms present themselves, it is also advisable to be aware of the types of activities that can lead to overtraining and its related problems. Jeff Gaudette in <title=”Overtraining: Why It Happens, How to Spot It and How to Dig yourself out” href=”http://running.competitor.com/2014/01/training/overtraining-why-it-happens-how-to-spot-it-how-to-dig-yourself-out_39479/2″>Overtraining: Why It Happens, How To Spot It & How To Dig Yourself Out highlights some situations that make runners more vulnerable to overtraining.
Reaching too far in one training cycle
Perhaps the most common cause of overtraining is by athletes who attempt to break their personal bests by too much in one training segment. It’s important that every runner approach improving on a step-by-step basis.
Not taking a break between training segments
Another common cause of overtraining is not giving your body enough rest between training cycles. They move too quickly to the next segment carry that fatigue with them and drastically increase the chance of overtraining.
Too many intense speed workouts
Performing too many speed workouts in one training cycle has been proven to increase the risk of overtraining symptoms.
As with all aspects of sport, it is vital to get the balance right and this is very important when it comes to training. Make sure you plan a structured regime and stick to it. Don’t be tempted to push yourself to a step that is unnecessary as it will ultimately do more harm than good.
How much athletic training is too much?
The American Academy of Paediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness remind us that proper rest and breaks are vital to athletes getting the most out of training.
The American Academy of Paediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness recommends limiting 1 sporting activity to a maximum of 5 days per week with at least 1 day off from any organized physical activity.In addition, athletes should have at least 2 to 3 months off per year from their particular sport during which they can let injuries heal, refresh the mind, and work on strength, conditioning, and proprioception in hopes of reducing injury risk. In addition to overuse injuries, if the body is not given sufficient time to regenerate and refresh, the youth may be at risk of burnout.
References
How to know if you’re overtraining by www.worldrunning.com
8 Signs of Overtraining That Most People Don’t Know By Michael Matthews
Overuse Injuries, Overtraining, and Burnout in Child and Adolescent Athletes by Joel S. Brenner
Overtraining: Why It Happens, How To Spot It & How To Dig Yourself Out by Jeff Gaudette
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