Ok, so as we all read this there is a picture of a blue Immunocal box on the right side of the screen, and I know it's probably become like ugly furniture- you know it's there, but you fail to see it after all this time. However, today and in a few blogs to follow, I will remind you to notice what is written on top of that pic, the line about recovery, because today starts a little segment I'm calling "Learn Something New!" I might be an uber-geek, I might be a self-sponsored, shameless athlete whose business supports her racing; but my ultimate mission is to encourage you in your season, to inspire & perhaps help you to tri. So, now, by reading this blog, you too can get faster & you too can participate in your A race in peak condition- first, though, you need some schooling.
Why? Because this weekend I spend 2 hrs with a team of triathletes, and 3 of them were smart enough to ask questions. I don't mean that like the rest are not smart people; I mean that sometimes we simply do not know that we do not know.
And what is it that most triathletes do not know? That the ROI of training is completely lost if we do not recover efficiently. Now, if you train 5 hrs a week, and you race 3 sprint distance tri's in your season, well, then recovery is not your problem- race strong! But, if you are at all serious in this wonderful world called endurance sport, and you are wondering how you will ever get better when you are already giving so much, then perhaps your recovery is where you are failing.
Like a monthly spending budget that doesn't take into account the 2 daily XTra Tall db shot coffees at Starbucks- at some point, you will overdraw from your bank.
The disastrous result is not just serious lack of reserves; in a multisport lifestyle, there are serious health & injury dues that will need to be paid. We believe over training is simply a result of being a badass who trains hard a lot of the time. Well that's not right, not at all, so lucky you I am here to help you learn some of the science of endurance training so you will be able to make recovery a part of your training program. Because in your everyday business and on race day, the best person is the person whose physical & mental self are 110% willing & ready.
After years of helping others be fit, of teaching nutrition and proper weight management, I have taken on the science of the immune system. Learning these details has changed my life, both my everyday existance and my training... how? Because there is a very big difference between thinking you are healthy, and really being healthy. That took me years of university, of seminars, of trail & error and asking questions. But I'm a nice person who loves her sport and her readers.. so here, very short yet sweet, eazy to understand, is Part I of Your Science Fix:
Why The Immune System = Recovery.
Actually, in the world of endurance training and stress, it plays a major role in metabolic regulation and therefore also in our available energy. What does that mean? A healthy immune system is responsible for making sure the muscular system gets repaired by our inflammatory and internal healing processes, that the heart and lungs respond to training as they should, and it prevents us from lacking the energy we need after training to fight off virus and bacteria.
As a triathlete, you must know that common over training symptoms are warning to an immunodeficiency: longer need for recovery, increased fatigue, sores & herpes, restless sleep patterns, an unusual appetite, aches & pains without reason, lingering injuries, mood yo-yo & depression, the common cold that won't go away.
It is not in our bodies best interest to be in pain. Training should hurt, in the moment, not 4 hours later. And certainly we all know that the common intake levels of caffine, sugar and advil are the opposite of healthy, not to mention give us very short term results.
Be aware of your body, program your recovery just as your do your training... the season has yet to start, poor planning now could easily prevent you from arriving in peak shape.
Recover, then Train Safe!