Rest is training too
This week we're giving you an official permission slip to do less or to mix things up.
If going out for a long ride or run sounds fun and fits easily into your days, then go for it. However, if another long Z2 trainer session adds stress, clashes with family time, or feels like the last thing you want to do, consider shortening it or skipping it altogether. You don't need to feel any guilt about resting.
Training adaptations do not disappear because you back off for a few days. Well-timed rest often allows those adaptations to fully take hold.
Longevity comes from knowing when to back off
The athletes still racing strongly in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond learned when to push and when to ease off. This is especially true around holidays and life-heavy periods.
Sustainability and consistency are the real factors of success in long sporting careers. With this mindset, short-term restraint can protect long-term progress.
Happiness is a performance enhancer
Enjoying the process matters. I have a friend who explained to me that the mindset we have when training can amplify the responses to the training stimulus. It's hard to be positive and focused without occasionally giving ourselves some grace and opportunities to rest and ease off the pressure.
If more time with friends and family, later mornings, or skipping a session helps you stay connected to why you train, that can be the right choice. Loving the sport is one of the strongest predictors of long-term consistency and performance.
Focus on the big picture