In the world of running and fitness training in general, one important aspect is often overlooked: comfort. It’s easy to fall into the mindset that the more you train, the better results you’ll get, but that’s not necessarily true. In fact, rest is a fundamental and integral part of any effective and successful training plan. First, it is important to understand that the body needs time to heal and repair itself.
During running training, especially when performing high-intensity sessions, micro-injuries occur in the muscles and stored glycogen is depleted. Adequate rest allows the body to repair these injuries and replenish energy levels, which is essential for muscle growth and overall performance. In addition, rest is essential to prevent injuries. When you train without giving your body enough time to recover, you increase your risk of overuse injuries. Injuries such as plantar fasciitis, stress fractures and muscle tears are common among runners who do not take proper breaks.
Rest helps tissues repair themselves, reduces inflammation, and helps strengthen the body in general, reducing the risk of injury. Rest also plays an important role in maintaining hormonal balance and mental health. Intense physical training can place a high degree of stress on the body and mind. Rest allows hormone levels to be restored, exhaustion and chronic stress avoided. Additionally, adequate rest improves sleep quality, which in turn has positive effects on recovery, mood, and cognitive performance.
It is important to mention that rest does not mean doing nothing. Active breaks, such as yoga, gentle stretching, or low-intensity activities, can be beneficial in maintaining mobility, flexibility, and circulation. These activities can help recover range of motion and keep the body active without putting too much stress on muscles and joints. For all of this, respect active and passive breaks and make them appear in your training plan.
