It’s that time of year again. Spring is happening everywhere. And with spring comes better weather and the itch to get outside to ride or run long miles. It’s also race season. Time to plan your race and race your plan. A lot of people think going hard and training 7 days a week is a sure fire way to success. But that really isn’t the case. What is the least thought of aspect of training? You might be surprised (or not) to find that it is recovery.
Recovery is a cornerstone to any good training plan. Without it, athletes would just run their bodies to the ground. Injuries would be rampant. Focus would be lost. Motivation would be lacking. It might seem counterproductive to the beginner athlete, but proper recovery will actually improve your race times and get you to that goal. Let’s break down what recovery means and what happens during that time.
To begin with, recovery is not the same for every athlete. Someone training for a 5K will have a shorter recovery times than someone training for an Ironman. Every training session an athlete has results in the breaking down of muscle fibers. It is during recovery that these small muscle tears repair themselves and grow bigger and stronger. In addition, there are various types of recovery. Active recovery could be a 15-20 minute walk in the afternoon after your long run on Sunday morning. Long term recovery is built into your workout plan. For example, you might do a build for 4 weeks during Ironman training but then do a recovery week where your training load is significantly less. Passive recovery are days where you literally do nothing except maybe take a nap on the couch while golf is playing in the background.
Keep in mind that recovery is not just about sleeping. An example: you go for a tempo run for about 3-4 miles. You feel good, had a great workout. At the end of the workout, you should take some time to stretch and ease your body into the “rest and digest” mode or your parasympathetic systems. Doing some long, easy stretches and possibly lying in shivasana (or corpse pose, literally the best yoga pose ever) for 5 minutes will give your body the cues it needs to start to calm down.
An often overlooked aspect of recovery are your nutritional needs. Keep in mind that when you increase your training load, your nutritional needs also increase. Consuming the right foods after workouts helps speed the recovery process. Downing a dozen cookies and a glass of milk might seem like a good idea if you feel you are crashing after a long run or ride, but there are better options. Maybe step away from the Chips Ahoy and try some greek yogurt with granola and berries or throw on some chocolate chips for that cookie fix. Or use some BASE greens and make yourself a smoothie!
It is also imperative that you listen to your body. Not the “oh I don’t feel like running today” voice in your head that will derail you from your goals. Watch for signs of over training and needing an actual rest day. Some of the those sign are: feelings of fatigue beyond normal tiredness, lack of motivation or desire for your chosen sport, decrease in performance, elevated heart rate during the night, general aches and pains. When these symptoms hit, it’s time to take a rest day.
Remember that rest makes you stronger. It will help you maximize your fitness and athletic goals. It rejuvenates your cardiovascular and muscular systems to take on more load. It also prevents burnout. So take that nap. Try implementing a yin yoga class into your training weeks. Or maybe even take a leisurely bike ride with your kids or spouse. Your body, and your training, will thank you.
Join us over the next 12 weeks as we train together and have fun together and try to get ready for a half marathon on the weekend of December 5th and 6th. Many of us will be racing the Challenge Daytona Middle Distance Triathlon, so we will complete the 13.1 mile there. But many of us still need a carrot to chase and keep us motivated.
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Me personally, I need that event. And if I can focus on my running for the next 12 weeks, and run a half marathon in December, it will help me keep my weight down during the winter and holidays.
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Below is a video we made of our BASE Virtual Duathlon in August.
In order to stay motivated along the way, with your registration you will be able to join us for 3 virtual events leading up to the final half marathon. A 5k, a 10k, and a 10 miler. After we receive your registration we will begin to email you each Sunday and you will receive a 12 week Half Marathon prep training plan. We will send emails out to everyone each Sunday with a 2 week plan for beginner, intermediate and advanced.
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We will be doing our results through https://www.goneforarun.com/current-virtual-races so that you can post pictures, see a map of where everyone is located, and have some fun. Much better than the active results we had last time.
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To keep everyone motivated we have created a BASE Run Specific Facebook group. Once we receive your registration you will be invited to join this group for daily motivation and fun.
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As a win win, some of our partners have chipped in to provide extra motivation. As a participant, if you complete all 4 events, your name will go into a drawing. 1 person will win each of the below prizes.
The cost to participate in this 12 week program is only $59. You will receive the 12 week training program, the 4 virtual runs, the facebook group, a final t shirt and medal.
The first 5K will be held in conjunction with the Big Waves 5K -
Matt – you had Paul and I at “virtual” and “I need a reason to train”. We just both signed up. Excited to have something to focus on and to virtually be part of Base! Love you guys!
Ellen Bor
im thinking of doing the 10 mi at the Clay loop 15K in Clermont (NOV1). Is it ok to adjust our event dates for this program?
I rode in RAGBRAI ‘23 & ‘24. 2023 was SO hot & the longest. BASE Electrolyte Salts kept me going - And, saved another rider in severe distress. This year was the hilliest - so I changed my training in preparation, focusing on hills & more salts during the hill-rides. Able to train in upper 90s heat & above and recover faster because of BASE Electrolyte Salts. These increase my performance AND safety!!
I was looking for a hydration drink that tasted good. This is it. It is not too overpowering. It also has kept my muscle cramps down while training for my first ultra.
I Love All The Base Products, They Are Amazing and I Highly recommend all of Them, Especially the Base Recovery Activator.
I Will continue To Keep On Using Base Products.
I was training for my first triathon, a half Ironman, and mini calf cramps kept coming on. Bestie recommended this…worked great on a training ride and then used it during my event. It was hot/himid and as many were stopping for cramping, I was able to keep going.
Been using base salt for a couple years now. 2 licks every mile and a half and it helps tremendously with my running and electrolytes. I’m a big sweater and it’s been a blessing for me!
I've tried other brands of aminos before, took one sip, and couldn't force it down. The strong bitter taste was too much for me, and I'm an IPA and black coffee drinker. I also tried Base daily greens and really loved them (re-ordered a month's supply). They didn't taste like grass clippings. So I thought Base would've nailed the taste of the aminos. I was so wrong. I followed the instructions and it still tasted like I was drinking household cleaner. This misses the mark for me and hope, with some major tweaking, Base can solve the mystery of how to make aminos palatable.
I rode in RAGBRAI ‘23 & ‘24. 2023 was SO hot & the longest. BASE Electrolyte Salts kept me going - And, saved another rider in severe distress. This year was the hilliest - so I changed my training in preparation, focusing on hills & more salts during the hill-rides. Able to train in upper 90s heat & above and recover faster because of BASE Electrolyte Salts. These increase my performance AND safety!!
I was looking for a hydration drink that tasted good. This is it. It is not too overpowering. It also has kept my muscle cramps down while training for my first ultra.
Where do we submit our times?
Ellen, I will be there at Clay Loop! :-)
Ellen. Totally ok
Matt – you had Paul and I at “virtual” and “I need a reason to train”. We just both signed up. Excited to have something to focus on and to virtually be part of Base! Love you guys!
im thinking of doing the 10 mi at the Clay loop 15K in Clermont (NOV1). Is it ok to adjust our event dates for this program?
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