OVERCOMPENSATION EXPLAINED: REST AS A PART OF TRAINING
Rest plays an important role in becoming a better runner. It allows your body to recuperate and get stronger after active training in a process known as overcompensation.
The Relation Between Activity and Rest When we think about running we usually focus on the active training – the actual physical exertion. However, there are other components to a solid training program and they don’t involve putting in miles. You may be aware of the importance of stretching to keep your muscles loose and good running shoes for avoiding injury, but did you know that rest is also a vital part of a healthy regimen, too? In fact, there is a direct connection between the amount of rest you take and how well you perform during exercise. During each training session your body gets ‘damaged’. Rest, and especially sleep, allows your body time to repair this damage. This means that if you don’t take enough rest after training, your body cannot fully recuperate, leading to an ongoing weakening and deterioration of your body tissues.
Overcompensation and Recovery But there is another reason why rest is crucial for athletes. When your body has fully repaired itself from training it doesn't stop there. In order to prepare for stresses in the future, it will become a little stronger than before. This process is called overcompensation. Overcompensation is the physiological mechanism behind the training effect – it is how you get fitter and stronger.