I’ve taken most of the week the 2nd and 3rd weeks of May off from running.
Not done out of necessity, more so because I have a “niggle” in my left calf and do not want to risk it become a full blown injury. It feels almost like a really bad knot, especially during/after rolling it out.
And no, I’m not worries about losing fitness, endurance, or speed. Not troubled at all.There are a couple reasons for this. 1st is that I know and fully realize that taking a few weeks with reduced training is always more preferable than being injured and taking 3 months completely off. 2nd is that we as athletes actually become stronger when we do not train, or reduce our training load.
Consider this; you do not become stronger while training. You become stronger while not training.
After a hard run or a good weight lifting session, you end the workout weaker than when you started. But wait a week and your body is now adapted to that previous training stimuli. Do it enough and you gradually increase your level of adaptation. This is the process of super-compensation.
I think this ability is something many runners and athletes in general lack, the ability to reduce training load before a niggle becomes an injury. This ability has two parts, first being able to be mindful and realize there is a potential issue, second is being able to let go of one’s ego and reduce or cut training down to allow for healing.