This post training structure follows on from last week and the concept of training load, TSS – training stress score. Training load is important so that no week is out of balance – too much and you may well be overtraining, too little and you may well be under your potential. However, as important as this loading may be, a common mistake is to consider it in isolation. Instead, for optimal results it should always be viewed in partnership with another 2 elements that nourish your body and support it in adaptation and development. These are nutrition/hydration and sleep.Â
I’ve spoken to a couple of you about the analogy of a fire. Maybe this is front of mind for me as we are heated with a wood burner which has been a big feature at the moment with electricity prices and the freezing weather. Like you, for a fire to flourish it needs 3 elements. For a fire these are – heat, fuel and oxygen. With the proverbial 3 legged stool, take one of these elements away and the principal fails. You could put an oxygen mask on a log/stick but you are not going to have fire without heat. No oxygen – there is no fire. No fuel and there is nothing to burn.
Lets map this back to you and your training – adding more heat aka training stimulus wont be successful without enough fuel – you get burnout. Heat and fuel but no refreshing oxygen or sleep and you will plateau, smouldering but ultimately ineffective. More heat (training) which is often the go-to when folks feel a plateau wont help, but rest may well see you burst into life.
So although we often gravitate towards looking at the “stimulus” or the “heat” of training loading also keep in mind the other 2 elements. This is especially during the winter months and around party season, keep a good eye on how you are nourishing yourself with quality and sufficient recovery in sleep and also fuelling yourself to give you both the energy but also the vitality and hydration to come into the new year in a positive place.
As always love your feedback and reflections on how you maintain or have learned personal lessons on keeping the 3 legs of the stool the right length or the fire burning healthily.