Listen To Your Body
As a runner, your body is your best friend. It is always there, ready to help you, no matter what you might think of it or how you might be treating it. But like with any friendship, communication is the key.
And communication is a two-way street. To be a good runner, you need to tell your body what to do. But it’s equally important to let your body tell you what to do. And for that to happen, you must learn how to listen to your body.
This is one lesson that seasoned runners can forget quite easily in their pursuit of a better time or a winning race. So always remember that it’s faster in the long run to achieve your goals by listening to your body instead of ignoring it.
“Your body is always trying to tell you where you are. Beware when you become tired and listless, when you lose interest in workouts and approach them as a chore rather than a pleasure.” -Dr. George Sheehan
Signs Of Over-Training
We always seem to want to run faster or better or farther. So, in our enthusiasm, it sometimes happens that we push things a little too far and over-do it. When that happens once or twice, there’s nothing to worry about.
But when we make a habit of pushing ourselves past a certain point, then it’s time to stop and ask a question: Do we really know better than our body does?
Be on the lookout for the following signs of persistent over-training:
- Colds or chronic fatigue
- Lack of interest in training
- Cold clammy sweats during running
- Pain in joints, muscles, or tendons
- High morning pulse
If you notice one or more of these signs on a regular basis, then stop and try to figure out what your body is telling you. Take the time to rest, adjust your program, or do whatever it takes to bring your body signals back to normal.
Morning Pulse
Your morning pulse can be one of the most effective indicators of how your body is reacting to your training. (There are also methods to use the pulse during your training, but that is more a training technique.)
The pulse is best measured in the morning upon awakening. Lie in bed and take your pulse before you get up, then note it in your running log (another good reason to keep a log!).
It takes several months of training to establish your baseline pulse, because as your fitness improves, your pulse rate keeps dropping. But at some point, usually after four months or so, it will hit a plateau and remain fairly constant.
If your morning pulse is ten or more beats higher than normal, it could be a sign that you have not yet recovered from your previous runs or races. You should let the pulse guide you, and take a day or two off until your pulse returns to normal.
You can find other running tips under the Body Care category at right.
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