How much did you pay attention to your sleep when you were running Mike? It is talked about a lot these days as an important part of training recovery.
Owen
Running coach answer: How much did you pay attention to your sleep when you were running Mike?
Mike Gratton:
Yes, there is a lot of interest around sleep – also rest between runs.
I am probably not a good example as I am a poor sleeper, often going to bed quite late after eating and sometimes after a drink of alcohol. I did have the ability to rest plenty and sometimes take a nap between training sessions, which could be three sessions per day (two runs and one weights session).
I don’t think that it did my running too much harm, despite a little reputation for burning the candle at both ends, most of the time, I was in a work-run-eat-sleep routine to a level that suited me. Would I have run 2.08 instead of 2.09, with more sleep and a quieter lifestyle, who knows?
I think the amount of rest and relaxation needed is probably personal and can be lifestyle-imposed. There are plenty of fixes recommended to help you make the most of your sleep; not taking phones or laptops into the bedroom, not drinking alcohol etc.
Find what works for you. If you have a very stressful life from work, travel, training, and lifestyle, and you are feeling tired much of the time, then yes, you do need to fix that before your health suffers. Otherwise, I think if you are in a sensible life-balanced routine and your health isn’t suffering, you are probably fine, then it is possibly not something to worry unduly about.
Discover our latest blog on heart rate variability, a valuable tool for gauging whether you’re feeling under the weather or experiencing excessive stress. Dive into the details here.
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