Recovery days are also vital for an athlete's psychological well-being. Continuous training can often weaken the mind of even the strongest sports competitor. Most of us aren't full-time athletes so we don't have the luxury of having our body and mind keen on just achieving one end goal. As a recreational athlete, rest days give us time to maintain a better balance between home, work and fitness goals. Truly, it can seem as though there is not enough time in a day or week to meet all of our expectations and responsibilities. Allowing for a day where no workout must happen can actually improve our piece of mind.
At the end of the day, recovery days DO have a place in your workout program. You ultimately make the decision with regards to how much or how little you wish to accomplish on those days. Remember, with consistent training you always run the risk of overtraining and injury, so definitely be mindful of that.
Don't let recovery days make you feel guilty. Think about all the time and energy you spend pushing yourself during your workouts. A little break here and there is much deserved and gives you an opportunity to focus on other areas in your life.
More: Recovery Tips for Ironman Triathletes
Search for your next triathlon.
