recovery runs
Recovery is an essential part of training! Include rest days in your plan as well as recovery miles. These recovery miles help the body to adapt to the stress of training and offer a chance to focus on things that may get missed when you're tired, like form and technique.
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Make sure you can hold a conversation on these runs. That's speaking in full sentences, not the odd 'yes' or 'no'. If you run by heart rate, these runs should be in Zone 1. That's 60%-70% of your maximum heart rate.
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These runs shouldn't be too long! Aim to run for 30 - 45 minutes.
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Quick Tips:
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- Aim for 30-45 minutes.
- Keep your heart rate low, ideally Zone 1.
- These runs should feel comfortable.
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recovery ideas
How to keep the heart rate low and the pace slow
Here are some ideas to help you slow down and make sure the run is actually aiding recovery:
New Routes:
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Looking at directions and admiring the view naturally slows you down. Strava has a new feature which allows you to find nearby routes that are popular with other runners, or you can follow a footpath and see where it takes you. Be safe - tell somebody and take a phone!
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Hit the Trails:
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Running on trails is naturally slower. You focus more on the terrain and the ground is undulating. Trails are great to take some chilled time, enjoy your surroundings and keep that heart rate low.
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Podcasts:
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Fast-paced, bass-heavy music is not going to slow you down...but an interesting Podcast might. There's plenty of running-related content out there if that takes your fancy, so focus on the content instead of your pace! You can listen to my podcast here.
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Group Runs:
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Recovery runs offer an opportunity to run as a group and have a catch up. If you're chatting you will automatically be running at a comfortable, conversational pace.