Recovery Runs - Training - Runner's World

Hallam Blue

09/01/2012 at 14:53

Having just run the day after a long run, I was wondering what the benefits of a "recovery run" actually were. According to the link below, the term recovery run is a bit of a misnomer, but there are benefits for running the day after a more intense session. Any thoughts people?

http://www.active.com/running/Articles/A_fresh_perspective_on_recovery_runs.htm

Shoes smell like horse piss

09/01/2012 at 15:10

Interesting read. I was so glad to read the first paragraph as I know so many runners who fall for the 'flushing out lactic acid on a recovery run' myth.

Straycelt

09/01/2012 at 15:13

Always struggled with these although I find they get my head sorted out from the cba state if I've done a toughie and felt I needed a day off (Back in the day!) I advocate them as a way of keeping in the flow.

Grendel3

09/01/2012 at 16:01

Actually interesting - I was expecting an article that suggested a rest day rather than a recovery run -

I thought like many that the idea was to flush out the lactic acid but obviously not!!!

You have to ask then what is the point of a run the day after a marathon orf other similar effort that builds up the type of stiffness most marathon runners experience.

Shoes smell like horse piss

09/01/2012 at 20:29

Grendel3

There isn't any piont Unless you beleive the lacttae acid baloney. You've done so much muscle damage after a marathon, even stretching afyerwards is not advised.

Moonlight

09/01/2012 at 21:43

Not sure I understand the application of the theory, interesting though it is. How does a recovery run differentiate from an easy run - or can they be one and the same? Interesting that a run the day following a quality session could have benefits though, I've always insisted on a rest day until now...

Thanks for posting it up Dan!

Rennur

10/01/2012 at 09:16

From the study:

In this study, subjects exercised one leg once daily and the other leg twice every other day. The total amount of training was equal for both legs, but the leg that was trained twice every other day was forced to train in a pre-fatigued state in the afternoon (recovery) workouts, which occurred just hours after the morning workouts.

After several weeks of training in this split manner, the subjects engaged in an endurance test with both legs. The researchers found that the leg trained twice every other day increased its endurance 90 percent more than the other leg.

So, has anyone tried a training schedule that has runs twice a day on every other day? It almost sounds strange enough to work...

Edited: 10/01/2012 at 09:17

Mr V

10/01/2012 at 09:47

Moonlight - I think that's the key question really. I will always run easy the day after a hard session but I don't think I've ever consciously gone out and ran a recovery run. Perhaps the day after a half or the evening after a morning race but thats it. I had always thought that a recovery run was done simply to speed recovery wheras an easy run is done to enhance fitness. But in my mind you cannot really differentiate as even a very slow easy run will still aid fitness. All the article really seems to be saying is running more frequently improves fitness which is pretty damn obvious.

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