Many runners don't realize that resting is just as important as working out when it comes to improving running performance. Running and other training put stress on your muscles and tear them down. Rest rebuilds them stronger. Hard workouts without enough recovery time can put you in danger of overtraining. A condition generally referred to as Overtraining syndrome (OTS) occurs when prolonged, hard training produces negative physical and psychological effects. It's the lack of recovery that's the problem -- there is no specific level of training that will result in the ailment. If you are getting enough rest and recovery time, hard training does not mean overtraining. OTS does not develop from a single workout or a few days of heavy work. Instead, it's a cumulative imbalance in your training over weeks and months. OTS can affect both beginners and experienced runners if they exceed their training capacity and Prime Boosts Supplement neglect to schedule enough recovery time.

The problem can be difficult to diagnose -- some of the symptoms are similar to those that any runner experiences after bouts of hard training, such as soreness, fatigue and lack of enthusiasm for the next workout. It's important to remember that overtraining is an individual problem. Two runners can follow the same training schedule: One experiences the symptoms of overtraining, the other does not. Each runner's overall fitness is a factor. So are additional life stresses -- you are more likely to experience OTS if you are having a tense time at work or difficulties in a relationship. The same level of exertion that was fine for you a few months ago may be overtraining now. You may not be able to maintain the level of training today that you could when you were younger. On the next page, you'll read about why many runners are vulnerable to OTS and what factors can cause it.

Competitiveness -- Runners overtrain because they want to win races or at least show continual improvement in personal times. Habit -- Attached to a regular schedule, runners continue to train even when an injury or illness means they should scale back. Overcompensation -- A runner tries to make up for a poor performance in a race by increasing training. He or Prime Boosts she may need more rest, not more running. Denial -- Accustomed to pushing through pain, runners fail to recognize the early signs of OTS because they don't think they're susceptible to overtraining. Doctors are not sure of the exact causes of overtraining syndrome, but it's usually connected to steady, Prime Boosts Reviews hard training without enough time to recover. One of the most common mistakes that leads to OTS is a rapid increase in workout intensity or volume. If you start running farther or harder without adequate preparation, you become a Prime Boosts candidate for OTS.

The intense, short-term effort that runners put out during interval training (running shorter distances at faster times) is great for building strength and speed. Poor nutrition can also play a role in overtraining. Some runners, especially those who are conscious of their weight, tend to eat too little. You need to replenish the calories you burn during workouts. Finally, a lack of enough rest or sleep can be an important contributor to overtraining. You rise early to get in your morning run, you lead a busy day at work and you don't get to bed until late. Over time, you build up a sleep deficit that contributes to OTS even if you haven't increased your training intensity. Move on to the next page to learn the symptoms of overtraining. Running is part of your life, and the stresses you experience -- job challenges or family difficulties, for example -- can affect your training. At times when you're especially busy, you may have to scale back your training in order to avoid burning out.