physical longevity

Last newsletter we talked about the mental aspect to athletic longevity. Today will we tackle the physical side of it.

The comparable physical syndrome to mental burnout is overtraining, though they are intertwined.

Overtraining is the result of too much stress (sport specific alone or in combination with other life stressors) without enough recovery.

This looks like excessive overload with inadequate rest over an extended period of time resulting in exhaustion of the body.

The physical symptoms of overtraining include extended decrease in performance, chronic fatigue, frequent injuries/tweaks, etc.

Here are some ways that you can combat and/or recover from overtraining:

-depending on the extent of fatigue, you can dial back the volume, intensity and frequency of training

-take a few days or weeks off from climbing and training. In more severe cases, taking a few months away.

-prioritize recovery: catching up on sleep, drinking plenty of water, and eating well

-managing stress in other parts of your life (work, relationships, etc.)

Avoiding overtraining or recovering from it as soon as possible is key to a long athletic career.

Though it can be tempting to climb and train as much as you possibly can, it's more important to train in a way that is realistic for your body and your life.

When planning a training period, keep all of these things in mind.