Recovery

Becoming more fit it a two-part process. The first part is training - breaking the body down with appropriate stresses. The second part is recovery. It is in the recovery process that your body rebuilds itself stronger. Your training gains come from the recovery from training, not from the training itself.

Recovery is affected by a number of factors, including:

• Training load - it is critical to balance training with recovery. Periodization is the process of planning recovery into training to ensure an athlete peaks at the right time.Sleep - it is during the deep phase of sleep when most physical repair happens. Optimal recovery requires a good, deep sleep on a nightly basis.

• Nutrition - every athletes body has an optimal fuel mix. Some do better on more protein, some on less. Recovery is best when athletes eat best for their metabolic type.

• Hydration - as water levels become inadequate the body selectively starts to shut down certain functions to ensure survival. This can lead to cramps, muscle and joint aches, and decreased performance. A good guide for water is to consume have your body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water.

• Stress levels - Emotional stress can seriously impede recovery. Proper stress management is not about avoiding stressful situations so much as it is about not letting negative energy accumulate in the body.

• Fitness level - the more fit an athlete is the faster their recovery will be. This is why diligent conditioning has become so important in the off-season.