How to Tell if You’re Overtraining

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If your running has hit a plateau, your legs feel like lead and you’re tired and cranky most of the time, you could be suffering from overtraining. Overtraining plagues elite and recreational runners alike, as the primary cause stems from inadequate rest. Here’s how to tell if you need to give your body a break.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Step1

Have your performances dropped?

Step2

Do you have trouble sleeping or are you not getting enough sleep?

Step3

Are you getting sick or experiencing headaches more often than usual?

Step4

Do you experience depression, anxiety or feel irritable most of the time, and has that feeling lasted longer than a day or two?

Step5

Do your muscles get sore more easily?

Step6

Does your usual tempo run feel harder than usual?

Tips & Warnings

If you don’t feel improvements after a couple of weeks of rest, visit your doctor or a sports medicine physician.
If you answered yes to a few of these questions, you might want to take a couple of days off. If you answered yes to more than half, you may want to scale back your mileage for a week or two.