Hello my name is Eric and I’m an addict; not to alcohol or drugs, but to outdoor activity, especially running/hiking/climbing. Like many other endurance athletes I’ve traded in the many other vices of the world for physical activity, and while I’ve heard many people say that it’s a healthy hobby, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Over the past ten years I’ve been competing in endurance events, predominantly ultramarathons (races longer than a marathon), I have seen many a competitor come and go from the sport. Some succumb to injuries, some to the dreaded adrenal fatigue (overtraining) and others simply mentally burn out and move on. While there are many tips/tricks/strategies to keeping oneself fresh and healthy in such a demanding sport (cross training, strength/balance training, moderation), one thing that I find is key to preventing physical and mental burnout is a nice long rest period at the end of every season. I’m not talking about the week off you took after your 100mile race, the fact you changed over to cycling 200miles/week instead of running, and no a 50-60mile week is not real rest. I’m talking about limited cardiovascular activity, 20-30miles of easy running/hiking a week, no tempo runs, no long runs, no epic adventures, no double days, but 3-4weeks of rest and recovery for a body much in need.

Forcing myself to slow down, climbing and scrambling amongst the Boulder Flatirons.

As endurance athletes we pride ourselves on suffering, and how much pain we can endure, but eventually it becomes more than a mental game and takes a physical toll on your body. Over the past ten years I’ve watched many a friends and competitors push themselves at such a high intensity for so long, that their body eventually gives way with catastrophic consequences, leading to a long term forced hiatus from the sport. I think its time that we endurance athletes start thinking about doing what’s right for our body in the long haul. That’s why every Oct/Nov I take 3-4weeks of very limited cardiovascular activity and let the entire system reenergize and recover. We don’t build up all this stress overnight, so why do we think the body can fix it overnight?

I clean up alright (I think), blues dancing the night away.

I think the most difficult part of this extended rest is mentally committing to not running/hiking much, while still getting outside to enjoy the time you have. During these down times I personally love to play volleyball, do some dancing, maybe a little technical climbing, and catch up on house chores. Coming from a mountaineering background into the running world, what I’ve noticed is many people who are life time runners, don’t know anything else, thus don’t feel like themselves unless they are running. These are the people whom I would push the most to find some alternative hobbies to meld in, ones that don’t tax the cardiovascular system and the legs as much as running/hiking/cycling. There are so many great activities out there, why limit yourself to just one? I don’t have any scientific proof for my hypothesis, just a bunch of anecdotal observations. Whether its superstition or actually physiological effects doesn’t really matter, because after 10 years it’s kept me physically and mentally fresh. So give your body a break, even if you’re not sore, injured or fatigued, think long term, and get out and enjoy something a little different. Of course, this just one man’s opinion, so do whatever makes you happy in the long run.