So, what’s all this importance of data stuff?
Well – probably the biggest component of any training regime is – rest. Our bodies rebuild, get stronger and allow for greater future stresses in the rest periods. Skip a rest day and you probably won’t be any worse for it, skip two or more and you’re on your way to overtraining, reduced or negative fitness direction and possibly, injury.
So how do you spot periods of overtraining?
Personally I have come to rely on data from training packages and various ‘gadgets’ including heart rate and blood pressure monitors.
By monitoring daily activity and building a database of this information, variance in training performance can be monitored and adjusted accordingly.
Often a fatigued mind and body leads to a lack of training motivation suggesting a possible period of overtraining. By analysing data from previous days and weeks a diagnosis to current fatigue, sleepless nights and a plateau in training gains can be sought.
If you’re looking to compete in 2015, in any activity and you’re not maintaining a training database of some kind, maybe this is the time to start.
In summary, it’s time to train smart.
Paul
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