Episode 24: The Science of Overtraining

Have you ever felt like your running is getting worse, even as you put in more training? In this episode, we delve deep into the topic of overtraining syndrome and training-overload (signs of overtraining without a medical diagnosis). Overtraining is characterized by a long-term decline in performance, as well as symptoms affecting your overall health and well-being. Overtraining affects recreational runners and it is essential for runners to have knowledge of overtraining to both treat it and prevent it.

Discussion points include:

• Is there no such thing as overtraining, just under-recovery - or does overtraining exist?

• Defining functional overreaching, non-functional overreaching, and overtraining

• The signs and symptoms of overtraining

• The underlying mechanisms of overtraining

• Short-term and long-term consequences of overtraining

• What to do if you are overtraining

• Training approaches to minimize the risk of overtraining

References: 

PMID: 32064575

PMID: 34181189

PMID: 25028798

PMID: 32179050

PMID: 34496702