OVER-TRAINING: Don’t be a Tripod with one leg too short.

The number one cause of injuries and poor performance is Over-Training.

What does that mean? The automatic assumption about Over-Training is that someone “trained too much”. In this assumption, too much running, or too much strength training are usually thought to be the culprits. These training components can be factors in Over-Training, but they are never exclusively the cause. Over-Training is a result of a number of training factors not being coordinated appropriately.

Sometimes extreme extra measures and leverage are required to balance the short side of the Tripod.

These factors all fall within one of three basic categories of training components; Fuel, Activity or Rest (FAR). These categories need to be developed with respect to each other. Consider them interdependent, like the legs of a Tripod; if anyone of the legs is too long or too short, the tripod will fall over or fail – the balance of these categories determines your results.

For example: you can be eating the perfect amount of food to support your activities, and your Activities could be in the perfect balance to provide muscle growth and improved endurance; but if your Rest is not planned and managed appropriately, then you are Over-Training. Without the “right” Rest your body and mind cannot recover (recovery = results) well enough to keep up with your performance demands.

What does your FAR look like? Are you making sure to fill your “Energy Gas Tank”, does your cardio program compliment your strength training program, and do you get enough sleep and relaxation to assure results acquisition? These are very important considerations at every stage of an evolving, effective training program.

If you are not reviewing your FAR every week, it is very easy to be that Tripod with one leg way too short!