recovery & training benefit
neeb
Posts: 4,473
Probably a question for a physiologist this, and a bit speculative...
On Saturday I went for a moderately long ride and ended up getting quite chilled at the end, so I skipped my usual post-ride stretching and had a hot bath instead to warm up. I definitely felt it the next day - far more achey and tired than usual. However, going out today after two days rest I felt really strong, and it occurred to me, how much of a relation is there between post-ride aches and training benefit? Could it be that by recovering well, you actually reduce the training benefit? Stretching and cold (as opposed to hot) baths may reduce aches and pains and make you stronger the next day, but could they actually interfere with the inflammation/response process that eventually leads to training benefit a few days later, given adequate rest?
Just an idea, and possibly completely misfounded of course.
On Saturday I went for a moderately long ride and ended up getting quite chilled at the end, so I skipped my usual post-ride stretching and had a hot bath instead to warm up. I definitely felt it the next day - far more achey and tired than usual. However, going out today after two days rest I felt really strong, and it occurred to me, how much of a relation is there between post-ride aches and training benefit? Could it be that by recovering well, you actually reduce the training benefit? Stretching and cold (as opposed to hot) baths may reduce aches and pains and make you stronger the next day, but could they actually interfere with the inflammation/response process that eventually leads to training benefit a few days later, given adequate rest?
Just an idea, and possibly completely misfounded of course.
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Comments
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The body adapts to the stress placed upon it and then super-compensates during recovery. Assisting the recovery by various means, supplements, hydro-therapy etc may reduce aches and pains or assist in the speed of recovery, but is unlikely to change the compensation.
I would suggest there are other factors in play, possibly psychological, maybe the two days rest did it.
Also, you are more likley to increase the stress on your body as a result of the cold due to the extra workload your body is taking on. This may explain the extra tiredness.
I'm no expert though.0 -
Sounds plausible, thanks.0
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Surely once you were indoors you warmed up? I usually massively overheat coming in from the cold. Some folks don't stretch at all, I'd be sore for days if I didn't...0
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This was the sort of cold where my core temperature had dropped (speech starting to slur slightly, that kind of thing...), so I needed proper warming! I blame the fact I was on a long group ride and couldn't go at my normal speed, especially after stopping at an (outdoors) cafe near the end. It wasn't even that cold, just hanging about too much and windchill.Surely once you were indoors you warmed up? I usually massively overheat coming in from the cold. Some folks don't stretch at all, I'd be sore for days if I didn't...
Normally I always stretch after a ride, and not doing so combined with a hot bath definitely didn't do the legs any good the next day (although perhaps the cold didn't help either). Just curious about the delayed bounce-back effect 2 days later, which was larger than normal and almost seemed like a response to the stress.0
