Exercise is good for you, no doubt. And if you are a runner, I am sure you can vouch for its benefits. But sometimes, running too much and too often can term under Overtraining. Simply put, Overtraining, also called Unexplained Underperformance Syndrome, could be described as the point where your training program goes beyond the body’s ability to recover. This can be hard for some runners to grasp, who figure that if some exercise is good, more must be better.

10 Warning Signs of Overtraining

It’s sometimes difficult for an enthusiastic runner who enjoys intense training to acknowledge that they are doing too much. So, it’s important to be aware of the physical and emotional signs of overtraining before problems arise.

The warning signs of overtraining include:

1. A drop in your physical performance

2. Soreness in your muscles or joints that doesn’t dissipate after 48 hours.

3. Increases in resting heart rate and resting blood pressure

4. Difficulty sleeping or feeling unrefreshed after a full night’s sleep

5. Loss of coordination

6. Headaches

7. Increased incidence of colds and infection

8. Irritability

9. General fatigue

10. Reduced sex drive

So, What Can You Do?

Listen to your body

If you notice any of the warning signs of over-training, ease up on your training load. Don’t wait for an injury to convince you that you need to slow down. Imagine the frustration of an injury, and how it would bring your training to a halt. Focus on the big picture.

Have rest days

Physical activity places stress on your body, damaging your muscle tissue, skeleton and cardiovascular system. This damage is at a cellular level, and is part of the way your body adapts and prepares itself to perform at a higher level in the future.

Your body actually gets stronger, denser and fitter during recovery, not when you’re exercising. That’s why rest, adequate sleep and proper nutrition is so important.

Cross train

Recuperation doesn’t always have to mean complete rest. You can alternate between a hard day of running with an easy day walking. You could also alternate between activities that still boost your fitness, but that target other muscle groups and joints not involved in running, such as swimming, boxing classes or paddling.

Speak to your doctor

It’s hard to recognize over-training in yourself, so seek out the opinion of a doctor, who can examine symptoms like you blood pressure, and make an informed assessment.

Don’t compare

Don’t expect to exercise for two hours a day just because your fit friend does. Everybody is different, and it’s important to work at your own pace. The body needs time to adjust, adapt and recuperate.

Cycle your training

Include different phases of intensity in the months leading up to a competitive event. Include bursts of high intensity training, with longer, slower runs, and make sure to taper back your training in the week or two leading up to an event. This is sometimes referred to as periodisation.