Page 14 - Jan_14

Overtraining

Is Not a Virtue!

By Mari Zagarins

“I’M GOING TO TELL IT to you who has pushed through drowsiness,
straight,” said the physical therapist hunger and pain to accomplish feats
as he paused the video that starred the that my body wasn’t built to do. Partly
lower half of my legs, larger than life this has to do with a genuine desire to
and extremely pale, jogging on a tread- be strong, but it also stems from a deep-

mill. “You’re not built to be an endur- seated craving to be congratulated for
ance runner.”
my efforts. I can’t count the number of
Then he told me that my left leg times I’ve felt proud of being called an
is a hair shorter than my right. “May- overachiever, whereas I’d hate to earn a
be you’ll make it through a marathon, reputation as a slouch.

maybe not,” he said. “But I can guar- If you can relate, then allow me to
antee that in time, if you keep running call you an overtrainer and mean it in
like you are, you’re going to start feeling the worst way possible. Do not take any
pain in your hips.”
pride in being called this name, because
“Yeah,” I said. “Sure. Thanks.” it is not a compliment.

But even though I heard the words, I Instead, just stop doing whatever
wasn’t listening. It was only after I ran it is that’s grinding you down. Just for
my first marathon, after I signed up and a short while — maybe a few days, or
began training for the next less than a maybe longer. Do nothing more physi-
month later, and after I started to feel a cally strenuous than vacuuming your

sharp constant pain in my left hip that rug. Relax: make friends with Epsom
they started to register.
salts and baths. And allow people to
For a long time, I thought that judge you for your indulgent behavior.
overtraining was a sign of ambition. Who cares? In the end, the only name-
I’ve always believed that hard work is calling that matters is the kind that your

a crucial step toward success, and in body gives you, and wouldn’t it be nice
other aspects of my life, this attitude if your body called you anything but
had tended to work. I never had to drop overtired and overstressed for once?
out of any classes in college because my Think you’re at risk for overtrain-
brain hurt too much from studying, had ing? Schedule a visit with a physical

I? Nor had I had to quit a job because therapist today.
learning the ropes was too challenging. Mari recommends...
Why shouldn’t hard workouts translate
directly to winning race times and over- Sharon Health Center, Sharon
all health? So I ran. A lot. Every morn- The home of Gifford Medical Center’s

ing, and usually before eating anything.
running, and I was afraid that stopping haven’t gotten any more injuries, for ex- Sports Medicine Clinic houses a great
I suffered through the hip pain for meant a swift and certain transforma- ample, and getting eight or more hours staff of specialists in sports medicine,
weeks into my second marathon train- tion into an out-of-shape sack of pota- of sleep every night is awesome.
physical therapy, and athletic training—
ing before finally quitting in tears. A toes on the couch.
If you’re an athlete, you’re probably many of whom are athletes themselves.
month later, shortly after I started to jog thinking, “Sheesh, that sounds terrible.” (802) 763-8000
Flash forward to this morning: I

again, I sprained a foot. Then I sprained I know, I know. Once it’s established giffordmed.org/sharonhealthcenter
rolled out of bed when the sun was al-
my other foot. In addition to all of these in your everyday routine, the quest for
ready high in the sky, and I ate pancakes
injuries, I suffered bouts of strep throat The Rehab Gym, Williston, Col- for breakfast. I lay on physical fitness and
and other infections. I regularly felt fa- chester, Burlington (new Barre loca- the carpet in a patch peak performance
tigued, achy, and useless.
tion coming soon) of sunlight and read can be thrilling, re-
Basically, I’ve
According to Troy Stratton, a Focuses on minimizing and preventing a book, and then I warding, and tough
physical therapist at the Sharon Health future injuries, rather than just tackling walked a mile (for become the sack to back down from.
Center, illness and injuries are just two each diagnosis as it comes. In addition to exercise) to a coffee But while it may seem
of many signs that an athlete is overdo- physical therapy, offers classes accessible shop (for something of potatoes I once counterproductive,
ing it. “Overtraining can be presented in to people with injuries or disabilities. frothy and decadent). rest can actually help
feared, but it’s
different ways,” he said, listing dimin- rehabgym.com
Later, I might get you perform better.
ishing athletic performance, increased chicken wings and a surprisingly Stratton recommends
muscle soreness and resting heart rate, Mansfield Orthopaedics, watch a movie. May- plenty of it, as well as
and difficulty sleeping as major physical Morrisville be I’ll watch two.
healthy and happy increasing calorie in-
symptoms. “Mood changes can happen If, heaven forbid, you should reach the sack of potatoes.
take. “Athletes must Basically, I’ve

as well,” he added. Decreased motiva- point where you need more than just balance their activi-
become the sack
tion, lack of confidence, depression, physical therapy, this is the place to go. of potatoes I once ties with hydration,
and anger are all indicators of an unbal- Here, specialists in sports medicine de- feared, but it’s a sur- nutrition, and rest so
anced lifestyle with too little rest.
liver great orthopedic care, from pain- prisingly healthy and happy sack of po- they can rebound and make gains, not
And even as my body deteriorated, relieving treatments to joint replace- tatoes. I’ve decided that a drastic activity further break down their bodies,” he

I was convinced that I was in the best ment surgeries. (802) 888-8405 level reduction is good for me, at least for said.
shape of my life. I was committed to
mansfieldorthopaedics.com
now, and so far it’s working out well. I
I imagine I’m not the only one

14 VTSPORTS.COM
JANUARY 2014