Most runners finish a race and immediately worry about onething:
“How fast am I going to lose my fitness?”

In this episode, we break down why that fear is misplacedand why taking a proper break after a race is one of the smartest things youcan do for your performance, your body, and your mental health.

We cover:

Why you do not lose fitness in one week of doing nothing

Why even two weeks off has a negligible impact on aerobicfitness

The ideal post-race reset structure

One full week off with easy walksonly

A phase of unstructured crosstraining

Two weeks of unstructured,pressure-free running

Why two weeks without running can make you feel clunky andwhat’s actually happening neurologically

How quickly neuromuscular sharpness returns once you startrunning again

Why rushing back after races leads to fatigue, injury, andburnout

The overlooked mental health benefits of stepping away afterbig goals

If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting, panicked aboutlosing fitness, or jumped back into training too hard after a race, this episode will change how you approach recovery.

Taking a break isn’t falling behind.

It’s how long-term runners stay healthy and consistent.

If you want help structuring your training and recovery soyou stop guessing and start progressing, check the links below to learn moreabout coaching.

Subscribe for more honest conversations about runningsmarter, not just harder.