Overtraining

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This article is adapted from the book Bicycling Medicine.
 

Overtraining (Introduction)

“What drives you to succeed drives you to screw up.”

—Mari Holden, World Champion, Time Trial, 2000

Overtraining is a physical and a psychological or emotional state.

Overtraining is an imbalance between training and recovery, exercise and exercise capacity. The “training effect” is the body’s response to workload stress. If stress is too great, the body cannot respond and adapt. Overtraining may result.

Overtraining symptoms include the following:

·    ●   Poor, non-restorative sleep

·    ●   Mood disturbances, including anxiety, irritability, loss of enjoyment, and sadness

·    ●   Poor performance with the same or increased training

·    ●   Vague or undefined physical complaints

A note about terminology: Overloading is a building or anabolic adaptation to workload stress. Overtraining is breakdown or catabolic response. Overuse is musculoskeletal overtraining.