Overtraining is like Radiation when you Test Positive

This article is a continuation of Ben Johnson’s 10 Day Taper Before a Major Competition

The timing of the article is perfect as we are leading to the final week before the Olympic Trials for most countries (USA, Canada, Jamaica and UK).

Those who work (or worked) in a laboratory with radioactive materials will remember the film badge dosimeter, which is simply a piece of film in a badge used as a dosimeter to monitor cumulative exposure to radiation.

It’s worn as a clip on the white lab coat breast pocket.

Great, but what happens when you test the film and it shows a level dangerously high?

YIKES! There was no warning!

It’s too late!

Undertrain is Better than Over-train

The 2 points I am trying to make is (1) monitoring over-training is difficult and (2) you are better to under-train than over-train. The Tuesday series on HRV should be helpful in understanding the sport science behind it.

The topic of over-training is quite complex, and that would take several articles to cover this controversial subject matter.

The graph below shows an under-trained athlete has some chance of supercompensation, whereas the over-trained athlete does not.

IMAGE SOURCE: HIGH-PERFORMANCE TRAINING FOR TRACK AND FIELD by William J. Bowerman and William H. Freeman