“There is no such thing as overtraining—just under-recovering.” – Brendan Brazier, Endurance Athlete
Whether competing in a triathlon, playing basketball, or performing ballet, training is essential. Athletes and performers understand that the hours dedicated to practice correlate directly with improved skills and positive outcomes. The more we train, the better we perform.
However, there is a limiting barrier: the body. Although we can indeed handle more than we often believe, the body has a breaking point. While we can acutely push mental barriers and max out the body’s load, developing elite skills requires long-term training. The more we train beyond the body’s physical limits, the greater the risk of injury or burnout. Thus, achieving a balance between training and recovery is essential.
How we sleep, eat, socialize, or even think, all influence recovery. Neglect one, and it can negatively impact restoration. The challenge is that these variables are highly subjective. Not everyone requires the same amount of sleep or responds identically to a specific diet. Instead, we need precise and objective measurements.
Here are four metrics that provide critical insights into the recovery of athletes and performers:
If you’re curious, check out our favorite recovery tracker: WHOOP. We use it and believe it to be the best tool for athletes and performers.
