The Runs That Recover You

Recovery Runs Are About More Than Running

What’s the most important run I can do to get better? I got asked that question this week. I got asked that question last week too. I get asked that question all the time. My answer is always the same. The most important run to focus on if you want to get better at this crazy thing called running is the Recovery Run. What about the Long Run? What about the Speed Run? They’re important too! I didn’t say they weren’t. I just said your Recovery Runs are the most important when it comes to getting better. 

Why? Well, if your goal is to make running a lifelong activity or you just signed up for a Marathon or 5k or 10K or Half Marathon or a 100K Trail Run (yes, people do those) or you just want to use running as a way to get fitter, faster, healthier, happier, stronger, more confident, then the majority of your runs will be simple-get out the door-easy-just a run-recovery runs. In fact, over time, the overwhelming majority of your runs are Recovery Runs. So one reason why I believe they are the one kind run for you to focus on is because you do them more than any other kind of run. And if you can get better at Recovery Runs then I find that it’s get easier to get better at all those other kinds of runs. 

But I’ve got more reasons! I do! You didn’t think this was going to be just one or two paragraphs long did ya? Come on! I’ve got your attention. I got to make this count.  

I could’ve started with the purpose of a Recovery Run. Because it’s an important purpose. I could tell you that a run like this helps you actively recover from or for a harder effort like a Long Run or Speed Run while also building endurance and strength. Yeah, that sounds about right. But that only tells you about the running purpose of a Recovery Run. And just like every runner,  every run has purpose. But more than that too. Every runner and every run has many purposes. 

Let’s stop delaying the inevitable here. I know you know I got my dictionary with me. So, let’s stop fooling around and just open it up shall we?

We shall!

Recovery is defined as the action or process of regaining possession or control of something lost or stolen. I think about a Recovery Run first and foremost in the light of that definition. A Recovery Run is a few miles, meters or minutes where you can take back that part of YOU that was lost or stolen during the day. It’s the run where you take back some of the peace or confidence or joy or grace of yours that was lost during the day. Whether it’s work or school, relationships or just life grinding on you… we can find ourselves with less of the good stuff than we started the day with.

That’s why a Recovery Run is so important. Because in order to run (and live) to your full potential, in order to be the most elite version of yourself, you need to use your whole mind, body and soul. You need it all. You need to be fully you to be the best version of you. And it is out there (or in there for you treadmill jockeys) on the Recovery Run where you can work on becoming more and not less wholly you. Now that’s some badass work getting done there.

Yeah, Recovery Runs will help you get faster and fitter and build endurance so you can go farther than before. But Recovery Runs can also help you get emotionally and mindfully fitter. And they can remind you that you have what it takes to endure long days and tough nights. Recovery Runs can take you further than the GPS says… if you let that Recovery Run be about more than the activity and action of running. 

If you can let the Recovery Run be about more than running then you can get better at more than just running on a Recovery Run. (That applies to all runs by the way). If you can let the Recovery Run be a distance or duration that you measure by more than just how far or how long then you can measure the success of the run in an infinite variety of ways. Did you come back from the run more relaxed? More confident? Happier? Success! Did you recover some of that joy of yours? Did you take back some of your purpose? More success because the run ends with more of you and not less. 

So, next time you start a Recovery Run make sure you come back with more than you started. More of you. Not less. If you can do that then you’ll be more prepared to take on all those other runs. 

Because after a Recovery Run you’ll be recovered.