Let’s face it, most endurance athletes aren’t that great at taking long breaks from training!
You know how hard you work to keep up with your training schedule, right? Well, it's equally as important to take a breather and give your body a rest. Here’s why having a decent off-season is a good idea and the benefits it can bring to your overall fitness and performance.
An off-season gives your body time to recover from the training you've been doing over a long period. It gives time to heal and repair. Without proper rest and recovery, you're more likely to get injured or suffer from fatigue, hindering your performance. So, taking an off-season break can help you rebuild and reduce the risk of injury.
Almost more importantly, taking a break can help you mentally recharge. Endurance training can be draining, requiring discipline, focus, and motivation. It's important to give yourself a break and come back with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Your off-season is a great time to work on weaknesses and the technical aspects of your sport. Try new cross-training activities, and focus on strength training, flexibility and skill development to improve your performance when you come back to training.
Finally, taking an off-season break can help prevent burnout and keep you balanced in other areas of life, like family, friends, and work. Endurance training takes up a lot of time and energy, and taking a break can help you maintain a healthy balance.
There you have a few very good reasons for taking an off-season break. It gives your body and mind time to rest and recover, gives time to improve your weaknesses, and helps prevent burnout. I do find the right length for an off-season varies by individual. My suggestion is that it should be somewhere between 3-6 weeks.