How Many Days Can A Runner Rest?

George Payan · Post by **George Payan** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 9:43 pm

How long does it take for a runner's aerobic capacity to decline significantly? What are the negative effects of rest? Does a layoff have any effect?

George Payan · Post by **George Payan** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 9:47 pm

Research has shown that a ten day period without running produced no changes in either the maximum oxygen uptake or average heart size. In addition, body fat level, resting heart rate and blood pressure did not change during the ten days of rest.

CoachB03 · Post by **CoachB03** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 6:21 pm

Can you point us in the direction of this research? This is very interesting and makes me believe that we can come back from layoffs faster than I previously thought.

George Payan · Post by **George Payan** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 8:54 pm

Coach BO3:

The research was reported in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Vol. 17, p. 219, 1985.

Coach Payan