Friday, September 21, 2012

Sleep Tight!


Tip From The DC Road Runners! 
Sleep!
Get enough sleep – how simple is that for a training tip?  And for this weekend’s 20 miler, it’s not just about getting a good night sleep on Friday night, but on THURSDAY night. In the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, they reported a study which found that athletes' VO2 max (an indicator of aerobic fitness) wasn't adversely affected after one sleepless night; it was lowest two days after sleep deprivation.

In fact, when it comes to recovery, sleep is every bit as important as what you eat or drink. There's evidence that lack of sleep interferes with the metabolism of glucose, which muscles depend on for recovery. And recent findings even link sleep deprivation with weight gain. Leptin, a brain hormone that regulates appetite, isn't secreted in adequate quantities when you get less than six hours of rest.

The attached Runner’s World article gives some great tips on getting the best rest: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-267--13281-0,00.html

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