How getting more shut-eye will improve your running

Shaving seconds off your runs may be as simple as getting a little more sleep. A Stanford University study concluded that athletes who increased their sleep to 10 hours per day (including naps) clipped more than half a second off their sprint times.

“Sleep is your body’s repair and recovery tool,” says Andrew Garlick, Director of Bodyolgy Exercise Science Studio
(bodyologystudio.com.au).

“A faster recovery leads to increased training adaptations which in turn will improve your performance overall,” he adds.

Sleeping Patterns
Try not to let your sleeping patterns alter too much from the norm. Going to bed earlier or sleeping in slightly longer could work well, but sleeping in until midday isn’t going to leave you feeling particularly energetic, even if it has allowed your body some extra time to recover.

Getting Good Sleep
1 Try to avoid caffeine before going to sleep as this can lead to more restless sleep.
2 Shut off all technology one hour before bed to let your brain relax.
3 Soak in a hot bath for 15 minutes before turning in; the heat will raise your core body temperature, which helps you drift off faster.

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Shaving seconds off your runs may be as simple as getting a little more sleep.

A Stanford University study concluded that athletes who increased their sleep to 10 hours per day (including naps) clipped more than half a second off their sprint times.

“Sleep is your body’s repair and recovery tool,” says Andrew Garlick, Director of Bodyolgy Exercise Science Studio (bodyologystudio.com.au).

“A faster recovery leads to increased training adaptations which in turn will improve your performance overall,” he adds.

Sleeping patterns
But try not to let your sleeping patterns alter too much from the norm.

Going to bed earlier or sleeping in slightly longer could work well, but sleeping in until midday isn’t going to leave you feeling particularly energetic, even if it has allowed your body some extra time to recover.

Getting good sleep
Try to avoid caffeine before going to sleep as this can lead to more restless sleep.

Shut off all technology one hour before bed to let your brain relax.

Soak in a hot bath for 15 minutes before turning in; the heat will raise your core body temperature, which helps you drift off faster.