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You just crossed the finish line of your half marathon. Your first thought? “When can run again?” Half marathon recovery is an essential part of the training plan, though not nearly as sexy as putting in the miles to get to race day.
It’s natural to be eager, especially when you see a blank slate on your training calendar for the next few weeks. But here’s the deal: half marathon recovery isn’t just a gap in your schedule; it’s where the real magic happens.
When you give your body the rest it deserves, you’re setting the stage for better performance down the line.
Recovery is where your body builds back stronger, so don’t think that by short changing it you are preventing fitness from being lost. You could actually be preventing gains!
How Long to Take Off After a Half Marathon
Wondering how long you should take off after race day? Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are some key questions to ask yourself:
- How hard did you run this race?
- Have you been dealing with any injuries?
- How long have you been running?
- Was this race part of a larger build up to a goal race?
The rule of thumb often thrown around is that you should take off 1 day…
