Downtime Risk - Don't Stop Now!
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2016.00184/full
This article, recently summarized in the NY Times, documents a study from the Univ of Maryland of 9 older athletes. They were between the ages of 51 and 71, all recruited from D.C. running clubs. They "had a mean continuous endurance training history of ~29 years, and on average were running 59 km (35 miles) per week and training 5 days per week just prior to the baseline testing. They also regularly participated in regional and national endurance competition. Moreover, as a group these master athletes had a V⋅" role="presentation" style="color: #3e3d40;">VO2max above the 90th percentile for their age and sex." So, people more like us than the average older exerciser.
The study focused on brain blood flow before and after a ten-day period of non-activity. Meaning, they stopped running for ten days, and did no other exercise during that time (enforced by frequent phone calls several times a day to ensure compliance!)
It's well documented that intense endurance exercise (like triathlon training) produces both increased blood flow in specific brain areas lasting long after the actual activity, as well as improved cognitive performance (we're so smart!) This study used MRIs to look at the blood flow effects of stopping exercise. They found that after ten days, the blood flow was diminished (slower, less) in key areas of the brain which exercise seems to enhance. BUT, verbal fluency and other measure of cognitive performance did not diminish in that time.
This study did not examine what happens after activity is resumed, nor did it last long enough to see when actual mental performance might be compromised by exercise cessation.
But, to those (like me) who might say - well "I've done enough, I can retire", or "I need a break, I'll take the next 2-3 months off" ... there might be a downside apart from simply losing fitness. I'm not gonna take the risk. I write as I am now going on five days of non-activity following IM Maryland. Not normal for me (usually, I'm back @ it within 4 days). But I'm stuck in Indiana visiting wife's family for another 36 hours.
You can't have fun with your fitness if you're not fit.
Comments
Thanks for sharing Al! Love to see the benefits, particularly when I'm tired and wondering if I need to take a break. For your situation, I'm sure the fifth day won't reduce the blood flow to your brain too much! Happy training!
I am living proof to the last line you wrote. Post my Mom's death, I some what took this year off. No formal training since May. Just out there swim, bike, running. Picked up a Sprint-placed 6th, picked up 3 5k's placed 1st, 5th and 7th. Rode 2 centuries for the fun of it. Was called a "beast". Just out out there having fun.
If you don't move then you can't move.
Thanks, Al.