The Power of Rest: How Two Days Off Led to Two Personal Bests

As a track coach in my former life one of my athletes reached out with an unusual concern. He wasn’t feeling exhausted, but he noticed a clear drop in performance —even simple tasks, like running up the stairs at work, felt harder.

Like most dedicated athletes, he was hesitant to take a break. Training was scheduled, and rest felt like a setback. But after assessing his symptoms, I made the call: he needed two full days off. This wasn’t an easy decision, especially for an Olympic-level competitor, but it was necessary.

Neural Fatigue: When the Body Needs More Than Willpower

He questioned the decision. “Do I really need two days off?” he asked.

Yes. His symptoms pointed to neural fatigue—when the nervous system is overworked and needs up to 72 hours to fully recharge. Pushing through it wouldn’t make him stronger; it would only prolong recovery.

Two days later, I got a message: "I just hit a personal best with my cleans at the gym."

The next day, another text: "I just hit a personal best in my deadlift."

My response? "Two days of rest = two personal bests. Makes sense, right?" 😊

Recovery Is Training

Rest isn’t time off—it’s an essential part of the training process. The body needs recovery time to rebuild, adapt, and ultimately perform at its best. Ignoring fatigue leads to diminishing returns, while structured rest can unlock breakthroughs.

I always encourage athletes to check in with how they’re feeling. Their feedback helps fine-tune training programs and ensures they’re recovering effectively.

So, the next time you feel sluggish but not overly tired, consider whether your body is asking for rest. It might be the key to your next big performance jump.

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