Introduction
July 25, 2023 – For those who have a passion for running, the experience of trying to get back into it after a long – term break is often arduous. While the principle of “use it or lose it” is well – known, the fact that long periods of inactivity lead to a slower energy – consumption rate doesn’t fully explain why running is particularly affected. There are actually two main reasons behind this phenomenon.
Reason 1: Poor Retention Rate of Physical Energy
Running isn’t the only activity with a low physical – energy retention rate. Activities like skipping rope also share this characteristic. This is an inherent shortcoming in physical training, and no matter how much the human body is conditioned, it’s impossible to eliminate it completely. Fitness depends on the conversion of calories, which in turn relies on hormone secretion. Fitness enthusiasts are aware that hormone secretion is triggered by continuous stimulation of the body. This implies that regular exercise is necessary; otherwise, hormone secretion will either go dormant or remain at a very low level.
When hormone secretion is low, one’s fitness level gradually declines. Running is distinct from regular fitness in this regard. In regular fitness, once a certain high level is achieved, for example, when the body is well – muscled through training, it’s difficult to regress to the initial gym – entry state. However, with running, even a short break of just one month can make it hard to resume running.
Reason 2: Heart and Lung Capacity
Running is an aerobic exercise that requires a high level of patience and places significant demands on the body’s lung capacity. People with poor lung capacity or heart problems often find running challenging. Additionally, without proper training, lung capacity is generally low.
Another drawback of lung capacity is its tendency to fall into a dormant state. When you run regularly for a while, you are enhancing your lung capacity. But if you stop running for an extended period, it will gradually decline and eventually become dormant. To start running again, you need to re – activate your lung capacity first.
