After you have done this, and you have made sure that you are sufficiently hydrated, a nap is a great idea. While it can be tempting to nap for a few hours, this is not necessarily the best option.
Napping for too long can cause you to wake up and feel a little groggy. A shorter nap that is around 30 minutes in length is a great amount of time.
In addition to this, if you sleep for too long, you can disrupt your sleep schedule, which is not recommended.
Is it good to nap before a run?
Yes, a nap before a run can actually be quite beneficial for you. This is particularly true if you are in a sleep debt, and need to catch up on those all important Z’s.
Napping in general has many benefits, and the majority of time you will wake up feel refreshed and ready to tackle a run.
A nap can help you to feel more aware, energetic and happy, these are all great positives for running. If you time your nap correctly, it is likely that you will have a better overall performance compared to if you did not nap. This is particularly true if you were lacking in sleep.
While napping does have great benefits, it is worth noting that if you sleep for too long, this can hinder your running performance, rather than helping it. Napping for too long can cause you to feel more groggy and tired. If you sleep for too long, you may actually feel more tired than before you initially went to sleep.
Given this, we would always recommend timing your naps. Typically, a nap that is around 20 to 30 minutes long is ideal. This is not too long that you will fall into a deep sleep, but it is enough time to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to exercise.
Overall, if you try to nap before running, you will figure out the nap length that is better for your body. While some people enjoy napping, others do not.
In addition to this, it is worth noting that if you nap for too long in the day, this can potentially have an impact on your sleep at night too.
Why can't I sleep after running a marathon?
While we have covered the benefits of naps and sleeping after running, you may actually find it difficult to fall asleep. This is certainly true for many people that have run in marathons or for a particularly long time.
This can occur due to a number of different reasons. One reason is dehydration. If you are particularly dehydrated, this can affect your ability to sleep. Rehydrating yourself after a marathon is essential for many reasons, sleep included.
In addition to this, a marathon can cause your body temperature to be slightly higher on the whole as it is quite strenuous on the body. When your temperature is elevated this can cause disrupted sleep. While this is frustrating, it is fairly common.
If you have had caffeine or stimulants after the marathon this can affect your sleep too. It is also likely that adrenaline is still running through your body after the race, and this can have an effect on sleep too.
Suzie here, the oldest and wisest of the two! I am a married mother with two small children and a cheeky cat, Milo. I started running after Ihad my second child as a way to shift some baby weight. At first, I hated it. No, I would have to drag myself down the street, moaning under my breath. It took a while, but the love of running came.
Now I can chase after my children and feel fitter and healthier than ever before! But while I was searching for new trainers or a good running route, many reviews and sites seemed tailored to men. Not only did it annoy me, but it made me wonder, is there a gap in the market?
I wanted to create a safe space online that was inclusive to everyone, so I convinced fitness fanatic, Lizzie to join me and create Psycho Wyco to empower others to feel comfortable and confident about running.
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