When we train the race more specifically, the series training cannot be missed. Whether short or long series, the topic to be discussed today is what to do in those breaks between series, in those one or two minutes where the intention is to recover totally or partially. Here the question is: active or passive rest?
That is, do we totally stop between sets to rest or do we walk or jog lightly so as not to stop dry? The most recommended option is not to stop dry since after the effort of doing a series we will have a large part of the blood distributed in our muscles. If we stop at once that blood has a hard time performing the venous return and therefore does not oxygenate so quickly or eliminate catabolites.
Having then clear that it is best to make an active break now we have to assess what that active break is like. If the series is very intense and we want to recover almost completely for the next one, we can choose to continue walking until the next series. If the series is not so demanding and the rest time allows us, we can jog gently until the next one. We can even alternate and do light dynamic stretching between series: the key is not to stop at once.
As when we finished training we must make the corresponding return to calm so that everything returns to normal progressively, in the breaks between sets it is not convenient to stop at once because it is a very abrupt change for the body to assimilate, especially at the cardiovascular level.
Another option for breaks between series is not to do them for time and instead to establish a distance in which we are going to jog smoothly, for example, 200 meters (approximately one minute), after which we start the next series.