Relax and deload from your summer intensity

Time flies when you’re making gains. Summer is just about over, and hopefully you’re leaner, faster and more powerful than you were 12 weeks ago. Now comes the ever-so-important part of your fall transition — the deload.

You’ve been skating, training and doing additional dryland conditioning at least five days a week for most of your summer. Your body needs a full reprieve from the intense exercise more than anything in the world. By off, I mean nothing. No skating. No lifting weights. No aerobic exercise. By trusting this process, you will enable your central nervous system to refire faster, stronger and more efficiently than ever before as you head into your winter season.

The rules are simple. Your primary focus for seven days is to reduce the levels of joint inflammation, promote tissue healing and facilitate mental relaxation. If you’re willing to sacrifice sleep, fun and friendships for working hard, you can work hard to infuse your life with sleep, fun and friendships to enhance recovery. The key to huge gains is less work — but just for seven days.