Your body has three gears, or “energy systems.”

Here’s how to tap into all three to become a stronger, faster, smarter runner.

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Or okay, okayfewer bad days.

woman sweating in the gym

Like shifting gears in your car, certain workouts will activate certain energy systems in your body.

Your bodys 3 energy systemsand how to tap into each one

1.

ATP-PC System (Anaerobic)

Your body enlists the anaerobic system for activities likequick explosive sprints.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

This is the burning sensation you feel when you do HIIT training or ontempo runs.

(Think: Walking, casual biking, or swimming.)

To maximize your energy systems, train hard.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

Train hard, recover harder.

When you work out, you create tinymicrotears in your muscle fibers.

This is why runners taper before a marathon, and why bodybuilders work different muscle groups on different days.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

So take those rest days after speed work, hard weight training sessions, or after long endurance runs.

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Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

Tuesday: Rest day

Rest days are key.

If you want to get stronger you have to take at least one to two rest days every week.

In doing so, your body is going to run more efficiently.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

Once youredonewith your endurance run, youre ready for that static stretching.

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