Have you ever felt like rest makes you look weak or like you’re just wasting time?
Back when I was training for the sports university in Austria, rest felt like a weakness. I pushed myself hard every day through regular sprints, gymnastics, and strength tests. Coming from art school, where volleyball and football were the main disciplines, my body wasn’t prepared for this.
But I kept thinking: “If others can do it, I just have to train harder.”
What I ignored were the signals:
- Tight hamstrings
- Feeling tired all the time
- Cramps that showed up way too easily
I’d already had small muscle fiber tears but bounced back quickly.
Then the big day came.
During the 30-meter sprint, after pushing through tension the days before, my left hamstring tore badly. I dropped to the ground and couldn’t even walk anymore.
It was over.
All I could think was: Why not me? Why can’t I recover like the others? Am I too soft?
It took me months to heal. But the emotional wound lasted longer. I felt ashamed, weak, and not capable.
As I prepared for the second attempt, I was forced to approach it with more recovery woven into my training. I started listening to my body and stopped overriding it.
I still had to push myself, this time smarter.
At some point, I realized I could give more with more recovery.
That injury taught me what no coach ever had: Rest isn’t something you earn at the end. It’s what makes performance possible.
Still trying to prove your strength by pushing through?
Maybe it’s time to redefine what “strong” really looks like.
Curious what working with your body could actually feel like? Let’s talk.
– Michi