Sleep is just as important for good health as your diet and your running, but modern life means time is at a premium, and so more often than not it is neglected. Irregular sleep patterns and poor diet are also connected. Poor diet can lead to low concentration and energy levels, and altered emotional states. In turn, this can lead to increased amounts of worry and stress, which combined with poor sleep quality, can suppress the immune system leading to the likeliness of illness and disease.
Most adults need 7 – 8 hours sleep per night. Getting too little on a regular basis creates a sleep debt – like being overdrawn at the bank – and at some point it has to be repaid. With busy lives it is easy to become accustomed to a sleep depriving schedule. Sleep deprivation is associated with a number of changes in hormones such as gherlin and leptin, and research suggests higher levels of these hormones produce increased levels of hunger and appetite when awake.
Read more about the science of sleep.
When on a structured training programme and steadily increasing your weekly mileage – it will increase the need for proper rest and recovery, and sleep is a key aspect of looking after your body and improving your performance.
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