Could overtraining have a benifit of causing an upward leap in workload capacity?
It all becomes a terminology issue. There seem to be different definitions of overtraining. I think one involves training to the point where performances start to decline on a regular basis. Obviously this is something we would not want to cause. However I think another definition is just training past prior capabiliities and letting adaptation set in. This is something we are trying to do three times a week for much of the year. So it all depends on definition.
having been overloaded and overtrained, i think that the psychological effects (declining performances), increase in injuries, and just generally being overwhelmed negate any positives of overtraining. unless of course we are operating under the definition as enabling adaptation… training past prior capabilities is great- how else would you improve?
‘No pain, no gain’
‘If it’s not hurting it’s not working’
Right?
WRONG!
My lifters now do lower volumes than ever before. You can guess what has happened to their performances! Grip strength is measured prior to every workout. If they don’t reach a minimum threshold - ‘goodnight’.
I watch the local yahoos, doing their multiple drop sets, pre-fatigues, forced reps etc and I laugh. All that effort and they’re still small, and still very weak.
In sport it’s the most intelligent who survive.
pain is gain possibly only applies to massage 
i did not mean that the only way to improve is to overload! but there is a point where you have to go out of your comfort zone a bit, no?
David,
Doesn’t this concept start being more applicable as athletes get older and start reaching towards elite? For youngins such as myself I think there are times when to an extent pain and/or higher volumes = better gains.
Very interesting idea.
Strangely enough, I actually noticed this in my own training (I just lift to stay in shape really). I always load the 20kg plates onto the bar for bench pressing using a pincer grip as it’s a great incidental way of working grip strength, alternating hands each plate.
Whenever the plate feels like it is going to slip, I find that I am never as strong in my lifts. Whenever it feels like I could frisbee the plate the lifts are easy.
Interesting that you would use this method.
I jump over a hurdle to gauge whether or not I’m ready for speed work. If the height I can jump over drops I know I’m not ready.
Not a bad idea. This would indicate ability to accelerate. Multi quick hurdle hops would be better for speed until you get to really know your body.
overtraining in my book suggests you are not allowing time for the body to compensate from the session, if you look at some of the graphs charlie puts up in regards to overcompensation you will see that running when the body is still trying to recover does not lead to a benefit in performance short or long term.
In weightlifting many lifters will lift train days in succession. The theory is that the supercompensation effect will be of greater magnitude when a rest day is finally taken.
The bitch is the 7 day week. THe odd number does not permit a train rest, train rest approach AND a consistency in training days.