Still sore...to train or not?

Hello,

I have started training again after many years off. To get my body conditioned I have decided to start with circuit training for the first couple of months, I will then switch to targeted muscle groups.  I am trying to strength train 3 days a week. And I have finally reached the point where I feel I am getting a good workout though circuit training.

My question is: If I still have lingering soreness from a previous work out, should I train again.  I'm finding that if I train hard, I may experience some aching for more than 2 days. If I wait more than two days, I will beak my 3 day a week goal.

Just to be clear, I am not talking intense pain or serious soreness, but I can tell that I trained. When I was younger, I would have jumped right back in and trained.  But now, I am just stopping to ask if that is the proper way to train.  

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Re: Still sore...to train or not?

Hey Carl,

There’s two general camps on this particular subject. The first says that if you’re sore, don’t train. Your body is still in recovery and it needs more time.

The second camp spins off some research that suggests that your body creates a protective barrier around the muscle fibers that are under repair. This keeps the muscle from being more damaged while more stress is introduced.

I believe this second position sheds some light on the “go on a head a train” philosophy even if you’re sore. Why? Because you’ll get better. I’m sure you’ve heard this at least once.

There’s no right or wrong in my opinon at this point. Both sides have research supporting them (although my exposure to the research suggests that the first camp is the more accepted understanding as it has more supporting research).

The question I’d like to ask is what you’re intention is training? What is it that you really want from doing this particular injunction? I may be able to shed some more light on what’s more appropriate with that information.

If you were doing an intense power lifting routine I may respond differently; however, given that you’re doing circuit training I think you could go either way which may be worth the time experiementing with yourself and your schedule.

Hope this is useful Carl,
Peace
Rob