Recovery Lag, Then Leg Rebound

Unplanned break: Kefalonia, then infection immediately after returning.

Recovery

• Back from Kefalonia: July 23.
• Heavy runny nose / infection from July 24; symptoms mostly gone by July 28-29.
• Running form dropped hard.
• Resting HR: about +4 bpm at the worst point.
• HRV: about -30% at the worst point.
• Strong rebound only came 8-10 days after the infection itself had ended.
• August 8: resting HR down ~3 bpm, HRV back from ~110 to 138; still ~130 the morning after a very heavy gym session.

Training adjustment

I did not try to catch up.

• Strength: repeated Week 3 for two consecutive weeks.
• Running: ~50% volume, then ~75%.
• Today: likely back to ~100% because the recovery metrics finally agree.

Unexpected result: legs

After roughly two weeks without heavy leg work:

• 120 kg leg press, previously a real working load, suddenly moved like nothing.
• 150 kg moved explosively - it felt closer to a warm-up weight than a working set.
• 65 kg squat also felt materially easier.
• Knee-height box jumps for sets of 8 are now comfortable.
• Hip thrust did not show the same rebound.
• Upper body did not show the same rebound either.

Second time I have seen this pattern.

Working hypothesis: my legs may accumulate enough fatigue from running + strength work that a longer break exposes strength that was already there.

Operationally: keep continuity for running and upper body, but test whether legs benefit from deeper periodic unloading.