Not all fatigue is created equal. At Harper Strength and Speed, we coach our athletes to understand the difference between “good tired” and “bad tired”—because one helps you grow, and the other holds you back.
Good Tired:
- Comes from targeted training with purpose
- Leaves you feeling accomplished, not wrecked
- Improves recovery, performance, and capacity
- Follows a structured plan (e.g., aerobic intervals, glycolytic repeats, lifting for power)
Bad Tired:
- Comes from mindless work or overtraining
- Leads to soreness, burnout, or even injury
- Wears you down without making you better
- Looks like random circuits, endless sprints, or pushing through fatigue without rest
Your conditioning should build you up, not break you down. If you’re always gassed, dragging through practices, or sore for days—you’re not under-conditioned. You’re under-recovered or misprogrammed.
A smart plan balances intensity, rest, and purpose. That’s why we use strategies like tempo runs to build aerobic capacity, short recovery sprints for glycolytic development, and strength work to target the ATP-PC system.
Want to feel the right kind of tired? DM us “Conditioning” for a free copy of our plan.
Harper Strength & Speed 
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